At the Rochelais stadium since the summer of 2020, an essential link in the European double, Dillyn Leyds has taken this season a considerable weight in the maritime locker room this season. In the wake of the emblematic captain Grégory Alldritt, the versatile three-quarter of the South African is any abroad at the boost of the club in La Caravelle, expected in Vannes on Saturday (4:30 p.m., 23rd day of Top 14) to confirm his return among the suitors to Brennus.
We knew his appetite for fashion. Less that for dance. However, that is not to say that the elegant Rochelais caused a sensation with its improvised choreography at the center of the Vestiaire Visitors of Chaban, not far from being taken up by its president Vincent Merling, in this delicious sequence captured by the broadcaster of the Canal+championship, Saturday April 26, after the imposing victory against Bordeaux-Bègles (10-21). And which confirms everything of the dimension taken for some time already, internally, by the jovial and endearing Springbok of 32 years.
Recruit of the 2020 summer transfer window, the one who turned La Rochelle (Skelton, Dulin, Leyds, Rhule, etc.) on the titles path, Dillyn Leyds, the first name lying on the match sheet by manager Ronan O’Gara, has also gradually become one of his media relays. Not to say the Caravelle voice carrier this season. An alldritt bis, moreover propelled Captain in the absence of the Blue Taulier. “It is to improve my French, too”he laughs about his very high speaking time in the face of the press. For once proportional to his playing time.
A relationship “Very strong, for life” With O’Gara
It’s simple, the winger or rear is also the most requested Rochelais on the meadow. 1730 minutes and dust disputed since the start of the 2024 school year. Twenty-two appearances for as many starts. In short, Mr. 79 minutes. Replaced only by the maritime staff. Including one, temporarily, the time to satisfy a Commotion Protocol. To his counter, assists in the shovel and six trials registered this season. Including a hat -trick – the first of his career – at the end of September, Decisive in the Oscar Midi Olympic race.
“Dillyn? I like it a lot!”commented very recently Ronan O’Gara, questioned about the golden stature of the South African in La Rochelle. And by his side. “Honestly, it’s like that since the first day, with me. I am lucky to train a lot of players that I love here and it is at the heart of that. His behavior has never changed, nor anything else, he is always constant. Our relationship is very strong from the start, and will remain so for life. I have a lot of respect for him, the way he trains, his behavior on the field and how he is with the group.” Tribute supported. And shared by all, in the city of the two towers.
-A signature gesture in Bordeaux
Very appreciated by the public Rochelais and its teammates, the Bok (10 selections) is not for nothing in the awakening of the caravel, drowned recently in an ocean of mediocrity. And a series of nine games without victory, ultimately broken in mid-April against Bayonne, almost ended by the big successful blow in Bordeaux, as the content as the result can put La Rochelle back in the Brennus race. If necessary, we will long remember the inspiration signed Leyds on the liberating effect of Nowell. A gesture as he has the secret.
“Dillyn is a bit of a player apart. Despite our delicate period, he has always evolved at high level and, if we are there today, it is also thanks to his exemplarity and his state of mind. It is sure that it is good that it is this evening that makes the pass between the legs, which allows us to unlock the situation.” In the corridors of Chaban, his three-quarter coach had not failed to pull his hat to the one who, in everyday life, never goes out without a cap.
The exemplarity rented by Rémi Talès has manifested itself than ever after elimination in Champions Cup and this eighth finals lost against Munster (24-25) that Dillyn Leyds, in difficulty under the high balloons and the game on the foot, considered hot as “One of the worst games in his career“. This time, a sign of its weight and its progress, the South African has not disappeared from traffic.
L’introspection post-Munster
“I had gone through a difficult period here, my second season, after a complicated match in Biarritz (February 2022) and I had not played for six, seven weeksrewinds the three-quarter versatile. There, I worked a lot with a psychologist, I am also more experienced. I spoke with a friend, he told me something that touched me. Like what I have the chance to do something that I like every day: rugby. That you cannot be at 10/10 all the time and that, if you are not even 6/10, you must not say: “Why does that happen to me now?” “But” What does that teach me? »». I took two days to think about that, calm. Then I trained well, I didn’t say a lot, I was there to improve myself. “
Effective recipe since Dillyn Leyds, precious in the aerial game in the unbreakable end of the match against Bayonne (29-28), then very solid against the UBB, showed the way. As a good leader in chief he becomes. “It’s an honor (to be sometimes captain). There are many players here who have been captain of international teams. I have often said that I like to play for this club, for this city, I feel like at home here. It is for me to have respect for the group’s guys, the staff, the president. It should not make you think that you are higher than the others, you must especially show why there is respect and continue to do the work, to be at your best. “ La Rochelle needs it to hope to qualify in the final phase.
