Mathieu Bastareaud, you have been the sports coordinator of the Rugby Club Toulonnais since your career ended in 2023, what exactly does your role consist of?
Mathieu Bastareaud. : Pierre Mignoni has deputies on the field and I am his deputy off the field. I take care of logistics and relations between the sporting side and all the other services of the club. I manage a lot of organization, whether for training schedules, travel or even relations with the communication, marketing and sales departments. I try to ensure that everything is oiled around the players, that they are in the best possible conditions on the pitch.
Is this the reconversion that you were considering?
MB: No, not at all. I had started to get my diploma to coach young people. Then Pierre (Mignoni) offered me this position, we discussed it and this role to play on the connection between the sporting and administrative sides seemed interesting to me. It took me six months to adapt because I didn’t know exactly what this position was, but once I understood it, I started to enjoy seeing how things work behind the scenes at a rugby club.
You still seem close to the pitch as when you spoke after the defeat against La Rochelle in the play-off match last season…
MB: It was also Pierre’s wish that I remain connected to this group. I talk a lot with the players, I try to keep everyone connected in my own way. I remain attentive to the players, to their well-being, they are not robots so when they do not feel well, I try to warn the staff a little.
How are you finding the team’s start to the season as a pitchside observer?
MB: The players adhere to the game plan, they begin to assimilate the coaches’ working method. There is a good group dynamic, all the players fight for each other, they are united, I haven’t seen a single one cheat since the start of the season. It’s super positive because they want to write their story.
I think there will be a little bit of emotion even if I don’t play
This match is relocated to Créteil, in your hometown. What do you feel?
MB: The first thing I said to myself when I saw that we were going to play in Créteil was: ‘You couldn’t have lasted two more years!’ I was born there, I grew up there, I started rugby at five years old at the Rugby Club Créteil-Choisy until I was fifteen and my father still lives in Créteil. It would have been huge to play this match.
Are you dreading the moment you will arrive at the stadium?
MB: I think there will be a little bit of emotion even if I don’t play. Recognizing the neighborhood, remembering the memories and seeing all my family in the stands… I blocked all the places normally allocated to players for this match (laughs). There are two stadiums where I would have liked to play, this one and the Parc des Princes.
Have you spoken to the players about the importance of this move in your eyes?
MB: They have been warned. It’s simple: if they shame me in Créteil, they return to Toulon by bus (laughs).
