There are internships that leave a lasting impression on you. When, in 2010, Romaric Boch arrived at La Berrichonne in Châteauroux and as an intern in the field of physical preparation, he crossed paths with a certain Julien Stéphan. The latter also passed through Châteauroux at the start of his career at the time when he worked, with David Le Frapper and Dominique Bougras, at the Châteauroux training center (from 2008 to 2010). Their collaboration only lasted six months at the time, enough for each to appreciate how the other worked.
With Julien Stéphan at Berrichonne
Nearly fifteen years later, the two ex-Berrichons, who have remained in occasional contact since then, will actually work together. And not just anywhere, since it is simply Stade Rennais “one of the biggest French clubs”enthuses Romaric Boch: “I dreamed of joining a Ligue 1 club one day, and my wish was granted at Lorient. Today, I’m joining a top 5 club, it’s beyond my dreams!”
Still under contract for three years with the Merlus where he was notably in charge of the rehabilitation of the injured, Romaric Boch nevertheless felt in his element in Lorient: “But when Julien (Stephan) called me to offer me the job, I didn’t hesitate for long, Stade Rennais cannot be refused. »
Rennes represents “an excellent compromise between a family club and the very, very high level. There are players with a huge CV, you imagine Steeve Mandanda, Benjamin Bourigeaud, Martin Terrier, to name a few… Lorient was very good, but we were aiming for the middle of the table, Stade Rennais, is a club that wants to play in Europe. Who wants to find her next season. »
“Authenticity and honesty”
The post in question is enough to make you salivate: “It’s a different organisation from Lorient. I’m the only physical trainer on the ground. There’s also a performance manager, Thomas Choinard, who directs the work, it’s up to me to adapt his requests concretely. We then debrief the sessions.” For physical preparation, the working conditions are “great. The high-tech equipment is the latest, there is everything you could hope to find. And there is also a brand new center under construction at La Piverdière”.
Having only arrived on Thursday morning, the day training resumed, Romaric Boch is getting to know his new environment. Without taking himself for what he is not: “This is my education and I will not deviate from it. For me, the main thing, whatever the place, is to be yourself. As I have always done, I will rely on two fundamental values in my eyes, authenticity and honesty. “In Lorient as in Rennes, these qualities allow one to adapt well.
Berrichonne: “It hurts my heart”
Kicked out of Berrichonne in a very inelegant way a 1is January 2021, Romaric Boch nonetheless remains “very attached to the Indre club”. He witnessed “with sadness the ousting of Olivier Saragaglia, a friend” with whom “I am obviously still in touch. Just like with Nicolas Usaï, Jérémy Sopalski. I also really liked the match against Clermont, Pascal Gastien’s last”. Romaric Boch deplores like many the team’s demotion to National 2 by the DNCG: “It hurts the heart, yet there is something to do in Châteauroux, I have always been convinced of it.”
