The resumption of training is a bit like going back to school. On the one hand, you have to get back to work, with a staff that is always so demanding, and on the other, there is the pleasure of being back with the group. At the end of the afternoon this Monday 1is July, at the Cholette stadium, jokes followed one after the other between the Niort RC players, visibly happy to get back to their habits.
Among them, there is the idea of celebrating birthdays with a song. For his 27th birthday, Quentin Gobet chose to perform “Pour que tu m’aimes encore” by Céline Dion. “It’s good for team spirit, appreciates Johann Authier. I have time to prepare myself, I was born in December.”
“Everyone is ready to work”
For the Niort coach, returning in a good mood allows for quality work. “They were good, all the guys are on weight, that’s a good thing. The tests were interesting. Everyone is ready to work”says Johann Authier, after the first rugby session this Monday.
In this first week of training, the Niortais see their schedule divided between physical preparation sessions and technical exercises on the field. “It’s to integrate the new players and get back into the swing of things.”explains the coach, who saw thirteen players join the ranks of the NRC during the off-season.
Even though the break was short for Authier, who focused on recruiting, the desire to resume is there. “We want to capitalize on what we did last year, we still had a great season and the players have progressed enormously. The idea was to refine the squad with very technical players capable of chaining tasks even more”continues the coach, always so precise in his analyses.
The championship will resume at the beginning of September
Before two friendly matches in August, July will be devoted to getting back into physical condition, with a lot of rugby. “The second part of the summer, after a week’s break at the end of July, will focus on automatisms. Then, we will very quickly attack the season.”rejoices the coach, while the championship will resume at the beginning of September.
“We finished the championship quite early (end of April, with the elimination in Mâcon), which allowed us to rest well. The players had five quiet weeks, recalls Johann Authier. I like having two months of preparation, it allows us not to tire the guys out, but to put them in optimal conditions.”
At the end of each week, Johann Authier also wants to introduce Deux-Sèvres to new residents of Niort. “It’s important to get to know each other in different conditions than training”he emphasizes after a training session lasting just an hour, after which the laughter quickly resumed.
