What is your role for this second season at Rowing?
I am still in charge of “skills” (individual techniques) within Grégory Patat’s staff. With the forwards, we will work on skills around the rucks and with the backs on kicking and high balls, in particular.
How was the transition with Vannes, where you ended your playing career in May 2023?
It was Ged Fraser (in charge of the backs at Bayonne) who was assistant coach at Vannes and who called me. We worked well together in Brittany and Aviron is a good club, with great people and a project that I like and which is progressing.
Have you ever set foot in La Rabine again?
No, it will be the first time, Saturday, with Bayonne! It’s going to be great! It is a stadium very dear to my heart. I’m getting chills in anticipation of hearing the Bagpipes (bagpipes) of Bagadoubli in the corridor…
What do you think of Vannes’ first steps in the Elite?
We see that the club is there to maintain itself, not to be a tourist. I sent a message to the president (Olivier Cloarec) after the victory in La Rochelle. It was magical! Even the defeat against Bordeaux shows that the team is capable of competing against anyone in a match. And we know how difficult it is for the promoted person, who has less time to recruit after accession. But Jean-No (Spitzer) did an extraordinary job. This is where he is very strong: he always brings you players that no one has spotted. I think of Rodrigo Bruni, for example, when I played in Vannes, or of Salesi Rayasi this season.
Which other Vannes players catch your attention?
I played a little with the Maxime Lafage – Michael Ruru hinge when I was in Vannes. For me, they are the two most important players and I hope, for the team, that they can breathe a little. Mako Vunipola brought a lot to the conquest, Sione Kalamafoni is a big player and Francis Saïli is impressive.
Ready to come back to work in Vannes then?
This is not news (he is under contract until June 2025), but you never know, maybe one day! My family and I love Vannes and we actually kept a house there.
