Announced at half-time of the reception of Albi, the third line center joined the Carcassonne squad with a single objective in mind: to prove that he is still there. Thomas Hoarau should make his debut with USC this Friday evening against Chambéry (7:30 p.m.).
Trained in Sanary-sur-Mer (2004-2009) then in Toulon (2009-2016), passed through Béziers in Pro D2 (2016-2019), the RCT in Top 14 (2019-2021), again the ASBH (2021-2024), the Varois signed for a season with US Carcassonne on August 23. Sailing, fencing, basketball, handball, multisports, Thomas Hoarau (29 years old, 1.91 m, 113 kg) has practiced a lot, tried: “until one day a neighbour ended up dragging me along to the rugby pitch in Sanary-sur-Mer.”
I rubbed shoulders with Thomas Ramos, Julien Marchand and Martin Devergie.
This was the trigger. Especially since the boy showed great skills. As proof, the prestigious neighbor of RC Toulon enlisted him in its youth categories where he continued his rise. “I was in the Top 30 of the best French U16 players and in the French team of the category, then following in U17 and U18. I rubbed shoulders with Thomas Ramos, Julien Marchand and Martin Devergie to name but a few.” Béziers then made eyes at him… direction the ASBH training center. He would land his first professional contract there. The adventure was then launched. Ten years later, the pedigree is brilliant: 14 Top 14 matches, 2 Challenge Cup matches, 4 Super Sevens matches, and 71 Pro D2 matches. And his head is full of memories.
“HAS the base, in youth and until the age of 14, I was trained in 10. I was thin and very tall. And I stumbled. But it’s been a while since I stopped! In Toulon, they made me change position. I moved to the second row but I didn’t like it at all, before going down to the third row, where I blossomed. It’s a position where you can offer yourself as much with the forwards as with the three-quarters. And that’s good, especially since I like to run, move and play with the three-quarters.” At the RCT from 2019 to 2021, he played alongside the greatest, but exclusively as a flanker! “With the competition from Charles Ollivon, Facundo Isa and Sergio Parisse, the 8 position was well filled. Of course, I can help out in quite a few positions, but to systematically play 6 where I had never played before… And that pissed me off!”
Carcassonne called him at the end of August, a sign of destiny
While he continued his career in Béziers, his contract with ASBH was not extended. “HAS Basically, I wanted to stop playing rugby”. So he returned home to Sanary-sur-Mer. The oval ball seemed to turn its back on him and at the same time his career as a top athlete. The blues, in other words. But the man has the will! And the will. He works as a landscaper, a private chef, an Airbnb manager… “It had been at least eight years since I had a full summer with my wife and friends. On the one hand, it felt good to stop playing rugby, but when the holidays were over, thinking about it and telling yourself how lucky you are to be able to live off your passion, to be privileged… it really moves you.” When at the end of August, a sign of destiny, “Carcassonne, which needs an 8, calls me for a new challenge. I want to prove today that I am still here.” Here we go again!
However, after having cut off from rugby as soon as the promotion semi-final was played and lost with Béziers in Vannes (27-21), on May 31, 2024, it was necessary to restart the machine. “Even though I continued to do three hours of physics every morning in Sanary, before working until 7 p.m. and I had busy days, physically and mentally, I wasn’t ready to play again. I didn’t want to cheat. I needed a month to come back properly.”It was a good thing, with the withdrawal of Hyères-Carqueiranne-La Crau, USC had three weeks of truce. A month after his signing, Thomas Hoarau is applying for the reception of Chambéry this Friday evening (7:30 p.m.), not without a certain excitement.
“First of all, they are the league leaders. A pretty complete team. We have been preparing well for three weeks… I have been thinking about this match. And I hope it goes well. Personally, I can’t wait to get back on the pitch. I want to play, I really can’t wait to take the ball, pass it, move forward, tackle, be with the guys, feel the crowd, be excited because I also know that after four months without a match I won’t be crossing the pitch.” Before looking to the future: “In my career, I have never won a title. I sincerely hope to make up for this deficiency. A shield is magnificent, it is a crowning achievement for a player. Know that I would give everything for my current club because it is thanks to it that I am fulfilled today.”
