2007 world champion with the Springboks, Bobby Skinstad, new vice-president of Béziers, agreed to speak. The opportunity to discuss his return to the world of Rugby, the genesis of his arrival in this adventure but also his work as a consultant in finance.
What is your opinion on this current formation of Béziers?
I think they're doing well! I watched a lot of matches last season and I thought they finished this exercise in a superb way. They were still close to playing, at least, a final and the accession play-off. I am extremely happy with the quality of their game. Each team can play more or less well but they display a certain consistency thanks to their very good defense.
Have you met the players?
No not yet. Only some. Up until this point, I wanted to stay away. I only said hello from afar (this Friday after Béziers-Dax, he barely passed a head in the locker room, being discreet according to the players, Editor's note).
You are back at a rugby club for the first time since your retirement from sport in 2007, why come back now?
I looked into the possibilities of being in clubs all over the world. I have had opportunities to return to South Africa, England, Australia and even the United States. But Béziers was the first time I really felt this excitement when I had this opportunity. I'm so excited… But I never really let go of the rugby world. I love this sport so much! I have been a commentator, I am friends with many of my former teammates who have become coaches or who have other roles in the oval world. I have remained discreet until then about my discussions with Béziers but one or two friends who knew about it congratulated me and told me that it was an incredible opportunity. Some are very excited because they follow French rugby closely and not only the Top 14, also the Pro D2.
What profession do you currently practice?
I am a consultant in the field of venture capital, private equity, wealth management and consulting. My work fascinates me: it takes me to travel to the four corners of the world and meet a multitude of clients. I'm an employee of a small, very successful consulting company called Elixirr's. I am particularly proud to represent them and this allowed me to open up to the world of business. It actually helped me look at this club, the assessment of its environment, all of those things that are important to make sure that this is an investment that we can make sustainably. Discovering a “normal” life outside of rugby was very, very important to me. I am open-minded and I love discovering other countries, other cultures. It's great for me to have a perspective on the rest of the world and how rugby affects it.
How did this opportunity arise for you to take over the club with Andrew Mehrtens and Eddie Jordan?
I have to say thank you to Andrew. Mehrtens played here with Johnny Howard (the former scrum half will have a role at the club, Editor's note). I met him during a work meeting in London. We remained friends after playing against each other. We had a long conversation about rugby and he told me about this possibility of taking over Béziers. I knew where it was and I knew because I had already vacationed in the area.
Also read:
Pro D2 – The takeover of Béziers, a crazy but still vague project
And Eddie Jordan, how did he end up in this adventure?
A friend introduced me to him 20 years ago now. He watched the Stormers matches. You should know that he is a big rugby fan! In South Africa, he has three or four businesses in Cape Town, where he practices sailing and where he races cars, like in Monaco.
What will your goals be here?
At first glance, we will seek stability, maintaining links between the club and its supporters but also the creation of an environment which encourages people to come. It's a great place, with great people. It must be amazing to play here I think, it's a really good opportunity for the players.
Where does the money come from for Strangford Capital, the investment fund that now owns the red and blue entity?
We raised funds as a group, among ourselves. Our structure is such that we have private investors behind us, as well as our own funds. The money intended to purchase the club is now in the hands of the mayor.
How did Andrew Mehrtens sell you ASBH?
He told me how much he loved his time at Béziers, how many friends he made there and the influence the club had on him. He also told me about the place and the history of the region. He compared this part of the country to me, with the wine region of Stellenbosch, South Africa, where I studied at university. You know, Andrew is a fantastic historian! He also has in-depth knowledge of the game and its history. In short, he also spoke to me a lot about “the great era” (in French in the text, Editor's note) of this generation which experienced great success then the rebirth of the team when he was at the club and they experienced the return to Pro D2 in 2011. All this opened my eyes.
Are you 100% in Béziers?
No, I will keep my job and continue to travel between South Africa, England and the USA. I will focus on my schedule, on where and how I can help the club the most. We have an office in France, in Paris. We have customers all over Europe. I will be able to take care of my job and the club. Normally, I will be there in Brive and against Montauban.
Why keep your job and not be at the bedside of the Rouge et Bleu all the time?
I will be at the club full time! My role in Béziers will be to assist and guide the management in place to do the best possible. I joined the club with the firm intention of becoming more and more involved, but I will take my time to find where I will be most competent to help the management. I see it in a positive way because I will use the exposure my job gives me to big brands, companies, trends and broadcasters. This network and these innovations that it brings me will directly benefit the club!
You arrive at a club with a long history. Does this add pressure to you?
I feel privileged! There is always pressure, no matter where you are. But ASBH has an incredible history! As I said earlier, I have looked at the business of rugby around the world and it is no secret that our sport is really not in a good financial position. In particular, I studied a possibility of taking over in an English club and a South African one. In America, this made no sense. Here, in France, rugby is very, very solid. French people, the support you give to your local club is just enormous! There are important rivalries, big matches, I find it fantastic. It's the only regret of my career: never having played in a French team. I had the chance to play a few matches in France with the Springboks, but it was just an introduction in a way. I would have preferred to play with a club… I had opportunities at the end of my career with Perpignan, Montpellier and Stade français. But I was old, tired and a new dad, so I didn't follow through.
What do you know about this Pro D2 championship?
I did some research on this. Andrew opened my eyes to how competitive teams can be. I have been researching the history of this division as there have been rule and formula changes in recent seasons. Now I have a good command of Pro D2. But I don't claim to be an expert.
Supporters expect to see strong South African players arrive in Hérault under your leadership. What will happen?
I don't just look at South Africans. We are looking for good people, regardless of their origins! But, for me, the goal is to continue building with players from the region, many of whom are talented. It’s fantastic to have so many clubs around Béziers who are part of the club feeder system. It's very healthy! So I will not tax South Africans. What I am looking for are players and men who want to embark on a rugby adventure and join a team that is looking to win in the near future.
The ASBH recently contributed to the news section, with Hans Nkinsi and Taleta Tupuola being accused of domestic violence when Samuel Marques stood out for his bad behavior with a hostess at Rugby Night. Could this have called into question the takeover of the Béziers entity?
No, because the operation was already planned. There are investigations currently being carried out by the courts. So I can't comment on anything related to that. For me, this does not hinder the work of the team.
Had you heard of the most notable previous attempt to take over the ASBH by Christophe Dominici and the crook Samir Ben Romdhane?
Yes, we are aware of it. In fact, if we have been so discreet and if we have taken so long, it is partly because we have analyzed the reasons why this agreement failed in 2020, what happened and the the state of the club beforehand. Negotiating with Robert Ménard was very simple. He is upright, honest and greatly committed to the future of the club. It allowed us to keep our discussions discreet so that we could dialogue to find an agreement without it leaking everywhere and causing a fuss. But Béziers has had its ups and downs and we accept all its past!
