the essential
It is not only at Castres Olympique that we find Castres in professional rugby: in Aurillac, Léo Salvan, 22, is at a turning point in his young career.
If rugby and Castres are deeply and intimately linked, both in fact and in spirit, “native” Castres playing at the professional level are ultimately quite rare. We think of Baptiste Delaporte, Castro-Labruguièrois, Mathieu Babillot, Baptiste Cope, Castro-Saïxol, and a few others in the past… But the current professional rugby players born and raised in Castres are not legion!
There is one, however, who is trying everything to get there, and who is today at a crossroads: Léo Salvan, 22 years old, who is currently playing in ProD2, within the Aurillac club. Léo was born in Castres and did his schooling there, between the Lambert school, the Jean Monnet college and the Borde Basse high school. He also took his rugby classes there: at Aviron Castrais from 2007 to 2013, then at Castres Olympique, from 2013 to 2020, up to Crabos. It was at the end of this last season that he signed a hopeful contract at Aurillac, in Cantal.
8 proD2 matches with Aurillac
“Becoming a pro is a dream and a goal,” says Castres. “You have to give your all. This year is my last as a Espoir at the club’s training center. not retained…” Léo Salvan, who plays as a scrum half or fly half, is at a turning point in his young career: captain of the Aurillac hopefuls, he becomes champion of France with them in 2021. And s he trains regularly, for 3 years, with the professional team, nothing has yet been done, even if last season, he played 6 matches, and 2 including one as a starter this season.
While waiting to know his future, Léo feels good in Aurillac, a small town where rugby plays a big role, as in his hometown. “I feel really good, I've lived there for 5 years, it's a very natural life. The walks, the mushrooms, the fishing… What I also like is that in Aurillac, there There are a lot of links between the junior team and the first team.”
At the same time, Léo Salvan continues his studies. He obtained a bachelor's degree in business development management. But his priority is to make rugby his profession: “I want to stay in rugby. At the highest level possible!” Nothing has been done, one way or the other, and Léo does not yet know if he will sign his first professional rugby contract with Aurillac, currently 10th in the ProD2 championship. “For 2 years, I have really been with the pro group, I have very often been 24th man (editor's note: additional player who participates in the warm-up but does not appear on the match sheet). I feel the thing, so obviously , I want to be there!”
Le Castres will know its future in a few months.
