the essential
Player of RC Narbonne, Laroquais, trained at the RPO, only joined the French university rugby sevens team very recently. In Aix-en-Provence, he participated in all six matches for the French, all victorious, scored two tries and won the world champion title.
Like father, like son. And Thibault Santoro has someone to take after. His dad, Frédéric, whether in the colors of ES Laroquaise or those of Stade Lavelanétien then in Fédérale 1, traced the path of the man who became, at the age of 22, world champion with the French university team rugby 7s. A great adventure and a title for this talented versatile player from the back lines, preferably at the opening, experienced from June 10 to 12, in Aix-en-Provence.
Thibault Santoro plays at Racing-Club Narbonnais, in National (the RCN was beaten by Montauban for the match for accession to Pro D 2) and in Espoirs.
In February, he took part in a meeting with the Ariège Pyrénées Seven team, merged with the Marseille team “Les Minots”. A tournament which allowed him to be spotted by the coach of the French university team.
He then completed a week of training in Marcoussis, with the French university team, already preparing for the World Cup. But Thibault cannot participate in the second week, retained with his club to prepare the “access match” against Montauban. RC Narbonne needed him. Never mind, Thibault Santoro is selected to compete in the World Cup, in France, where ten countries are participating.
In one of the two groups of five teams, on the first day, France has Chile (35-12) and India (62-0). “They weren’t big opposition, but we didn’t have good matches,” explains Thomas. “A bit of a messy start to the competition.” On the second day, the bar is higher. But things went better against Australia (39-18) then more difficult against Japan (17-10).
France qualifies for the semi-final and will challenge Argentina. Victory is once again at the end (38-12). “We had a good match, we won by a large margin but it doesn’t represent the big team opposite, the score doesn’t reflect the match.”
“It’s quite gratifying”
The final arrives in front of South Africa. France won 22-15 and won the title of world champion. “It was a very big team, it went very quickly with great individuals, very good 7 players. We got through it because we played a very good game in defense, we never gave them any balls free, possession was ours. The joy is total.
Thibault still savors this cup which he proudly held in his arms. “For me, when you come away with a title, it’s still quite gratifying. Personally, I think I lacked a little preparation due to not having done the second week of training. I missed a few automatisms in the first matches, but I’m happy, I played all six matches, AND scored two tries, including one in the half against Argentina.
What a journey for this young Laroquais, who started rugby at the age of 7 within the Rassemblement du pays d’Olmes (RPO), then at RC Narbonne, as a cadet.
This result reflects on Thibault’s entourage, his family of course, but also the RPO, his training club, and ES Laroque-Bélesta which he warmly thanks, for which the future university world champion wore the jersey in within the framework of a sponsorship.
At the start of the school year, Thibault, a student at EM Lyon, in a business school within a high-level sports course, will once again put on the Narbonnais jersey. “Rugby means a lot to me. I still have one year of contract at Narbonne, after that, whatever happens, if my body can do it, whatever the level, I will continue.”
