Nevers scrum-half again last season, Arthurs Barbier has decided to make a living from his passion abroad. After Hong Kong and New Zealand, his adventures currently take him to Australia. Bored by rugby in France, he doesn't regret going to the other side of the world!
Was playing abroad something you had in mind for a long time or was it an opportunity that presented itself to you?
I always had this desire to leave. This came to fruition due to the lack of interesting opportunities I had in relation to what I wanted, in the sense that I no longer enjoyed playing rugby. It’s still the essence of sport and it’s what, above all, I do rugby for… I didn't necessarily find the right opportunities or what suited me best in France. I could have stayed in NeversI also had offers in Nationale. Leaving was therefore the solution. JI told myself that maybe it was the right time for me, whether in my career or even as a man, to travel and explore what is being done elsewhere in rugby.
How did this opportunity to play within the Hong Kong Football Club arise for you at the start of the season?
I have a friend who played for a long time in Japan for a long time and I was, thanks to him, in advanced contact with a team ofand Tokyo. At the last moment, it didn't happen… It turns out that there was a guy from Nevers, whose name I don't want to know, who has contacts in Hong Kong. Thanks to this, two or three clubs saw my profile circulating. THISIt happened quickly. In addition, there is a former French player who took care of me, Khrist Kopetzky (ex Stade Bordeaux, Tarbes or France 7). He lives now in Hong Kong, where he performed. There, he played with Jean-Baptiste Aldigé (the president of Nice). He helped me negotiate the contract, for example. He took me under his wing a little !
Japan, Hong Kong, that makes two Asian countries. Are you passionate about the culture of these countries?
It's a bit of a coincidence! I had also spoken with MLR teams (the American championship). But they were looking for more experienced profiles, internationals.
Were there any Hong Kong players in the local championship?
There aren't too many premises. When you arrive at training, you don't feel like you're in Asia. There is a lot of English, Australians, New Zealanders… It’s not really like in France, where, until Nationale 2, you can have “professional” contracts with which you are only paid to play rugby. There, everyone had to have a job on the side. But the players still have a great level, I was pleasantly surprised by the way. In fact, these foreigners come to Hong Kong because they have very well-paid jobs. They work in finance or they are sports coaches, a job that pays a lot there. IThey come with financial motivation, but they continue to evolve at a good rugby level. My idea, when leaving for Asia, was to play at a good level and at the same time start working a little, gain professional experience.
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What is the level of the local championship?
It's almost like the Nationale 2. In fact, the individual level of the players is quite high but the pace is amateurish with only two training sessions per week.even if it was serious at home because our New Zealand coach was very good. When you don't train a lot, in the bond of the team, the benchmarks, it shows. Even if the individual qualities of the guys on our synthetic turf were at a good level! I played four matches. I had a small concussion which made me miss a fifth before a long international break for the selection, owhere there is not a single Hong Konger.
In terms of living environment, going from Nevers to Hong Kong must make a big difference…
I don't know if I could have done more opposite! I don't want to denigrate Nevers, but, without wanting to be mean, there's not much going on there… When you're young (he 26 years), this is not not necessarily the ideal place to be able to see things, go out a little… In Hong Kong, there are a lot of buildings, life is completely crazy. All day, all nightiThere are people there all the time! But as soon as you get out of the city a little, you have a little wild sides, you have a lot of beaches, a lot of hikes also to do. It's not too bad, it allows you to escape the frenzy of the city. It also allowed me to travel quite a bit in Asia. I have been to Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos…
Why did you leave this special administrative region of China?
I left because the terms of the contract were not respected. This all comes from one person at the club. I was promised a big job in a good company in management and finance. I didn't get it. I also had problems with the apartment. I didn't have to pay him until I got my job. One day I was asked to pay the rent, so I left. This is why I brought forward my arrival in Australia, where I was supposed to arrive in February, March. But between the two countries, I also passed a month in New Zealand where I was able to train with a team, via a contact.
How did you end up at Sydney club Manly Marlins RFC?
It’s thanks to Jean-Baptiste Dubié. He knows Lucas Blanc very well, with whom I played in Nevers and who put me in touch with him. JB informed me well about everything here, and he put me in contact with the coach. The coach saw some videos and was very interested. Training begins on January 16, the season starts at the end of March and ends in the summer.
A Pro D2 player and a Top 14 player contacted me
Do you make a living from the oval ball?
I'm going to work in a café on the side. It's quite peaceful and, financially, I find my way easily. I did this job when I played at Marcq-en-Baroeul, before Nevers. My best friend had Australian cafes in Lille. I was going to work after training so as not to sit around doing nothing. So I already have skills (smile). I will work from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., five days a week. I will serve the surfers before they hit the water before, why not, joining them before training (smile). I share a room with an Australian and a Brazilian. They do a lot of it so I'm going to start surfing too.
Is your goal to settle in Australia or are your suitcases not unpacked?
I'm going to start taking seasons after seasons (laughs). There, I will take advantage of Australia and progress as much as possible rugby-wise. Afterwards, if the planets align and I find a contract in France, I would come back with great pleasure. Maybe I would change countries too. Frankly, I won't do anything at all as long as I'm having fun!
Have any professional players in France contacted you after seeing your tribulations?
I have, yes, notably one playing in Pro D2 and another in Top 14. It's pretty cool to say that there are other guys who want to travel, that I'm not the only one, that I'm not crazy for wanting to do these things either! Anyone who sends me messages, I respond with great pleasure. I want to help as best I can, since I was helped!
Conversely, do Australians take advice from you, they who have many compatriots on the lawns of France?
It's funny you say that to me. I trained on foot with a New Zealander, and he told me that he would like to play in France. I'm not a magician either, but I'll try to put him in touch with the right people. However, if the Australians often want to play in France, they also have a good situation here. They have a somewhat quiet job in the sun… The setting is exceptional!
