“Aim high, work hard” has been the motto of Valence Romans Drôme Rugby since its creation in 2016. This is what Fabien Fortassin’s players set out to do for the Drôme club’s return to Pro D2 last season. “We are a team of workers. What makes us strong is above all being together, not giving up. And even when it’s hard, it’s precisely managing to turn things around. Our team was like the club, that is to say that we projected ourselves little by little and we achieved the objectives little by little,” confided fly-half Lucas Méret.
Biarritz Olympique: Thomas Hébert and the seven captains
If the Biarritz staff has chosen to share the captaincy between seven executives this season, it is the 24-year-old third row who will assume this role first, this Friday against Valence Romans. A reward for his determination and combativeness
This great strength of character was particularly rooted in the excellent understanding and atmosphere that reigned within the group. This was demonstrated by the trip to Barcelona to celebrate the end of the season in mid-May with 35 players. The VRDR will still be able to rely on this strength, because with only 13 departures, including only one indisputable starter, the Georgian 3rd row Ioane Iashagashvili in Mont-de-Marsan, for 9 arrivals, the squad has not experienced such a profound renewal as in the 2023 off-season.
“Fabien (Fortassin) because he is a very good technician and tactician. We have very good relations.”
The Drômois are coached by Fabien Fortassin, a well-known face in the South-West, particularly on the Aguilera side where the former fly-half finished his playing career (from 2016 to 2018) before joining the Biarritz staff as assistant to Gonzalo Quesada and then Jack Isaac in the 2018-2019 season. His reunion with the BO last season was initially very successful, with a large victory at the Pompidou stadium in Valence (55-0) for the 2nd day of Pro D2. But during the return to Biarritz, on January 19, the Basques took revenge (38-13).
While the choice of Fabien Fortassin as manager raised questions among some supporters and followers of Valence Romans, the former fly-half has largely proven his skills. “We are very happy with Fabien’s work because he is a very good technician and tactician. He is someone with whom we have very good relations, just like the players with him,” underlines Laurent Beaugiraud, co-president of the VRDR.
Ready for battle
For their second consecutive season in Pro D2, the Damiers have strengthened in the off-season and intend to keep their attractive and offensive face from last season. Despite two defeats in preparation against Grenoble and Nice, they approach Friday’s trip (7:30 p.m.) to Biarritz with motivation. “The players told me that they would be ready for Biarritz. I was reassured this week by the quality of our training, the motivation and investment of the boys. The signals are green. The entire squad is very homogeneous and very interesting,” says Fabien Fortassin.
The latter expects a big fight. “I think it’s a good trip to start the season. In its two preparation matches, the BO showed a lot of desire, generosity in their efforts, the combat phases, the ruck. We’ll have to be ready at that level. It’s clear that we’ll have to respond in physical density and in the approach to the fight.”
The infirmary
For this first match of the season, Fabien Fortassin has few players in the infirmary, only three. Among the forwards, the Georgian 3rd row Otar Giorgadze has an acromio injury. As for the backs, Charles Bouldoire is out following a hand injury. Arriving from Perpignan, number 9 Matéo Rodor is still bothered in the thigh by a torn hamstring.
