Almost two weeks after his big debut in Pro D2, Thibaud Mazzoléni is continuing his daydream. Now thriving at XV, he has definitively drawn a line under rugby sevens and intends to seek an extension at SU Agen.
He had dreamed of it for months or even years. His wish came true on September 27. Thibaud Mazzoléni played his first Pro D2 match with SU Agen, his long-time club. “I wanted at all costs (again) to wear this jersey one day. Unfortunately, there was this defeat which marred the evening (30-25N.D.L.R.). I remain happy to have participated in this match and I look forward to playing in Armandie.”confesses the child from Lot-et-Garonne.
Scheduled to make his big debut during the second block, the versatile three-quarterback succeeded in his bet: that of being called upon earlier than expected. “I am a very big competitor. Even if Seb (Bald) had warned me that I was not scheduled for the first block, I hoped to see my name during each composition announcement. A week before Valence-Romans, he told me that there was a chance that I would play the fifth match. When I saw my name and my photo on the lineup, I was super happy.”
Icon Sport – Romain Biard
For several months, Mazzoléni prepared for his return to XV. For him, it was SUA or nothing. “Signing for Agen was my only goal. If I hadn’t succeeded, I would have stopped professional rugby. I only wanted to have fun again in the club of my heart. It’s a childhood dream to play in Armandie, where I grew up.”
Rupeni Caucaunibuca, the idol of a lifetime
As a symbol, Thibaud Mazzoléni started in Pro D2 on the wing. Or in the same position as his idol, the illustrious Fijian Rupeni Caucaunibuca. “I will remember my first autograph from Rup’s all my life. I was with my brother and my father at the match. At the end of the match, he signed my brother and me. On the way home At home, we raced to be the first to announce to our mother that we had an autograph and I took it really badly… Rupeni made all the people of Agen vibrate.he rewinds, with emotion.
SU Agen represents a large part of Mazzoléni’s youth. He now wants to give back to his club what it gave him. “As a child, I can still see myself queuing in front of the stadium, arriving two hours before the match. The stadium was full whether it was in the Top 16 or Top 14. I was thrilled for this club. Today, I am at the place of the players I admired. It’s the dream of my life…”
On the wing, at the back and at the scrum
And in the Agen jersey, he will walk on this lawn on the wing, at the back or in the scrum. Him, the training opener. “I didn’t want to hear about this winger position at the base because I had this vision of the position where we don’t touch the ball. But with the game that is set up, I’m enjoying it and I’m not against continuing on the wing”he smiles, almost two weeks after his double at Valence-Romans. “It actually feels weird to me because I’m not usually a scorer.”
His versatile profile appealed to Sébastien Calvet and Jean-François Fonteneau. By placing their trust in him, the two men relaunched the career of a 27-year-old man, who has come a long way. “The last few years at Sevens were difficult for me both physically and mentally. I went through a fairly dark period two years ago when I wanted to quit rugby. I burned out and I no longer had the passion. I managed to rediscover a taste for this sport by returning to Agen.
From now on, he is patient before setting foot on his favorite lawn. It shouldn’t be long now. Just like the extension in his long-time club?
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