Rugby Amateurs: “I am delighted with the result of this vote”, confides Pierre Jean-Marie, freshly re-elected as head of the Hautes-Pyrénées departmental committee

President Jean-Marie, you have just experienced a rather calm financial AGM of the rugby CD65 before seeing the elective AGM renew your list for 4 years…

First of all, I am very happy with the participation of the clubs, since we have 26 clubs out of 27 today. Only Saint-Lary is absent, but they had a little problem. Turnout is important, and I am delighted with the outcome of this vote today.

If we look back at the previous mandate, what notable event comes to mind?

What struck us the most, I think it was the pandemic, which had created a big problem on the clubs. The FFR had remedied this, but it had been a difficult time. However, I believe that the clubs, with the World Cup then the Olympics, bounced back well, and today we have moved on, and that is very good.

The clubs have renewed their confidence in you with 100% of the votes, and you have said it, from Tuesday evening, you will put yourself in working order to prepare for the events to come.

Yes, we arrive on the eve of the holidays, but indeed, we already have a CODIR at the Ligue Occitanie on December 18. So, on the 17th, we will be able to function with all the committees and the committee chairs. There have already been consultations, but of course, that evening we will be ready to work.

You thanked the clubs for their trust. This is an important thing.

Yes, because I repeat what I often say: we are a land of rugby. There is a particular social connection with all of these areas, whether urban or rural, and I believe that is something important to preserve. We give ourselves the means, this is what we work towards every day.

Among the upcoming events, are there these local finals that all of Bigorre is waiting for?

Yes, what’s more, we were certainly the first department in Occitanie to organize all the finals in all categories. There, we will have to add three: from 13, we will go to 16. So, indeed, this finals weekend of March 22 and 23 remains a main objective of the department, and we will make this moment a celebration, because it is a departmental holiday.