INTERVIEW. Cyril Deligny, back in Montauban with Valence-Romans Drôme rugby: “We need to bring back points from Sapiac”

He is one of those players who doesn't make a lot of noise but who has had a great career. Cyril Deligny, the child of Castelsarrasin (Tarn-et-Garonne), returns to his department's club, US Montauban, on the occasion of the 17th day of Pro D2, Friday January 17, 2025.

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The hooker, who spent four seasons at Sapiac before taking charge of Valence-Romans Drôme rugby, confides the points needs of his team, the little pre-match messages exchanged with the Vert et Noir or even the chambers between friends with his teammate and former captain of Blagnac, Matthieu Vachon.

How does it feel to come back to “your” department?

This is the second time. Already last year, I played for the first day of the 2023-2024 championship. It's obviously special to see friends and family who are going to come to the match. In the preparation and in the run-up to the match the week before, it doesn't change much, however. We write to each other with Bose (Jérôme Bosviel), Max (Mathy) or Fred (Quercy), just to get news and find out if they will be on the ground.

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And you, will you be there?

Yes ! (laughs)

You are now in fifteenth position, but many observers say that you are out of place…

The problem is that we lose a lot of matches at home that we could have really avoided. Again Friday (January 10) against Colomiers… We held the match rather well but we were guilty of indiscipline and we took an interception, an 80-meter try, two or three attempts with zero passes… It's frustrating. Moreover, this was the case against Montauban where we took a try at 77^e.

How do you see the match for maintenance?

We will battle with Aurillac and Nice I think. Oyonnax has recovered, Nevers should also be able to escape despite their start to the season… Besides, we host Nice next week. This is a decisive sequence for us. Because if we lose at Sapiac and Aurillac wins, we find ourselves nine points behind them. We have to manage to put a team behind us to avoid the barrage.

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Are you already thinking about it?

No, we're not talking about it at the moment. And if we could avoid talking about it until the end of the championship, that would be great!

Nice, in fact, bothered Montauban a lot in November. Did you draw inspiration from this meeting to build your match?

No not at all. We studied Montauban in the last matches. It’s obviously a very strong team in all sectors. Defensively, there are some very solid guys. We know it's going to sting and we have no room for error.

Despite everything, Sapiac is in doubt…

It is certain that it is better to take them after this series of five defeats, when they are less sure of themselves, than if they came out of a positive series like at the start of the season. Today we need points. We'll try to annoy them and we'll see at the end if we can bring something back. One, two or four: we have to bring home points.

In Valencia, you saw the arrival last season of Matthieu Vachon, former third row and emblematic captain of Blagnac. I understand that there has been some disagreement between you recently…

(He laughs) Yes since Blagnac lost at Castel in December at Alary! It was fun to see our two training clubs compete against each other. Matthieu has an incredible trajectory, we wonder how he didn't arrive in the professional world sooner. He had an incredible start to the season and continued. It’s a real big pick for us.

And you, where are you?

I am at the end of my contract at the end of the season. I'm still thinking about what's next.

Did you have any regrets about having to leave USM?

For four seasons I played almost every weekend. When I found out I wasn't being guarded, it felt weird. It pissed me off at the time, let's put it mildly. I'm from here, my partner too, my friends and my family are here… But that's the law of professional rugby.

We met you in Montauban during the holidays. Do you come back often?

As soon as we can! But with my older daughter starting school, it's more complicated, knowing that it's a five-hour drive home. But we take advantage of vacations or festivals to return to the country.

Could finishing in Sapiac do it?

I really wouldn't have minded coming back. But today, there are hookers under contract and others who can extend. If there is a possible place in the future, I am not closing the door, I would be happy to come back. But time flies…