What does it mean to you to be selected for the Interclubs World Championships in Australia?
Above all, this selection represents being French Interclub champions, after a hard-fought victory in Mimizan last May, under challenging conditions. Just that, it was already a huge pride.
The club has been participating in this competition for several years. We always present teams because it’s a significant moment to nurture the club spirit, share a nice trip in the Southwest, and defend our colors to the core. Every year, we invest a lot, but so far, despite regular finals and a third-place finish as the best result, we couldn’t clinch the title. The pressure sometimes got the best of us, especially since the tag team format is very demanding tactically.
This time, everything aligned. Being French champions was already a great pride, but it was also the recognition of a collective that worked perfectly. We were able to put together a solid, efficient, and consistent team. This world qualification is above all the reward for this collective work.
When did you officially learn about the club’s qualification and what was your first reaction?
Initially, we didn’t know that the title of French champion allowed us to qualify for Australia. During the competition, there was a rumor circulating about the possibility of accessing the World Championships Interclubs. It’s still a relatively recent event internationally: historically, it was mainly Australian championships before gradually opening up to international teams by invitation.
This year, it was the first time that qualification came through a national title. When we realized that this opportunity existed, it clearly added an additional pressure, but a positive one. Anyway, we would have given our all no matter what, but now, there was this incredible bonus in sight.
The official confirmation came a few months later. That’s when we really grasped it. It was pretty crazy. For the club, it’s a historic moment: it’s the first time we’re going abroad with a competitive team. Clearly, this trip to Australia will be a turning point and will remain a highlight for the club.
