Nicolas Legeay – « We realised that there was a gap with the other nations where a lot of youngsters have moved up to Elite ».

Published on 22 December 2022

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To conclude the year 2022, the French Elite men’s team had a training camp in Laval. Sixteen players from the Elite group took part in this meeting. Interview with Nicolas Legeay, coach of the French team.

It was in extreme weather conditions that the French Elite men’s team completed its end-of-year training camp. With freezing temperatures, rain, snow and wind peaks of almost 40 km/h, the organisms were tested to the limit. « We were supposed to have the indoor pool and the outdoor pool but the indoor one had a technical problem. » Of course, in these conditions, solidarity and team spirit were the key words for the 16 players present. Among them, all the players selected during the Sarcelles training camp as well as a U24, Julien Potier, Squale Team player. As they mentioned when they started to manage the Elite, Nicolas Legeay and Olivier Flandrin want to work closely with the U24s. This will be illustrated once again during the next training camp on 4 and 5 February, which will be shared with the U24s and where new young players will be tested. « We realised that there was a gap with other nations, especially Great Britain, where a lot of youngsters have moved up to Elite.« 

The other notion the coaches want to develop is the idea of a France Group. If the selection for Australia will be known at the end of the March training camp, the coaches want that the players who will not be part of the 12 selected remain concerned to help the group which will travel to Australia. A speech that seems to have paid off. « The guys have committed that even if they are not selected, to continue to stay in the group to help those who are going. We need them.« 

The sixteen players present in Laval : Cédric Ramialiarison, Ulysse Flandrin, Nicolas Merlier, Paul-Emile Noirot-Cosson, Victorien Delbaere, Antoine Deimat, Frédéric Estier, Bastien Belloir, Quentin Thomazo, Kévin Caupin, Valentin Carré, Maxime Piaser, Hyacinthe Flandrin, Pierre-Alban Lalys, Edouard Crolotte, Julien Potier.

@Laurent Prades