France

The Pool A preview (TdV) is here ! #LigueDesOpensMoreSport

by
Christophe Hinneman

Published on 5th October 2022

The traditional Tournoi du Velay, second stage of the Ligue des Opens More-Sport, will be held on the weekend of October 8th and 9th. As usual, three groups will be reunited at the nautical centre La Vague to try to start their season as well as possible. Let’s have a look at the forces involved in pool A.

Pessac :

Qualified for the final stage in Sarcelles last season, Pessac proved that they are capable of upsetting the top teams, Dinan will recall.

However, it is not the team that we can imagine winning the stage but with the technicians Jérémy Plaquin and Guillaume Ratier, we know that there will be plenty of entertainment !

Note that Diderot XII player Damien Recouvreur joins the Girondins as a joker on this stage.

Pontoise :

A new arrival who could completely change everything !

Absent from the league last season, the 2021-2022 D1 fourth-placed team clearly has something to play for this year. However, for this first stage the team will be missing some key players such as French Masters vice champion Mehdi Bendjelloul and the emblematic captain Thomas Roussel.

To replace them, U20 international Mathéo Orpelière joins the group alongside the young but prominsing Corentin Morelle and the experienced Paul Emile Noirot-Cosson and Thomas Berland. French international Cedric Ramialiarison is also part of this more than complete squad.

Fontenay :

Winners of all stages of the French Open League last season except the final, Fontenay are looking for revenge.

The CSMB has won the last two editions of the Velay tournament and knows how to take advantage of the weaknesses of teams that are not necessarily ready at the beginning of the season. In addition to their usual roster composed of the eternals Nicolas Legeay, Hervé Thaurus or Stéphane Royer, Fontenay will be able to count on two internationals : Valentin Carré and Kévin Caupin.

A number of players will be missing. Among them, Arnaud Lagabbe, Guillaume Vicainne or Damien Chevalier will not be present at this Velay Tournament.

Despite this, Fontenay is undeniably one of the favourites for its own succession.

Moirans :

After missing out on the podium in the final of the previous edition, Moirans have had a disappointing season, considering the quality of the CASM squad. Moirans has the ability to win a stage or more, but they often struggle in the important moments.

Last year’s unfortunate finalists against Fontenay, the Grandamas brothers, Marant and Piaser will all be there, led by captain Samuel Garcin.

Will they finally succeed in being consistent to the end ?

Dinan :

Gone are the days of the up and coming team, Dinan now have a standing to maintain.

With their French Open League title last season, Dinan have moved from outsider to favourite. Although they will not be able to count on the British Tom Pitchforth for this stage, the Breton squad remains very strong. All the French internationals will be present : the Flandrin brothers, Pierre-Alban Lalys and Edouard Crolotte. The maestro of 1v1 Antoine Deimat will also have the opportunity to show his skills.

The Dinannais must not repeat the same mistakes they made last season when they started their season slowly.

Now, the time has come to confirm.

Master M :

The world title defence operation begins ! The Masters are starting a new cycle with only one survivor of the victory in Quebec, Damien Chesné.

A team in the making against the armadas of the D1, the foundations must already be very solid for the Masters. A team with Saintes’ colours with captain Xavier Beaulieu, Julien Remigereau, John Aubert and Damien Billonneau.

Colombianos :

Half Masters, half Puy with a touch of foreign players, the Colombianos is the team we didn’t expect in this pool A.

Led by the experienced Yoann Castella, Pierre-Jean Dreux and Laurent Cophein, the Colombianos will be a happy mishmash that will have to be quickly organized because the other teams will not hesitate to punish them

So, who will win in this group A and take the leadership of the ranking ? Make your predictions !