Rugby union: a new lease of life for RC Sète, which strengthens structures and staff

Une belle complémentarité entre un Jean-Luc Fabre 100 % rugby et un Benjamin Arnau 100 % Sète. MIDI LIBRE – Jérôme Belluire

Avec Benjamin Arnau désormais à ses côtés, Jean-Luc Fabre affiche ambition et sérénité.

It is the mine worn by a chaotic season that Jean-Luc Fabre had left the field. Two months later, the features are less drawn. And for good reason, the RCSète has been particularly active since the end of the championships.

Benjamin Arnau, who needs no introduction on the singular island, has actually been appointed vice-president. A fervent supporter of the club since its creation, the jousting champion is far from discovering an environment and a sport whose values ​​he shares. And today it is an inseparable duo that he forms with his president.

The arrival of a heavy goods vehicle

« Initially, we were compatible », he says. « I introduced him to people, we started working together and, one thing led to another, I accepted the position…hellip; » And Jean-Luc Fabre continues: « It was Mouss Amakrane who told me that I should meet him. And straight away, we saw that we had the same desires. I am happy to have met someone who has all the qualities of a great leader. His arrival conditioned the fact that I stayed in Sète. It’s the arrival of a heavy goods vehicle. » 

It was necessary, because the work for this season is very real. « We are clearly rebuilding. The death of Yves Kerbiguet (Editor's note: president then co-president since the creation of the club in 2013) imposes this on us due to his condition. And what we experienced last year must not happen again. It was a terrible blow to the club. »

Charter of good conduct

RC Sète did not shine with its behavior on the field. And this clearly weighed down its season in Federal 3. The structural problem of the club was the lack of authority and the two leaders therefore made sure to no longer experience such a situation. « We have a staff that is holding up », assures Benjamin Arnau. « We imposed a charter based on respect and behavior. A sanction may be imposed at any time. All the players signed it, they agree. I don't want us to spend hours struggling for the club and not have a comeback. We put everything in place and now the players have the keys to the truck. »

Active and qualitative recruitment

If only one departure was recorded (Jamal Baali to Pézenas), there were numerous returns and arrivals. Valentin Casenove, Raymond Amaya, Mickaël Wolff and Thomas Labroue return to the fold. Very important in the rescue of RCSète last season, Renaud Droitecour, until then in dual license with Agde, will be 100% Sétois. The other recruits are Tristan Sarralié (Agde, third row), Mathieu Pomery ( Nîmes and Palavas, scrum half), Evan Rotondo (Agde, three-quarter center), Florian Fournier (Lieuran, winger), Maxime Gleizes (Marseillan, pillar), Manu Palunco (Marseillan, scrum half), Dylan Brun (back injury), Kiko Britto (recovery), Elyès Fadil (recovery) and Thomas Gaye (Agde, rear).

For the B team, Laurent Boissot was reappointed as coach. He will be helped by Pierre Gleizes, who trained the cadets and juniors of Béziers.

In juniors, Sébastien Vergara will take care of the forwards, Théo Casenove the backs. Nico Stanzione will be the third coach, in a managerial role. Adrian Kerbiguet remains, for his part, responsible for the youth sector.

Finally, through the Ponton association chaired by Robert Rumeau, Ronan Stephano (HR Diffusion company) decided to join the club. He will be responsible for development and contacts with partners.

The Biterroise sector

To carry out this mission, the Béziers sector dear to Jean-Luc Fabre was activated. Éric Piazza will thus coach the forwards. The man was twice French champion with ASB (1983 and 1984), but also as a coach with Châteaurenard and Millau. A man of authority who also experienced no less than seven climbs with Sérignan, from PH to Group B. And to train the backs, the club called on Anthony Estruch, who passed through Béziers, Montpellier, Lunel , Agde and Pézenas (seven seasons as players then four as coach).

Restore confidence

« I thank Michel Milovic for the mission he successfully accomplished », declares Jean-Luc Fabre. « Now, place for this duo in which I believe just as much. » And room, too, for new challenges. « We have three objectives », confirms Benjamin Arnau. « Restore confidence in the city, restore confidence in our partners and make people want to come to the Bayrou stadium again. We have grown very quickly, and we sincerely thank all the people who have been involved since the creation of the club. But we can no longer function as a Regional club. »

And Jean-Luc Fabre concludes: « We intend to show our partners that there are leaders who fight for this club. We don't owe a single euro. To be precise, we ended the season with 161 euros profit. The club is poor, but healthy. And I remain convinced that this city, which has national influence, must have a rugby club permanently established at the high amateur level. Today, one page closes, notably with the deaths of Yves Kerbiguet and Jean-Pascal Aigoin, another opens. But it’s still the same book… »

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