Rugby union: the secret dream fulfilled by Mathis Arnaud, new pillar of RC Nîmes

Le pilier Mathis Arnaud a signé un contrat de trois ans. Photo rcn

Passé par Romans-Pégae, Clermont, Aurillac et Aubenas, le pilier gauche Mathis Arnaud, natif d’Alès, espérait depuis longtemps défendre les couleurs du RCN. Portrait.

At the Arnauds, the ball was not oval but round. "In the family, we have always been football", recognizes Mathis Arnaud, 27 years old, left pillar and new recruit of the Nîmes Rugby club. Not surprising when we know that the dad has a cousin called Patrick Cubaynes!

It was at the age of twelve that the native of Alès discovered rugby, following a transfer from his father, a police officer, to Romans-sur-Isère. "Next to the barracks where we were staying, there was a rugby field."

This land is that of the US Romans-Péage. "I was hooked straight away." So much so that he started sports studies at the Rovaltain club. Four years later, in 2013, he found himself in one of the strongholds of French rugby, since he joined the ASM Clermont Auvergne training center.

A great experience

There are seven seasons left in the region, playing in Clermont-Ferrand from 2013 to 2015 then in Aurillac from 2015 to 2019. "At Stade Aurillacois, he says, I had very good times with selections for the French university team, in particular. And others more delicate with, in 2018, the death of Louis Fajfrowski, following a tackle during a match against Rodez."

Since 2019, the left pillar has worn the colors of Aubenas in Nationale 2. Why join Nîmes ? "I needed a new challenge after five seasons in Ardèche. The Gardois that I am secretly dreamed of wearing the RCN jersey. When we played at the Kaufmann stadium, when we faced the fervor of our audience, we can only wish to experience it on the good side", he smiles.< /p>

His versatility is an asset

Thing done with this signing for three seasons of a training left pillar (1.76 m, 108 kg) who can help out as much on the right as on the tailgating. "His versatility is an asset and explains our choice, Nîmes manager Guillaume Aguilar makes no secret. Mathis was a full starter when Aubenas played in the National. He proved that he was capable of holding his scrums and being a real worker in the shadows. We needed a left-hander following the departures of Nouri and Duprat. Finally, he really wants to defend the club's colors."

Strong in closed scrum, a sector he likes, Mathis Arnaud has the reputation of a player who doesn't give up and who likes " wet your swimsuit", at all costs.