Like his La Rochelle friends from the XV of France, Uini Atonio and Jonathan Danty, Grégory Alldritt will not be traveling to Japan in July. the Maritime captain was exempted from an international tour. Need to breathe and take a well-deserved break, even if the native Gersois would have liked to extend his season until next Friday at the Stade de France. But the elimination in the play-off match in Toulouse in the Top 14 must not tarnish the XXL season of the third international line. It is simply exceptional and historic.
The Blues won the 2022 Six Nations Tournament with a Grand Slam as a result and Stade Rochelais won the first major trophy in its history: the Champions Cup. Passing through France Blue La Rochelle this Tuesday, Grégory Alldritt confided his pride and his future ambitions in club as in selection. In a corner of his head: the Shield of Brennus, then the World Cup in France in 2023.
European champion
The season is over. Do you finally realize that 2022 has been a completely crazy year?
Little by little, we take the measure. Already, I think that everyone realized well on the port, when we saw this crowd and this immense fervor, it was a moment charged with emotions. I think it will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Of course, I hope there will be more. Me, personally, what makes me realize all this is when I tell myself that there are only four French clubs that have won this competition. We are finally part of the big clubs.
The Grand Slam
2022 is a Champions Cup and a Grand Slam. Is it a dream season for you?
A Brennus is missing, but there must be more to do for the coming seasons. The Tournament was also a moment charged with emotions. It’s a title that everyone has been waiting for for 12 years. To finally be able to win this tournament again, it was something great, especially since the last to do so, I watched them on TV, I was 13, and I was completely a fan, so to be the next to do that, I don’t even realize yet.
The joys are comparable?
They are different. There are a lot of emotions in both, there is a lot of joy. It’s something huge. If the question is to choose, it is impossible. The link between the two is that there was a title that had been awaited for 12 years for the France team. And for Stade Rochelais, we were waiting for the first major title, so there was this resemblance which made both of them magnificent.
– Yoann Camberfort / Marti Media / DPPI
Yellow fever
Do you realize that the city of La Rochelle and well beyond vibrates in unison for its team?
Yes, it is unique. We often said it at the start of the season with the players. What is beautiful in this club is that we play for 800 partners, for a city, a department, a region. And we don’t have this feeling of playing for a patron. So when we say that this European Cup title is not for 23 players, but for an entire region, we really mean it.
Season 2022-2023
You have extended until 2026 at Stade Rochelais. There is the Brennus and the World Cup to go for in 2023?
I think the worst would be to be on both sides non-stop. I think we have to focus on deadlines. First a successful start to the season with Stade Rochelais, which would allow me to do a good tour with the French team and so on until I get to the World Cup. But playing with La Rochelle with the World Cup in mind, I think is the worst mistake.
A last message for listeners and supporters before going on vacation?
Sure. Already I want to thank them for all this crazy season and give them an appointment for next season. Because I will speak on behalf of all players and the club too. We had the taste of victory and now we want more.