Led until the 79th minute in a hotly contested final, the Toulousains clung to the end to win against the Rochelais on Saturday. It was a try by Romain Ntamack that allowed Stade Toulousain to be crowned French rugby champion. On franceinfo, his father says his pride.
“It’s emotion, joy, tears, it feels like a dream and it’s not reality”reacted this Sunday on franceinfo Emile Ntamack, father of Romain Ntamack and former rugby player, while the players of Stade Toulouse are French rugby champions after their victory in the Top 14 final against Stade Rochelais 29-26 on Saturday.
The men of Ugo Mola celebrate this Sunday afternoon, place du Capitole, their victory by raising their 22nd shield of Brennus in front of their supporters.
How did you feel when you saw your son running towards the goal?
It has been amazing. It’s emotion, joy, tears, it feels like a dream and it’s not reality. We are so happy for Romain, for the boys, not to have given up, to have believed in their star. Sport is that too, it can happen without twists and it took this one to deliver us.
Does this bring back memories for you?
Yes, but these are rare moments. It happened to me, but under different circumstances. I imagine the intense joy because this is the final of the Top 14. This test is very intense because it is done at the last second. He knocks down and he wins. They believe in their star and it reminds me of our generation where we were often on the wrong foot and we looked at each other thinking that there was someone who was going to unblock the situation. They replicate that and it’s huge.
This is the 3rd title of champion of France for Romain, who has also put the test of victory. You must be proud?
It is something wonderful. It’s a mind-blowing scenario on the end, on the construction. It was a clash of the titans which was announced with two superb teams which had reigned over the Top 14 this season and which found themselves to do battle. La Rochelle was shaping up to be a formidable opponent and it was. Until 2 minutes from the end, they were in front, and then a Toulouse-style ball with a comeback from the group, a spark as the Toulouse people sometimes know how to do.
Is Stade Toulousain supported by a collective?
We have extraordinary players who can bring grist to the mill. Everyone is capable of doing extraordinary things on the pitch, but it’s this collective that wins, which lays the foundation and allows them to express themselves. Romain is at the end of the action, but the 30 meters of construction before is the whole group. This ball, the conservation, the ability not to lose it, to believe in it, to create disorder on the field, it is the collective.