Philippe Saint-André has not forgotten his roots and therefore his village of La Chapelle en Vercors, where he was born. The current manager of Montpellier brought back, this Thursday evening, the Shield of Brennus which he gleaned with the MHR this season in Top 14. back to basics in a village where the name of Saint-André has a real meaning. For several generations, his family has been established but it is also part of the history of this town of 680 souls.
– Yvan Plantey
The grandfather shot by the Nazis
The former coach of the XV of France owes his first name to his grandfather, “that his dad, Serge Saint-André, admired a lot even if he did not have time to know him very much“, slips the former mayor, Régis Malsand. The latter also had Serge Saint-André as first deputy before leaving him the reins of the town. “A real friend“, he assures before continuing: “Philippe Saint-André was shot at the court of those shot on July 25, 1944 where he was one of 16 hostages“.
– Yvan Plantey
Hence the name of the eponymous sports complex where the party was held on Thursday evening. “It’s a homecoming, it’s important not to forget where we come from“, cowardly, modest, the Montpellier coach, who took his first steps with the oval ball in Romans. A way to give back to the town but also to inspire the young people of the rugby school. “We tell ourselves that those of the mountain will not go far in life but it is false“, rightly underlines Célian, 14 years old.
– Yvan Plantey