In the name of the father… and the sons. Didier Retière takes a tender look at the end of Arthu’s seasonr, hero of the Champions Cup final against Leinster and future Stade Toulousain player. Club where his other son, Edgar, evolves in the hopes. The eldest will therefore find his younger brother after six years spent in La Rochelle.
Before the play-off match played this Saturday (9:05 p.m.) at the Ernest-Wallon stadium, the former member of the staff of the XV of France, then National Technical Director of the French federation, now occupies the position of director of sports development at ASM Clermont Auvergne. Didier Retière confided his pride in seeing Arthur on the front of the stage after a complicated period.
It will take at least a mountain to stop them
Winning the Brennus before joining Toulouse and his brother Edgar, that must be a great source of motivation for Arthur?
If there is something that can characterize Arthur, it is that since he was very young, the only thing that matters to him is winning. So, as soon as we put him on the pitch with a ball, his goal is to win (laughs). As long as he can play and he has things to win, he will do his best to make it happen.
Toulouse is favorite at home, but on its way, La Rochelle has the weapons to create the feat?
It’s complicated, because recently, Stade Toulousain has recovered, it has regained its workforce and therefore obviously it’s a pretty incredible team. We know that they are very, very strong, especially when playing at home. But on the other hand, I believe that today, with the Rochelais, everything is possible. They showed it again in Lyon this weekend. I think there is a real solidarity and it will take at least a mountain to stop them. It’s going to be a real challenge. I think we’re going to have a great rugby match between these two clubs who offer the game. I hope we’re all going to enjoy watching this match.
– Nicolas VALLAURI
I tell myself “shit”, it is not possible, it will not succeed. And then, he goes underneath, he stretches out his arm and voila…
Let’s go back to this Champions Cup final. How did you experience the last minutes at the Vélodrome stadium and this test by Arthur?
It’s curious because in fact, I was sure something was going to happen, I know Arthur well and I saw that he was looking to see if there was a small door that was going to open. open and in which he was going to be able to engulf himself. In fact, it was weird because on this sequence, when I see him leave, I say to myself yes, we see the space and he is going to do something, and then he stumbles. I tell myself “shit”, it is not possible, it will not succeed. And then he goes under, he stretches his arm and that’s it… It’s quite incredible, it’s an extraordinary moment, only sport can give us stuff like that.
You followed the parade the next day in the Old Port of La Rochelle. Artur was not the last to celebrate…
That I trust him (laughs). He is someone who is really into human relations and who has a good, communicative mood. And I think so, he benefited from it especially for him. This season has been complicated though. Me, as a dad, I had him in the hard times, when he was in plaster (Editor’s note: right ankle fracture in December 2021 against the Glasgow Warriors)that the deadlines were getting longer and that he was not necessarily in good spirits. Today is an incredible chance to be able to know this moment. And then, the twist of fate and the sign of fate, that it was he who won La Rochelle in the last minutes, it was great for him.
My heart will swing on the side of Stade Rochelais next weekend
Apparently, during the parade, Arthur began to prepare his conversion, he wants to become a motorcyclist in the national police, is that it?
Yes I think he did an accelerated course, he tried two, three things. He tried the police motorbike, he also tried the boat I think. Well, the outfit was not very adequate. But in any case, it may have potential for the future.
More seriously Didier, are you going to support a team on Saturday evening or will you be neutral?
I think there is a small side all the same for Stade Rochelais, since Arthur is in the team, even if my second son (Edgar) is in Toulouse, but he will not be in the squad. So my heart will swing on the side of the Stade Rochelais next weekend. Stade Toulousain will have to be very strong to stop them because they are full of confidence and I believe they have everything to gain. We know what level Stade Toulousain can put themselves at. I think it will be a really great rugby game. In my view, the team that will win this meeting will be on track to win the title.
– NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP