South African players settle in La Seyne-sur-Mer before their clash against the France team

The South African rugby team arrived in the Var before their shock against the XV of France (Saturday 12 November 2022, 9 p.m., Stade Vélodrome de Marseille) in an ideal environment! The South Africans settled down this Sunday at the Grand Hôtel des Sablettes in La Seyne-sur-Mer to prepare for their test match and also to discover their base camp for the Rugby World Cup, organized in France on September 8. to October 28, 2023.

After the defeat against Ireland last Saturday (19 to 16) Deon Davids, forwards coach South Africans, found a smile at a press conference when asked for his opinion on the Sablettes site: “It’s absolutely fantastic! The hotel, the view, the landscape… everything is fantastic here! We didn’t have time to discover everything but we’re really happy to be here”. A sentiment shared by the pillar Frans Malherbe which is already planned for the fall of 2023: “It’s very nice for us to discover the region where we will live next year during the World Cup. It’s important for us to get to know the hotel, the people and the environment!”

Training with young rugby players from the Var

To prepare for their match against France, the South Africans will train this week on the field of Saint-Mandrier but also at the RCT Campus, one of the most modern training centers in France. The reigning world champions will also share a Thursday afternoon trainingi with a hundred young rugby players from the Var. “For us it is obvious” comments Deon Davids: “We have received an invitation to do a coaching session with children and we are eager to share our rugby vision. It’s important for us to give back to rugby what it gave us!”

The South Africans will spend their World Cup in the Var

The Springboks have reserved two of the three floors of the Grand Hotel des Sablettes for this week and for the fall of 2023. For Adrian Lelièvre, manager of this 4-star establishment, this first stay is like a dress rehearsal “for them as for us” before the World Cup. “We are very proud to welcome them. It’s an incredible rugby team. They are all very nice and super professional! They knew our region by name thanks to the RCT but now they really discover it. It’s a great publicity and bet ahead of our territory!”