Often at the forefront in recent years on the world circuit, the Blues want to win their first major title. They start their tournament against Brazil on Sunday.
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A few weeks ago, in Madrid, they also played in the grand final of the world series, securing a place as vice-world champions. While the eyes of the rugby world have been largely focused on the men’s team, the Bleues also represent a great chance of victory for the French delegation, thanks to a group experienced at this level of competition, which has been around success in recent years, but has never won a tournament on the world circuit. They begin their tournament on Sunday July 28 at 5 p.m. against the Brazilians.
The French women’s team has participated in every edition of the Games since their discipline arrived on the Olympic calendar in Rio in 2016. They are coming off a fine silver medal in Tokyo in 2021, beaten by the inevitable New Zealanders in the final. Of the 14 players selected, nine have already experienced an Olympic tournament, and three were already in Brazil eight years ago (Camille Grassineau, Chloé Pelle and Shannon Izar).
“We are a very complete team, in all positions and in all sectors of the game”analyzed Chloé Jacquet at a press conference on July 25, a few days before their entry into the competition. “We are also friends, girlfriends, not necessarily great friends. But there you go, we know how to do everything right when we play. We do things together.” “We have the confidence, the experience too… We just have to put all the ingredients together at the same time”also affirmed Anne-Cécile Ciofani in an interview with AFP.
At the Stade de France, in front of their home crowd, they want above all to find the spark to finally win, after three lost finals this season on the world circuit, in Cape Town, Vancouver and Madrid, for the last tournament of the season. “We have stored up a lot of frustration. The team had a very good season, but unfortunately, no title at the end”noted Caroline Drouin.
The players worked on this milestone by discussing and sharing their feedback. “The goal was to mix our thoughts a little and see which string to play on, on the final preparation,” explained Camille Grassineau. She may be facing the dream meeting to win that first title that still eludes them, as Caroline Drouin expects: “I dare to hope that, as we are playing in France, that we will be in front of our families, our friends, in front of a stadium with an atmosphere that will be crazy, that it will be that little something extra that we didn’t have the other times we failed in the final, and that will make us change this time.”