The end of the galleys for the Gallic XV! The Nord-Touraine rugby club, which had no ground for more than 4 years and its forced departure from La Membrolle-sur-Choisille, signed an agreement with Charentilly on Tuesday May 17 to use the stadium for this town of less than 2,000 inhabitants. For training as for matches, the XV Gauls now has a home. The first step of a rebirth for a club that has suffered from its years of wandering.
The club could play its matches at the Chambrerie in Tours-Nord but did not have sufficient slots there, especially for training. “It was not always possible because there is the US Tours, American football there” says Gérald Saunier, the new president, for whom find complete infrastructures is a real satisfaction. “At the Chamber [à la fin des matchs] we took the shower, the guys quickly ate a snack under the barnum, there was nothing, no clubhouse. An organization that has not allowed to keep the rugby school. The XV Gauls, which has nevertheless kept a senior team, is not starting completely from scratch but “a page with holes“said Clément Gierens, the club’s treasurer.
– XV Gauls
Training at the Charentilly stadium will be able to start this Tuesday, May 24, a week after the signing of the agreement with the town hall. But to be able to play home games, we will have to install rugby posts! “The tracing of the land, the installation of the posts, we will have a mason from Charentilly work for the concreting, and for the sake of economy, since the budget will be the sinews of war in the first years, we will call on volunteers and to the players for the disbursement and digging the holes” continues Clément Gierens, who had regained control of the “stadium” file after the pandemic which undermined the sports championships.
Let everyone take their part in the work
In short, the Gallic XV has a lot of work to do to regain its level of yesteryear, the first series – the team is currently playing in 4th -, its rugby school, sponsors, new players. Partnerships with schools are envisaged, days will be organized. With a thought for the old office, which managed to stay the course in the storm and left a lot of energy there, confides Clément Gierens, who wants to better distribute the tasks. “Everyone must take their part in the work, share these values of rugby“he analyzes.
The XV Gauls, which should soon add “Charentilly” in its official name, can rejoice first positive effects. “The fact of finally having a bell tower, we already have people knocking on the door! New people, people who haven’t practiced, old people who want to start again. This is also why we want to bet on the rugby school, the parents who bring the children, they are volunteers and potential members.“