“A qualification for the 2023 World Cup would be fantastic”, assures Boumédienne Allam

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A France – Algeria on September 21, 2023 at the Vélodrome de Marseille? It is possible, if the selection trained by Boumédienne Allam wins the final phase of the African Cup of Nations in rugby, and thus finds itself transferred with the Blues in Pool A of the World Cup. In case of second place, the Lionceaux also have the possibility of qualifying via a repechage tournament.

That said, the young selection must first come out of the CAN hens in Uganda, against Ghana (July 14) and then the local team (July 18). The path is long and winding, but it is signposted, while Boumédienne Allam (41) has often gone off-piste as a player who has become the coach-manager of a team that has only officially existed for six years.

To prepare for the Ugandan getaway, the former 3rd line of Toulon, Narbonne and Auch led an internship at Portet-sur-Garonne, near Toulouse, at the beginning of June, with 56 elements including a few well-known names in France, such as Jonathan Best, Julien Caminati, Johan Aliouat or Mathieu Lorée. He reveals his great ambitions.

Since May 12, Algeria has been a full member of World Rugby. What does it change ?

All. Being able to be in the World Rugby ranking (92nd out of 110 currently) is a big step. It is also recognition for the work of volunteers, especially on the African continent. The showcase is the national team, but the work they do is priceless. They were fantastic and today the results are there.

Rugby had completely disappeared in the 1970s in Algeria. It took a long time to go up the hill.

Yes. Rugby has come back thanks to these leaders, a team around President Sofiane Benhassen. It is a sport followed during the World Cup, but without necessarily knowing the rules. Boys like Jonah Lomu made sure that rugby was watched in Africa and around the world.

At present, the Federation has around 6,000 licensees, including 1,500 women …

We could never have imagined that when we, the pioneers, got started. It was a grassroots association. I was present from the start, playing in the first match, against Tunisia in 2007. For lack of a federation, we could not present ourselves as a national team, we simply said Algerian rugby players. The first official meeting still took place against Tunisia, in Oran, in 2015 (December 18, one month after the creation of the Federation).

Is your selection essentially made up of binationals?

Yes, most of them are binational, Belgian, French, English. There is even an American who could not come for an internship (in Portet-sur-Garonne) because of the Covid.

How do you spot the players?

Lorée and Caminati looked in their family tree, but for the others, we looked for names and surnames with a North African sound. We have cast a very wide net, at both professional and amateur levels. We were sometimes disappointed because some were in fact of Tunisian or Moroccan origin. There are also tri-nationals, who have an Algerian parent and the other Tunisian or Moroccan. Morocco has taken the lead, a lot of trinationals have played for Morocco in the past.

For a Federation like yours, younger than the others, it should not be easy to attract players.

Yes and no. Sometimes there are trinationals to whom the question is asked: “Why did you choose Algeria?” “They answer us:” Because you are the first to come to see me. Sometimes it’s a matter of luck.

At what level are the currently selected players evolving?

The typical profile is the Federal 1 player. There is also the Federal 2 player. These are often boys who have experienced high level in the past and who today have made professional choices by joining levels lower. They have a big history in rugby.

Is dialogue difficult with the clubs?

Yes, still today it’s very complicated with certain clubs which do not play the game. For them too, however, it is an added value to have internationals in their ranks. We try to be smart and find a compromise. Already, with the France team, it’s complicated, so imagine with a selection like Algeria which is coming to this sport.

This is somewhat reminiscent of the case of Pacific nations such as Tonga, when clubs more or less discreetly dissuade their players from leaving for selection …

Exactly. But in the case of Tonga, I guess there are expenses. Not with us. From the moment the player arrives at the meeting place, the Federation takes care of the costs: the hotel, the catering… But he paid for the trip to Portet-sur-Garonne… We will also grow at this level, it is necessary to pass a course.

You therefore do not distribute bonuses …

No. As I say to a lot of players, they are rediscovering the genesis, the values ​​for which they started rugby. To honor the jersey. There is always the professional side because the goal is to have results and recognition. Despite that, we try to keep this fraternal side. It’s a little bit The Heart of Men, with boys who have a lot of value and want to share it.

The trip to Uganda must be complicated to organize.

Yes, because there are family and professional constraints. But I’m lucky to have boys who are aware of the stakes behind these games. Leaving Algeria was complicated with the border closures. We met in Paris and it’s Rugby Africa which supports a large part of the tickets. The goal is to finish at least second in Uganda to compete in the Top 8, the second part of qualifying for the African Cup. If we get there, it will be beautiful.

Playing the World Cup in France, is it a dream for you?

Yes. And not just for gamers. This can have an exceptional echo for Algerian youth, so that there are more and more graduates and more means to develop the discipline. The king sport in Algeria is football. Behind, apart from handball which is doing well, it is complicated to win. That’s why qualifying for the next World Cup would be fantastic.

Our ambition is to make an Algerian Marcoussis. We can see very big, from the moment we have the spotlight on us. There would be a breath of warmth, love and this sport could be acclaimed in Algeria.

It would be fantastic for your selection. But is it possible?

Sincerely yes. Today, we have the human resources to make it happen, extremely motivated boys. But as I told them, you have to proceed in stages. And the first is the African Cup.

For you, there is room for rugby to become popular in Algeria.

Totally. We are not in competition with football. We are supporters of the Fennecs. Of course, we would like to have the potential that Djamel, Belmadi has with the football team. I could really do some good things.

In the shadow of the Fennecs, the Algerian lion cubs of the oval want to scratch their heads





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