The year of all the dangers? While the 2021-2022 season has just started in the elite of women’s rugby, perhaps the gap has never been so great between the clubs. On the one hand, associations backed by a male professional club like Montpellier, Romagnat-Clermont or Toulouse. On the other, teams that fight with their own resources, in a world that is becoming more and more professional.
The formation of Villeneuve d’Ascq, the LMRCV, is part of the second category. Established in the elite for ten years, the club of the metropolis of Lille is fighting to stay there after having known glory and a title of champion in 2016.
” It’s now or never “
“This season is going to be crucial. After tightening from 16 to 14 clubs this season, there will only be 12 next year. The objective is to stay there at all costs, ”explains Alexandra Pertus, co-coach of the first team.
Proof of the widening gap, the “fucking chicks” of the LMRCV, as they call themselves, were crushed (71-13), Sunday, in Blagnac, the club of the ex-international, Frédéric Michalak, after winning the first match against Lyon (10-5).
“It’s now or never,” adds the former player and new president of the LMRCV, Laura Di Muzio. The train is gone, we must take it in motion by attracting young talents from the region and possibly some nuggets ”.
“We are trying to train as many players as possible”
Because, today, women’s rugby is the crossroads. “Clubs can invest 1,000 to 2,000 euros to recruit players. We didn’t see that before, ”adds Alexandra Pertus.
In Rennes, the team finds itself in a bit of the same situation as the LMRCV, without a professional men’s club to rely on. The Breton club shares, however, with the ogre Montpelier and his 8 titles during the last fifteen years, the greatest current longevity in elite, since 2005.
“We are trying to train as many players as possible, and the city of Rennes will help us with the establishment of a large oval center for us and the men’s club. This will allow us to have more facilities to keep ourselves at the top level, ”indicates Anne-Sophie Demoulin, president of Stade Rennais.
“The gaps have already widened”
However, the club’s biggest problem remains the management of its four international VIIs, absent most of the time to participate in tournaments around the world. “We are very proud that they wear the colors of the France team, but for four years, we have had no compensation and when they are not there, it is felt because we no longer play in the same court with certain clubs ”, deplores the president.
As a result, the first league match ended in a historic defeat (70-0) against Toulouse, whose women’s club benefits, for its part, from the structures of the Stade Toulousain. “The gaps have already widened,” testifies Olivier Marin, manager of the Stade Toulousain feminine. The clubs do not fight with the same means. It is clear that, with us, professionalization is taking place. Girls often benefit from the same means as boys, be it video or medical. “
With nine internationals, the team is clearly aiming for the title that still eludes them. For the Toulouse coach, “tightening up the elite is a necessary step if we want to attract the media”, even if he believes that “we must not leave aside the training clubs”. The equation is going to be difficult to find for the Rugby Federation.
A New Zealander in France
Salvation can also go through the involvement of public authorities. The Hauts-de-France regional council has decided to apply parity for high-level clubs. “From now on, we are applying the aid of 200,000 euros also to women’s clubs”, underlines Florence Bariseau, vice-president in charge of sports for the region. Any benefit for the LMRCV.
The other solution is smart recruitment. Like the arrival for two years in Villeneuve d’Ascq of a 33-year-old New Zealander, Ti Tauasosi. “I think this is a first in the French championship,” says Laura Di Muzio. A godsend, in any case, for the club which recruited her somewhat by chance on social networks.