between Nice and the Scottish XV, a “love story” in an oval – Libération

2023 Rugby World Cup in FrancedossierThe thing is little known, but Scottish rugby and the Riviera capital have established close links since 2018. This Sunday, September 24, Scotland will be almost at home to face Tonga at the Allianz Riviera.

The blue bus pulled the handbrake in the middle of the Promenade des Anglais. This is how, on September 4 at noon, the Scottish rugby players arrived in their host city. In Nice, the team photo is immortalized facing the sea; the welcome ceremony is officiated under the palm trees. So, obviously, second row Scott Cummings talks about “pretty beaches, beautiful landscapes”, hooker Ewan Ashman talks about “the heat”. However, it was not the postcard that made Nice the base camp of the XV du Chardon. For several years now, Scottish rugby and the Riviera capital have established close links. So this Sunday, September 24, Scotland will almost be at home for their second group match of the World Cup against Tonga, at 5:45 p.m., at the Allianz Riviera.

“They are a bit at home”

Their crampons have already set foot on the lawns of Nice. From 2018 to 2020, four national team players registered their names on the local club’s scoresheets. On the one hand, young Scottish gems lacking playing time – Scotland only has two professional franchises. On the other, a Nice Stadium awaiting freshness and enthusiasm. The deal is signed: a first in the world of French oval balls. “Then, they had a very good career,” rejoices the president of Stade Nice, Régis Brandinelli, to Libération. It stopped at the time of Covid when everyone refocused on their activities. But we kept extremely strong ties. And that helped bring them here rather than elsewhere. They’re a bit at home.” Win-win. In exchange for the training of young people, the Scottish federation arrived with a financial contribution (kept secret) and logistical advice. “We were involved in the design of the weight room, so we will be able to train as we do at home,” explains the team manager in charge of Scotland’s sports operations, David Edge. We were able to make changes, perfect certain things so that we feel at home here.” The team traveled twice “to get used to the facilities and the hotel.” The staff made the trip ten times “to keep in touch, follow the development of the arrangements and plan the stay for this World Cup”. “We chose Nice,” continues David Edge. We are used to having all the installations on the same site, which is the case here. We can go from the video room to the weight room, to the field. All that in one day.”

An intimate relationship is born. “There is a love story between Nice and Edinburgh,” ventures its mayor, Christian Estrosi. It is undoubtedly one of the oldest twinnings that exists between Nice and another city in the world.” In both communes the same cannon shot rings out at midday, to indicate the time to the citizens. It was the Scotsman Sir Thomas Coventry who made the first shot at noon, in 1863. And it was the Scotsman Tobias Smollett who was at the origin of part of Nice’s tourism. The novelist describes the city so wonderfully that he convinced wealthy Anglo-Saxon families to stay there from the end of the 18th century. Today, a street even bears his name.

Nice, a rugby city?

Nice is not a rugby city. All you have to do is hear the announcer welcoming the Chardon XV by announcing the arrival of “our English friends” or see the few Niçois coming for the welcome ceremony. The organizers are scrambling to distribute the blue and white flags provided for the occasion. And Scots have struggled to find 70-kilo weights for training in stores across town. “If ! It’s a rugby town! On the condition that we play at a good level, corrects the president of Stade Nice. We are still missing one small step. Nice was in the first division for a long time and the stadium was always full. It will come back. This kind of partnership helps a lot.” Régis Brandinelli will attend “all of Scotland’s matches”. Unfortunately, it will be without the little protégé David Cherry. The most Nice of the Scots, the only one of the four trained in Nice selected for the national team for the World Cup, who met his partner on the Côte d’Azur, fell down the hotel stairs ten days ago. A concussion which signals his return home.