Stade Toulousain: 30 Years Since First European Cup Win

So, 30 years is far away, is it close?

So, it’s far away for the athlete, it’s always close for the man emotionally. Because it is an event that we suspected was historical. I remember these words before the final that this competition was the first. And that from the moment it is the first, in the culture of the red and black club, we have to be the first to win it. Like all competitions. And then, it took us beyond domestic borders: a Romanian club, Treviso, a Welsh club and Cardiff. It really took us a little bit away from our competition, from the championship that we knew and dominated. We were pretty good at that point. We were twice champion of France. We had to go see something else. And competitive as we were, this led us to immediately get involved in it. And when we saw the prospect of meeting Cardiff in the final with at least fifteen players from the Wales national team at the Arms Park…

Were you really aware that at the time, you would forever be first if you won?

From the moment it was the first competition, we were consciously or unconsciously engaged in something that we had to win. We had just won the championship and the Yves-du-Manoir challenge, at the national level. There, there was a new competition coming, but there was no question that we would not win this third competition. In addition, at that time, the calendar is completely twisted: it is January, it is after the first part of the championship, just before the tournament, the internationals will disappear like every year… It is a low point in the season and we are playing a European Cup semi-final on December 30. It’s very special, but it had to be done. Before this final, no rugby player could say that he had been European champion.

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But who put this idea in your head to forever be the first? You the players or the speeches of the managers, the coaches?

On the scale of Stade Toulousain, and I’m thinking of Jean Fabre’s team and the Masters in 1989, there was already this idea of ​​seeking rugby culture outside the borders. It was already in the genes and within the framework of the club. Seize the first opportunity to be better elsewhere. Those who were not international like me had this desire to listen. Those who were international wanted to measure themselves. And obviously afterwards, there was the staff who were ultra-competitive, very demanding. He pressed the button, but he didn’t have to press very hard.

What is the most atypical memory of the European campaign, Constanza in Romania?

So, it turns out that I’m not making this trip because I’m injured. But my teammates told me: the soldiers who swept the stands, a more than outdated stadium, the local press who used the TFC logo to announce the match. They were talking about Rugby Toulouse Football Club.

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There is also this reception from Treviso in the quarter-finals. Rather unexpected to find the Italian team there…

Yes, with Michaël Lynagh, the historic Australian number 10, in his ranks. And it’s a team that gave us some problems. We did not dominate them head and shoulders (Editor’s note: 18-9 victory). And then, it was a short competition which put pressure on each match in fact. It was almost just the final stages with decisive matches.

And then, extra time for the first final, that wasn’t trivial either…

It’s crazy, it’s crazy. I remember the pace of the first quarter of an hour. It went to 2,000. Lots of traffic, a nice defense in front, lots of commitment. A very strong pack on the Welsh side. And then overtime. Real doubts nonetheless. Honestly, out of all the finals played with the Stadium, this is perhaps the one where we really had the most doubts. We cut short two or three Welsh offensives which could put our heads in the bucket. And then it’s played at three points. Christophe Deylaud’s foot…

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What material memory do you keep today of this final?

The final jersey that I had framed by Patrick Tabacco not long ago. I have kept my title jerseys as a treasure for my children. I have it in my house. He is in a good place. He is there and he accompanies me even if I don’t touch him every day. But you know, I think it took all this time to become more generally aware of this title. But there is this date of January 7, every year. This date is anchored. And it is now, I believe, with enormous hindsight that we begin to realize everything we have done.

And the jersey, was it the president who gave it to you or did you forget to return it (smile)?

Oh no I had exchanged it. This is the jersey of my counterpart number 7. His name was Jones. Not Adams, not Davis, Jones. Curious for a Welshman (laughs).

At the time, you were a young kid in the group…

Oh yes, I’m 24 and a half years old. And this is my third season in the group. This is the first season where I start a lot of matches and where I am in the starting role. Knowing that at the time, it was not the same way it worked today. Yes, it was running less. It worked with two or three replacements. And so it had a little more weight. And then, it was again the case in the final of the French championship, in June, 5 months later, against the Brivistes.

And before joining the group, was there a player you admired?

So, there is obviously for the player from Mazères-Cassagne that I am, Albert Cigagna. That was my example. Afterwards, when I arrived in 1981 at Stade Toulousain, at the age of 20, directly from Mazères, when I returned to my parents’ house on the weekend, I found myself in my teenage room with photos of guys with whom I trained during the week. So, it was already a club which for me was idyllic and a real objective. I always had a special look for boys like Patrice Soula, Claude Portolan, boys like that, who were part of those before, who had played, the 1985, 1986, 1989 titles. And after that, I’m not even talking about the extraordinary, monstrous players: Thomas Castaignède, Christophe Deylaud. Jérôme Cazalbou also. Cazalbou-Deylaud, what a hinge… This collective was based on these two guys who were strong, who had lucidity, mastery. It’s a real collective. Joining this group, for me, was the pinnacle. I dreamed of playing at a high level, but still, I never imagined arriving directly in Toulouse. It wasn’t imposter syndrome, but close. I came from far away, I came from nowhere, I never knew the Reichels, I didn’t know the youth selections.

For a historic European champion title…

Quite honestly, we can say first forever. In 20 years, in 100 years. Every number. The first number 7 European champion in the history of rugby, forever, is me. The jersey is there. We say what we want but it’s done. It had to be done.