Federal 3 – Monaco wants to step up
Federal 3 – With a change of staff and the arrival of around fifteen recruits, Monaco hopes to win its ticket to the next level next season.
During the last season, Monaco opened a new chapter in its history. Arrived from Saint-Raphaël-Fréjus, Raphaël Roggi, where, after having trained the pennant team for three and a half years, was responsible for the rugby school, he took care of the youth, junior and cadet teams . He took over from Luciano Orquera, the former Italian international, in office for three seasons and on the bench when joining Federal 3. “I liked the Monaco projectexplains the coach. And I missed the field, the adrenaline of competition. I found myself a bit young to dedicate it solely to training.”
Since the start of the season, the club has not hidden its ambitions. With only one departure, and about fifteen arrivals, of players having evolved in levels higher than the Fédérale 3, including the Scottish third row, Archie Erskine, seen under the jersey of Nice in Fédérale 1, the accession is openly l ‘goal. Defeated three times in the first six days (at Mourillon, at SMUC and at home against the leader, Aubagne) Monaco has been undefeated for four games and is in second place in Pool 7. “At Mourillon, during the first day, we were caught on the aggressiveness, in the good sense of the term, explains the coach. This is part of learning the division for many players. In the off-season, the work was colossal. In particular, we changed the entire game project. The players took it on board. We continue to refine it. We are still lacking a bit of alternation.”
Three games to win
After facing Six-Fours this Sunday, Monaco will follow up with the reception of the fourth, Draguignan, before trying to take revenge against Aubagne, narrow winner in the Principality (29-27) on a converted try at the very end of the match. “We lost at the end on a bad rebound… We will know more after these three games.” If the Monegasques negotiate them well, a boulevard will open up for the end of the season, with three receptions in the last four days. They could then devote themselves to preparing for the final stages, with a group that has not exploited the full extent of its potential. He will also soon be able to take advantage of the delivery of Algecco to open the club house they have been dreaming of for several seasons. “Everyone sees us as beautiful but we are not a rich club, recalls Raphaël Roggi. We are a club like any other.”