“Win a tournament again”
As the resumption of In Extenso Supersevens Rugby approaches, Jérémy Aicardi gave an update on his group and his ambitions. After two victories last year and a title of vice-champion of France, Monaco Rugby Sevens (MR7) will be present this Saturday August 13 at the Aimé-Giral stadium in Perpignan for the first of three stages.
The group: “A framework of ten players will be present over the three rounds”
“We are going to rely this year on a renewed group. Only six players presented last year are still in the squad. I was able to travel to observe players during the French circuit. On a selection which will evolve in the French associations and which will be available for the three stages.
A backbone of ten players will be present over the three rounds. It’s a real strength. Last year, clubs agreed to release players for a single stage. This year, we will be able to be by their side for the three weeks. This makes it possible to have automatisms and to release a hard core.
We can once again count on the presence of Cecil Afrika this year. He’s coming off three weeks in a coaching role with Team USA. You will have to give him time. He won’t be 100% for the first tournament. It will come back crescendo.
We are also lucky to have come into contact with Felipe del Mestre, bronze medalist with the Argentinian at the last Olympic Games in Tokyo. It is a great pleasure and a great opportunity for the image of rugby sevens in France to be able to count on such a player.
The staff: “Mathieu Selmi-Etienne, Adama Deme and Fabien Camin are joining us”
“James Kent and Benjamin Prier will no longer be there this year. James is now part of the Stade Français staff and Benjamin Prier continues to invest with Massy, who has just moved up to Pro D2.
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Mathieu Selmi-Etienne, who created his rugby sevens team in Manosque (the South Sevens) is joining us, as is Adama Deme, former captain of the Burkina Faso sevens team and who is in the process of retraining to become a coach. . Fabien Camin, founder and manager of the women’s section of AS Monaco Rugby will also be present at the next two tournaments.
Ambitions: “Being in the top 8 to go to the final at the Arena in Paris”
“The goal is to be in the top 8 to go to the final at the Paris Arena on November 19. Last year we held the same speech. We managed to win two stages.
READ ALSO: In Extenso Supersevens: Monaco Rugby Sevens vice-champion of France in rugby sevens
Inevitably, on a desire to win a tournament again. If it’s not this weekend in Perpignan, we’ll give everything to La Rochelle or Pau to get there. It is not because we have a superb team on paper that we will win everything.