Top 14: for Clermont's Léon Darricarrère, facing Stade Rochelais is "something special"

The 21-year-old Auvergne center started playing rugby in La Rochelle, when his father David was coaching the Yellow and Blacks. Having become a key player for ASM, he is enjoying being back with Deflandre this Saturday (4:35 p.m.)

Is the frustration intense, having lost against a formidable Toulouse despite a great match from ASM (24-34)?

Exactly. We're proud of the team's spirit; we fought throughout the match and were able to erase the mistakes we could have made last year, even though we gave them a lot of free passes on the tries. We played against a very strong Toulouse team on Sunday, but we're not throwing everything into this match. We know we've improved and that there are still a lot of positives, even if we're extremely frustrated by the result.

Among your progress, can we mention a greater realism than in 2024-2025?

I don't know if we can really measure it in this match, because we spent a large part of the evening defending. But it's true that compared to last year, where we struggled a bit to score those tries that needed to be scored in important moments, we were able to do it. Afterwards, there's progress in our game.

Is this also the case in the physical impact, even if it was already very significant?

Yes. With Régis, Baptiste and Kilian (Montagne, Jauneau and Tixeront, editor's note), we arrived during the preparation phase (on their return from the French team's tour in New Zealand, editor's note), but we spoke with the guys, we saw the work they did... We're happy, we played two good preparation matches, we're physically ready and I think we showed it on Sunday.

Do you feel that qualifying for the play-offs has allowed the group to take a step forward?

Of course. We hadn't been there for a few years; it was our goal to play in the final stages again. So in terms of team confidence and dynamics, it definitely brought something.

“My first professional match at 19 against La Rochelle […] was a wonderful moment, which will always be etched in my memory.”

Personally, is the reunion with La Rochelle always a special moment?

Yes. That's where I started playing rugby, where I became passionate about it, even though I was young and I was always immersed in it. I remember the matches at Deflandre, when I would go see my father (David, Stade coach from 2007 to 2011, Editor's note) and go onto the pitch afterwards. I have friends there, I know a lot of teammates who are still there. So it's something special, which I really appreciate.

Who did you play with?

The ones I played with the longest were Nathan (Bollengier) and Hoani (Bosmorin), but there was also Oscar Jegou, for a year.

And then, La Rochelle is also your first professional match, on September 2, 2023 (11-10 in Clermont)...

Exactly. I remember it perfectly. Starting as a pro against La Rochelle was also a bit special. My first professional match at 19 against La Rochelle, where I started playing rugby, on a Sunday evening in the Top 14. It was a lovely moment that will always be etched in my memory.

And speaking of firsts and Stade Rochelais, you will be taking part in Deflandre's first match in its new configuration...

Yes! When I was little, it was already a big stadium for me. Same last year, when we played there. But this... It's a stadium that's always full, they sell out one after the other, with a crazy atmosphere. We know that the fans are always behind their team, that it's a bit of a hostile place. We're expecting a lot of excitement around this match, especially since it's their first home game of the season...