He was part of Mandelieu’s great adventure in the early 90s when the azurean club found itself in the elite of French rugby. Today, he is the technical director of CARF alias the Club Athlétique Raphaélo Fréjusien. His name is Christophe Poumeaud. He has a particular eye on Sunday’s match: “It will be a great celebration. It will be daylight for a long time. There will be many people. Then on the field, we hope all the players offer us a beautiful final.” CARF has a history. Last year, the Var team played in Federale 2. They were relegated in the last match. In the locker room, the players promised to stay at the club and rise immediately. President Philippe Donat trusted them. CARF experienced no departures and even strengthened its team. Thus, it had a Federale 3 team with a Federale 2 level. The regular season was a formality: only one defeat and one draw. Finishing first in their group, the club from the east Var had its ticket secured for advancement to Federale 2. The playoffs were approached as a bonus. The matches were tough and the victories were shaped in the final minutes. A matter of mindset.
The players of Cannes Mandelieu do not lack mindset. Last Sunday against Voiron, they snatched their qualification after a penalty shootout. Mindset but also coaching: “The coach brought in, at the end of the match, all our kickers,” rejoices Guy Merour, the sporting director of the Rugby Club Cannes Mandelieu. Thus, RCCM was able to reach the final. Rivalry exists among clubs in the same department. Not between Carf and RCCM. 6 players from Fréjus Saint Raphaël have played with Cannes Mandelieu. A Canno-Mandolocian wore the Var colors. “We support each other among small clubs. All year round, we have been following the journey of CARF. We are happy to face them in the final. It is great for our committee and a first for it. Moreover, it involves a club from each department managed by the Côte d’Azur committee.” Same satisfaction from Christophe Poumeaud at Carf: “It’s not only the Southwest! The epicenter of rugby is in Toulouse. A final between two teams from the Southeast shows that this sport exists and evolves in this corner of France. And we show that there is also rugby in the east of Var!”
Guy Mérour’s message: “Respect the opponent, the referee, and let it be a beautiful celebration with great publicity for Azurean rugby.” He thus joins the wish of his counterpart Christophe Poumeaud. The celebration promises to be beautiful.
