Clovis from Nîmes, 16, is starting his first season in a costume of light

Clovis' concentration before the paseo de Fourques, last November. M. L. – CYRILLE VIDAL

Une naturelle de Clovis lors de ses débuts sans picadors. M. L. – CHRISTINE NUEL

Clovis in the cape in the Gallon brothers’ breeding. M. L. – Jean-Luc Jouet

The apprentice bullfighter in campo costume for a “bolsín” in Vauvert. M. L. – CHRISTINE NUEL

Clovis, une journée a campo avec le matador Thomas Dufau. M. L. – CYRILLE VIDAL

After his debut in the middle of last autumn, the young novillero without picadors will undoubtedly be the newcomer in the category throughout the coming months.

Until proven otherwise, the first name given to him by his parents is not one of those that blacken the pages of family records. For the choice Clovis, several elements were undoubtedly put into a common trunk for the final decision. In the home of Frédéric and Isabelle Germain, with a penchant oriented towards History and that, in particular, of the kings of France, the first of them already had some chance of winning. But perhaps they also knew, teaching martial arts, that the meaning of Clovis, in translation, meant “one who distinguishes himself in combat”. Incredible coincidence anticipating the passion of the young son who, from childhood showed a clearly claimed taste for bullfighting…

A first step at the French Bullfighting Center

It was around the age of 8 that little Clovis was registered, in Nîmes, his birthplace, at the French Bullfighting Center. For several years, before leaving for other horizons. Meetings with Arlesian Chico Leal and the maestro Thomas Dufau from Mons, and his proximity to the matador Thomas Cerqueira from Béziers, led him to organize his activities in different ways to continue living his passion, nourish it and further promote the blossoming of his personality.

Part of the schooling followed by correspondence

If Clovis was unable to follow a usual school route, a framework in which his difficulties singularly hindered his progress, it was through the National Center for Distance Education that, by correspondence and with regular checks, he continued his studies. Before seeing the green light to join the peloton of high-level athletes allowing him to devote himself entirely to this learning of bullfighting which is his sole and stated objective.

Travels between Nîmes, Béziers and Mont-de-Marsan

For the time being, the young novillero’s schedule without picadors is divided into thirds. One in Mont-de-Marsan, where Thomas Dufau, in the afternoon, directs his progress, the other in Béziers where, twice a week, he follows the courses given by Thomas Cerqueira at the head of the Béziers-Méditerranée bullfighting school, the last in Nîmes finally, at his parents’ house. If, on his regular schedule, bullfighting occupies a primordial place, Clovis completes his training with a range of sustained physical activities. With on the menu, jogging, tennis, cycling. Among others.

The big click, a bullfight during the Vendanges in Nîmes

To the question “Which bullfight was significant enough to cause a shock and the decision to become a bullfighter?”, Clovis does not search his memory for long. If the first of his appointments on the stands of the arenas is around his 7 years, it is indeed in the context of a feria of Nîmes that the real explosion took place. “It was for the 2018 Harvest Fair, with Chacón, Emilio de Justo and Pepe Moral on the poster. A shock. I was very impressed.” And to admit that accompanied by Marcel Barnier, historic printer of the magazine Toros, despite the violence of the fights against a lot of Victorino Martín and the injury suffered by Pepe Moral in front of the last opponent of the day, the determination to “put himself in front of the bulls” was the strongest.

The first light suit for All Saints' Day 2024

Since the candles of his 16th birthday were blown out last fall, always supported by a family that ensures Clovis lives his passion intensely (his mother from Nîmes has also always frequented the arenas), the time and permission came immediately to finally put on a suit of lights. On the ring at Fourques, near the banks of the Rhône, on All Saints' Day 2024, it was with three cut ears that he opened his prize list in the category of non-piqué novilladas. Feeling, in particular by bullfighting the Gallon resident, a fullness and a depth that he does not seek to hide. Now it's time for 2025. Without delay and with a visible hunger. The date already marked on the calendar, April 5 in Saint-Martin-de-Crau. And others awaiting officialization.