Back in the third row of Agathois Olympic Rugby, Florian Chabaud wants to be reassuring as he welcomes Villefranche-sur-Saône on Saturday January 25 at 7 p.m., on the Villeneuve-lès-Béziers pitch.

Florian Chabaud est de retour sur les terrains : une bonne nouvelle pour le RO Agde. ARCHIVE FRED BEDOS

Le ROA, en difficulté depuis plusieurs semaines et qui joue désormais le maintien en Fédérale 1, accueille l’un de ses poursuivants pour un match à haut enjeu.

After two really difficult seasons, during which he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in 2023 and then a meniscus fracture during the first preparation match in Mazamet last summer, requiring surgery, Florian Chabaud is gradually getting back on the pitch and feeling his best. Which is good news for a Rugby Olympique Agathois in precarious health, lacking players of stature and leadership.

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Chasers to keep at a good distance

Nothing prohibitive at this stage, the Maritimes occupy 10th place with a six-point lead over Nantua, first relegation place, but so that this announced transition season, with the end of the careers of several important players (Barrière, Suchier, Ferret, Droitecour…), does not turn into a black season, Agde must react quickly. And from this Saturday January 25 at 7 p.m., with the reception of the red lantern, Villefrance-sur-Saône, on the floodlit ground of Villeneuve-lès-Béziers. “We have our destiny in our own hands”, recalls the man who was the captain of the French Federal 2 champion team in June 2022. “Villefranche-sur-Saône and Nantua, two teams with whom we are fighting for survival, are traveling to our home country in the return phase. We don't necessarily feel in danger, but we have to work and continue to believe in it.”

A new cycle begins for the club

While the third row is well aware of the team's current limitations, he also puts forward mitigating circumstances. “Yes, the season is complicated, that's a fact. But we had a lot of injuries at the start of the season, which also weakened the team. There weren't many of us in training for a while and at the same time, the club was starting a new cycle. In an increasingly demanding and competitive Fédérale 1, that counts.” Florian, who is one of the few veterans who supervise the new generation, makes sure to reassure in his speech. “We're eating our black bread but quite frankly, we've seen others. That's what we're trying to tell the youngsters: keep the faith.” Saturday's match will say a lot about the bounce-back capabilities of this ROA under reconstruction.