MHR Coaches Series, 3/5: Didier Bès and Jérémy Valls, the veterans supporting a young staff

Didier Bès est patron de la mêlée du MHR depuis plus d’un an. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Jérémy Valls a débarqué au MHR comme patron du jeu au pied en juillet 2023. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Didier Bès and Jérémy Valls. The former hooker and fly-half, two emblematic players of the MHR, bring a different touch to the Montpellier staff.

Building a club's identity also involves this. Through transmission, experience, and the legacy of the old guard. With Didier Bès (58 years old) and Jérémy Valls (50 years old), the captain and scorer of Montpellier's promotion to the Top 16 in 2003, the MHR staff has two emblematic players in the club's history.

They are not only there for their Hérault pedigree. Bès is now a national reference among scrum coaches. After arriving during the year during the previous season, he benefited from a real pre-season this summer to put his system in place. As a result, the Montpellier scrum is the best in the Top 14.

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Didier Bès, second most capped player in the history of the MHR. Midi Libre – MAX BERULLIER

Beyond the technical aspect, the former hooker, Montpellier's second most capped player (331 matches) behind Fulgence Ouedraogo (340), brings a form of serenity to this young staff. Behind his piercing gaze and rustic exterior, Didier Bès listens, hears and gives his opinion at the right moments.

“He's someone who doesn't talk much. He even seems a little cold when you don't know him. And when he does talk, it's not for nothing. When we were players, it often took a few beers in the back of the clubhouse to unblock a few topics of conversation”, smiles Jean-Philippe Lacoste, friend and former teammate of Bès between 1996 and 2003 in Montpellier.

Didier Bès and Jean-Philippe Lacoste coached side by side between 2009 and 2010. Midi Libre – MAX BERULLIER

The two men also coached together between 2009 and 2010, after the departure of Didier Nourrault and Alain Hyardet. They formed a trio with the former South African third row, Warren Britz.

Two veterans who had to learn the ropes elsewhere

But the Tarnais player could not stay in Hérault for long. He had to learn the ropes elsewhere after a few disagreements in Montpellier. Then the door opened again. He came back, without hard feelings. Today, he is living a new chapter at the MHR. Above all, the osmosis is there with the rest of the staff.

Jérémy Valls also had to learn his trade elsewhere. The former fly-half, who played for Narbonne, started out in Perpignan alongside Patrick Arlettaz, as the head of the kicking game (2017-2018). In the summer of 2023, he was contacted by Jean-Baptiste Elissalde to join the staff and take on the same role.

Jérémy Valls was part of the Montpellier adventure when the club moved up to the Top 16 in 2003. Midi Libre – MAX BERULLIER

“He too, like Didier, has a slightly taciturn side at first, notes “Jean-Phi”, also a former fly-half and opponent then teammate of Valls. He is someone who thinks a lot about the game. Without a problem, he could coach backs. As a player, he was very good technically. Here, he brings his thoughts on the kicking game, at what moment this or that player should use this weapon or not. That is the role of the kicking game coach.”

A little less with his head in the strategic papers, Jérémy Valls brings another style of relationship to the players. “He can have discussions further away from the field than other coaches. If players have trouble with a coach, they can go through Jérémy. He is there mainly for the individual development of the player, but also human”, adds Lacoste.

As in many things, it's all about balance. Didier Bès and Jérémy Valls participate in this in the MHR staff.

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