Les Biterrois, deuxièmes du classement, reçoivent Colomiers ce vendredi soir au stade Raoul-Barrière. Midi Libre – Michael Esdourrubailh
Pierre Caillet, Béziers coach, clearly states his ambitions before challenging Colomiers, this Friday evening at the Raoul-Barrière stadium.
In the shadow of the Raoul Barrière stadium, a bright destiny seems to be emerging, because the switch has been made. Like a Yoann Richomme wedged into Charlie Dalin's sail in the Vendée Globe, ASBH is within the desired passage times, in second place in a Pro D2 ranking that sees it affirming high ambitions. The reception of Colomiers, Friday evening at the Raoul-Barrière stadium, is symbolic in this respect: by challenging the seventh in the group, Béziers has the opportunity to drive the point home and almost officially secure its place in the top six, a strapontin for the final stages. But, having learned from their last season, the “red and blue” are looking higher than the first stage of the rocket and are clearly aiming for direct qualification for a semi-final at home.
We must see in this the lesson of their elimination (27-21) in Vannes in May 2024 and the declarations of coach Pierre Caillet that followed, who had displayed, despite the defeat, incredible confidence in his group for the 2024-25 season. Here we are and, between arrogance and inner conviction, the results have decided: ASBH is indeed in its place, carried by a multitude of positive signals that the recent affairs * have visibly not altered. Let it be said: the pirates are boarding again. “I like this image”, says Pierre Caillet, serene and conquering. Selected excerpts. Cash, as always.
ASBH- Colomiers, sesame for qualification ?
“We can't just rely on this match to get a qualifying place. The championship is very tight and some teams are coming back strong. Winning would be a good step but, honestly, I'm wary of this match because it's a team that we routed at home (40-44 victory). At the end of the match, we could have even thought we were in Béziers in the stadium. I imagine that they still have that in their heads. They're coming for revenge. We've already lost two home matches, we know that all the matches are close. Colomiers hasn't lost yet in 2025, it's a of the best attacks in the championship, very aggressive in addition.”
Pierre Caillet can play the caution card, the figures show that in case of victory over Colomiers, the break would be almost done. Nine points separate the two teams today. It smells good with thirteen days to go. Unless there is a huge surprise, ASBH should finish in the top six. Yes, but in what place ?
The first two places, the ultimate goal ?
“We built this group. And when you build something, you want something stable and solid. Last year, for me, was the first part of the things we could achieve. I was convinced after our elimination against Vannes (27-21 in the semi-final) that by improving the team and our working methods, we would be on the right track, even if it wasn't obvious.
We talked a lot with the players about the case of irregular teams, who could win something on a one-shot and disappear the following year. I didn't want that. Maybe some say that we are a surprise, but we know that we are not a surprise, because we built this team in difficult times. We had to fight against the fact of being satisfied, of having had a good season. Today, the important thing is to continue building to be stable in this type of championship.”
This is the fear of the Biterrois: to shine without a future, like a meteorite. Confirming at all costs would be equivalent to qualifying a second time in a row for the final stages, which only the Grand Béziers of the seventies succeeded before them.
“We want to write our history. We know that this club has a historic past, that it has won titles, things that we will never be able to do. But we have the will to qualify at all costs for a second season in a row. Internally, we have this fire to always want to be better. And to be better is to reach one more step. So it may not be to finish in the top two but if we go to the final… We want to go to the highest level.”
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000The club's coach cannot be accused of hiding his game. ASBH is openly presenting itself as a title contender, with a two-point improvement and a place in the standings compared to last season after seventeen games (3rd, 49 points against 2nd, 51 points this season). The difference is minimal, but the closer Béziers gets to Everest, the more it will have to control the event.
Is the game up to par??
“Last year, we had so many good moments in terms of the game. It's hard to achieve something that sometimes seems surreal, because it's so well done. Today, we're doing things that are a bit similar. I think above all that we have a balanced game, especially between attack and defense. We're doing what we want to do, even if we're less efficient in certain areas, like the lineout.
The ambition of the game goes with the convictions. It also comes from the construction of your squad, the qualities of your players, because you can want to play rugby, but sometimes, you can't. There, ambitions really come through an exchange. And when you see that things are shared, it's crazy… Strategically, we share everything, I have this relationship with my players. This is how I explain our success: everyone is fully behind it, no one asks unnecessary questions.”
“Our experienced players want to contribute something and feel good about the project. Some say that we have become a retirement home, but we are talking about players who have become adopted residents of Béziers. They live the city, the territory, the entity, they live all of this with a lot of passion. It’s impressive. My greatest luck was to find a human connection with powerful leaders. There will inevitably be periods of lows, but today, everything goes through them.”
If in other clubs the president presides, the coach trains and the players, in Béziers, the relationship between the manager and his group testifies to a fusion that is very rare at this level. Because they have gone through so many struggles together over the past four years, they have forged a story that belongs only to them. Which will perhaps end in apotheosis, a tribute to the end of the career of the pillar Francisco Fernandes.
Could Pierre Caillet leave Béziers next year?
“I am “red and blue”, I have no answer to give to that, I am only interested in my team. We will see if with a new buyer, they still want to keep me, unfortunately, I do not have the impression that it is a subject of discussion. I do what I have to do. When you do things well, generally, you always have positive things that happen. I am not in anticipation but in the present. I am red and blue and I would like to stay that way. Because I have not finished my work.”
When it is vague, it is because there is a wolf ? Pierre Caillet assures us himself: his future is currently dotted. If his name has circulated on the Montpellier side, the coach assures us that he has his heart in Béziers and would like to stay there. The ball is in the camp of the buyers and their British mentor, Eddie Jordan.
Can the takeover of the club change everything??
“I was at the training center when I took up my position just after the Emirati episode (2020), in an extremely complicated period. The club was exploding, I was placed there because there was no solution. Since the Emirati era, every year I hear that a buyer is going to arrive. So today, my only concern is to build my team. That's why I take players who have the identity of Béziers, because we have a certain character. And above all, I'm not given food. I go and get it.”
A state of mind summed up by this “punchline” from Gabin Lorre: “Here, we have a pirate side”. An image strongly claimed by Pierre Caillet, in a “one against all” mode. And they assume it.
“Yes, we took this pirate flag. Firstly, for our offensive ambitions, because we like to attack, to be in response, to ambush. It expresses the Béziers mentality, made of revolt, of resistance. Sometimes, we are not beautiful, but we succeed. We do not do like the others, we are different. I was told a lot that we were not going to succeed. But in the end, our character makes us succeed. This club is “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”, and we are Tuco!”
Have extra-sporting affairs impacted the group? ?
At the start of the season, the three-quarter centers Taleta Tupuola and the second row Hans Nkinsi were accused and convicted of domestic violence, while Samuel Marques, suspected of inappropriate behavior towards a hostess during the last “Nuit du Rugby”, was not sanctioned.
“These stories have necessarily affected the group, because we have a united and honest group. These cases are not acceptable, that's very clear. We discussed it at length together. I believe in the second chance that we can give to certain people. When a person makes a mistake, it does not sum up their entire being. So I believe in rehabilitation. We know that these people have sinned, we did not accept it either. So we got together and we voted. Despite what they did, the vote was positive for both players. It does not mean that we endorse it, but if one day I do something stupid, I would like someone to reach out to me. It's called humanity, quite simply.
I am here to protect my players. My goal is not to hide things from justice – it does its job – but I am in my role when I try to ensure the stability of my group, and I am criticized for it. But I am someone protective. I try to believe in certain things, but, after a while, even if I say that, I feel like I am a bastard. So we go our own way.”
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