Viewing “the Coq” of France’s XV at the entrance of the Marcoussis National Rugby Centre (CNR), where he had never been before, “puts stars in his eyes,” confirmed on Wednesday Janick Tarrit, one of the rookies called up by the Bleus ahead of their South American tour.
The Racing 92 star then clarified, grinning, that he had actually already been there, “for a carton rouge,” but that he “had (alors) pas eu l’occasion de tout visiter,” adding that he had “vite switché face au taf qu’il y an à faire.”
Born in Nevers, Tarrit (25 years old, 0 séles) is one of the 32 players that the French XV encadrement called on Monday to prepare for the summer tour of the Bleus, which will see them take on the Argentine Pumas (July 6 and 13) and the Uruguayan Teros (July 10).
On Sunday, following the Top 14 semifinals against Toulouse in La Rochelle and the French Stade in Bordeaux-Bègles, they will return, along with ten players who are not eligible for the championship final, which will take place in Marseille on June 28.
Given the number of new players (19) who have never played for the “grand” XV of France (some had played U20), it “faut construire un groupe,” but the center Emilien Gailleton (Pau, 20 years, 1 sél.) has stated that “the climate is plutôt bon, malgré les différences d’âge entre les joueurs.”
