5 Days

So it’s now 5 days until I leave for Paris. The past few days have been spent with a few emotional good-byes, plenty more to come I’d imagine (and hope) and a lovely white evening too! The thought of up-rooting and packing and getting everything ready is now quite daunting but at the same time I’m looking forward to arriving at the Gare du Nord on Saturday evening with so much in front of me. For the next few days though it'll be buying new underwear, photocopying various documents, packing, oh, and taking my driving test...

The fixture list for the Crabos (under 19) and the Reichel (under 21) has now been released by the FFR and is in the following post. But first, a word on how the French youth game is structured.

France is split into 4 pools of 10 teams, roughly geographically. The 14 sides in the top division are split equally among the 4 pools. Racing-Metro are in Pool A which contains the following teams:

A S MONTFERRANDAISE (Clermont Auvergne)
RUGBY CLUB MASSY ESSONNE
ASSOCIATION RACING METRO 92
C S BOURGOIN JALLIEU (Bourgoin)
LYON OL U
A C BOBIGNY 93 RUGBY
ASS SPORTIVE RACING CLUB CHALONNAIS
U S OYONNAX
STADE FRANCAIS PARIS
U S BRESSANE

These teams play each other home and away over the season. Then the top 4 teams in each Pool play off in a knock-out competition to eventually decide the best team in the country at age-group level.

Interestingly, there are several breaks in the season. This appeals to me as, while I was keen to be playing matches each weekend, it seems sensible to have these weeks where more emphasis can be placed on physical training and fitness without the pressure of a game at the weekend. Clearly, while competitive matches are the priority, scope has been left for in-season development. Very sensible, if you ask me.