Axel May // Photo credit: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP
The Blues have arrived in the south of France, in Aix-en-Provence, where their second base camp is located during this Rugby World Cup. Fabien Galthié’s players will prepare for their third match of this tournament against Namibia at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. A two-week stay awaits them there.
The XV of France has set down its suitcases in its second base camp. After that of Rueil-Malmaison, in the Paris region, the Blues inaugurated that of Aix-en-Provence on Sunday evening. This is where they will prepare for Thursday’s match against Namibia, which will be played at the Stade Vélodrome, but also that against Italy, France’s last match in this group stage of the World Cup. A two-week stay in the south of the country, which will not displease the players and staff.
“It allows us to get in touch with our supporters”
“We are going to go to a place where it is pleasant to work in September. We can imagine that the weather will be nice” explains one of Fabien Galthié’s deputies. Aix-en-Provence is a location of choice for the players of the French team since they are close to the two cities in which they will play their next matches: Marseille and Lyon. Also a way for them to continue to meet their supporters, as they were able to do in Lille for example before the match against Uruguay.
“Fabien often says it, we have to take advantage of everything we experience. When we are on the pitch, we will train hard and when we are outside, we will enjoy the south, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille ” according to Gaël Fickou. The official program only provides for a training session open to the public of Aix-en-Provence, a public which will have to wait until September 29.