In December 2009, he played in the Dubai Sevens with Tunisia, up against England, Scotland, Argentina, Wales and France, who they lost to by just five points, 26-21. In July 2017, he came on in the 67th minute of a 31-23 Tunisian win in Zimbabwe. Today, Hamza Mbarki is registered with Trignac, in Fédérale 3, after spells at Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez and La Baule. He arrived in France in 2018 with a CV sent out far and wide and one idea in mind: to play here. He knows all about security work, and it has not wiped the smile off his face.

How long have you been registered with Trignac (Pays de la Loire, Fédérale 3)?

Since 2020, so that’s seven seasons now. Before that, I arrived at Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez. The highest level I’ve played at in France is Fédérale 2, at La Baule.

How many caps do you have for Tunisia?

How many? I’ve played a lot of sevens, a lot of international fifteen-a-side matches, a lot. I couldn’t tell you!

Do you remember your first cap? The first shirt? The first national anthem?

Yes, in 2008, with the juniors. I’ve been in the national team since 2008, it’s great.

How did Hamza get into rugby? And how did he end up playing in the west of France?

I played in Tunisia, and it was my dream to come and play in France. I sent my CV all over France, I wanted to give it a go. The Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez club got in touch in 2018, they were playing in Honneur at the time.

Is it too personal to ask your height and weight?

103 kilos these days, 1.76 metres.

Do you have a standout memory with the national team? Coming up against stars? Playing in high-level matches?

Yes, Virimi Vakatawa, on the IRB World Sevens Series legs. I also played in a play-off for qualification for the 2011 World Cup against Romania, that was at the end of 2010.

Which club did you play for when you were in Tunisia?

I started at RCT, Rugby Club de Tunis, then I played for Espérance de Tunis, and then there was my neighbourhood club, RCET, Rugby Club Ettahri, right next to my home, until I came to France. I was a youth coach there, I played with them, I coached the under-17s and under-15s as a sports coach. After that, I coached the seniors for a season and then came to France.

Why did you take up rugby in Tunisia? Friends? Family?

It was my friends, a classmate. I was twelve. Since I had the build of a rugby player, he said to me: “Do you want to come and play rugby?” I said: “What’s rugby?” Nobody knew it in Tunisia. I thought it was American football, with the helmet and shoulder pads! He told me: “No, that’s American football, it’s a different game, the ball is shaped like a melon!” When I went to my first session, I was hooked. I was a wrestler originally. So I did a first rugby session and I got attached to it.

Is rugby in Tunisia moving forward today? Growing? Does it need a bit of a shake-up?

We’ve still built up a record in Tunisian rugby, in fifteens and sevens, since 2009. In fifteens, we were just a nudge away from going to the 2011 World Cup.

Why do you love rugby?

Respect, the values of rugby, people know about that in Tunisia. In France, you can bring something when you have the experience of playing abroad, it shows the right image of a rugby player.

At 36, are you going again for one last international season?

Yes, I think so, we should have the Africa Cup of Nations. We should have a training camp, 36 players, and the head coach will pick 24 or 25.

Trignac is a club with a fighting spirit and fighting values. That suits you down to the ground.

It’s more of a family club, it’s a team with a history.