Thibaut Motassi comes across as shy, a far cry from his image as a lively, electrifying scrum-half. Never interviewed before, the 21-year-old, under contract until June 2030, took to the exercise with real success. Speaking exclusively to It’s Rugby, he talks about being someone who doesn’t overthink things, his passion for fishing, his love of animals and his role as scrum-half behind a powerhouse Stade Français pack. Interview.
Stade Français ready for the Top 14 restart
IT’S RUGBY. – Thibaut, how are you feeling a few days before the Top 14 gets back under way?
Thibaut Motassi: Very excited! We had a really good pre-season. We came back a bit later than most teams in the league, since we had a good season last year. But we really put the work in. It was short but intense. We quickly moved on to the friendlies. Today, I feel ready. And that goes for everyone. We’re in top shape to start the season this weekend.
Have the targets for qualification and progress been clearly set internally?
The ambitions are set every year. It’s always the same. When you play for Stade Français, you always want to do better than in previous years. The line is clear: we have to be in the knockout stage, whatever the circumstances.
What do you take from last season, with 20 matchday squads to your name?
Like the team at that time, my first season at the club had been complicated. It was hard to express myself. Last season, I got my chance in a few games, there was good momentum and confidence. So it was a good season and I hope it carries on like that.
I'm reserved when it comes to opening up about what I think or how I feel. But that changes once I'm on the pitch
Reserved off the pitch, electric on it
On the pitch, you’re very dynamic, always looking to speed up the game. Does that match your personality, given you describe yourself as fairly reserved?
Yes, it’s a paradox. I’m reserved when it comes to opening up about what I think or what I feel. But that’s not the case once I’m on the pitch. I love the game, I like it when things move quickly. So in some aspects of my personality there can be a resemblance, but I’m still someone who doesn’t talk just for the sake of it.
Are you a moaner, like a good number 9?
(smiles) I think almost all number 9s are like that. I do tend to moan sometimes but I’m trying to work on it so that it’s constructive and positive. Moaning too much won’t help me. So yes, I’m working on that.
I have the perfect environment to grow and keep developing
Morgan Parra, Kerr-Barlow, Kockott: growing up behind the senior players
Has Morgan Parra’s arrival been good for you?
Of course. When Morgan Parra is there every day, when you know the career he’s had, it helps. And it’s not just him. There’s also Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Rory Kockott, who have played at the very highest level. I have the perfect environment to grow and keep developing.
On the pitch, when you come up against certain players, do you sometimes think you never imagined playing at this level one day?
Yes, but I’m someone who doesn’t overthink things. Looking back, when I think about games against huge players, I think it’s cool, but it doesn’t bother me beyond that. That said, of course I never imagined playing in the Top 14 in front of so many people, in such great stadiums, like the Vélodrome for example.
Speaking of the Vélodrome, are you into football?
Yes, I follow it, like every sport really. I’m pro-Paris, but it was still nice to go and play at the Vélodrome.
So winning at the Vélodrome would be very satisfying…
Unfortunately I haven’t won there yet, but yes, it would be nice (smiles).
Do you have specific personal ambitions?
Again, I don’t overthink things… Obviously, I’m a competitor so I have dreams. I’d rather mention short-term ambitions, like playing and performing well for my club.
Have you identified areas of your game to improve?
Yes. I’m a young player in a hugely important position. Everything to do with leadership and managing certain situations, I still need to improve. I’m someone who likes it when everything moves fast, when it’s dynamic, but you also have to know how to handle the tenser moments. And of course, you always have to keep improving the technical skills of the position, especially kicking, passing and individual technique.
Playing behind a pack as dominant as Stade Français’ must be a real comfort, we imagine…
For sure. When that pack wins so many scrums and sacrifices itself for us every game, it’s enjoyable. And it makes us backs want to develop and play good rugby. Which we managed well last season.
The “gem” label, social media and the Paris crowd
Do you pay attention to what’s said about you on social media?
Not really, honestly. You inevitably come across certain things, but it doesn’t matter much to me.
There was a time when Stade Français fans were almost demanding you be put on the pitch, calling you a “gem”. Did that affect you?
No, I didn’t really pay attention to it. I want to play. I’m a competitor. I know it takes experience, especially in my position, to play game after game. There are players with a lot more experience than me, but I fight every day to be able to play every weekend. That’s all that matters to me.
The crowds came back in force last season. Do you hope to build on that?
We hope it just keeps growing. This year, all the players really felt a stadium driving us on in the big games and it was very enjoyable. There are supporters’ groups doing great work, like the Virage Lutèce, which I’m the patron of. They always give everything, with drums and all the rest. It’s great to have them behind us.
How do you find life in Paris?
Really good. I was born here and I joined Stade Français when I was 13. I’ve been through almost every age group, apart from the very youngest. So I’m fully committed to the Paris project, and it’s great.
How did you get into rugby?
It’s really simple. I got into rugby through school. I’m not from a rugby family. My grandfather played rugby, but we hadn’t even paid attention to that. It was at school. A teacher in Year 3 or Year 4 entered our class in a rugby tournament in Rueil-Malmaison, where I’m from. I played in the inter-school tournament and the following year I signed up at the club.
Family, fishing and animals: Motassi away from rugby
You’re very close to your family. Can you tell us about them?
I have a younger brother and a younger sister. I also had an older sister, who is no longer with us. It’s true that I’m very family-oriented. I like being with my loved ones, with my little sister and my little brother, who also played rugby. He’s taken a different path since, but our relationship hasn’t changed.
Outside rugby, what are you passionate about?
I go fishing a lot. I go with my mates. I also like seeing my friends, and I’m starting to get into property. I know a bit about it because I studied in that field. I plan to get into it a bit more seriously. I lead a quiet life. I enjoy life in Paris and the people close to me.
With property, do you already have an idea for your future?
Without getting ahead of myself and saying it’s really what I want to do after my career, it’s a sector I like. For a lot of athletes, it’s hard to find an activity that gives you emotions comparable to top-level sport. But property interests me. I manage to stay focused on it. I just don’t know yet if it will really be my second career.
Are you the type to live rugby flat out, thinking about nothing else, or do you need to switch off?
When I arrived at Stade Français, from the youth teams up to my first year as a pro, I was all-in on rugby. It was all I thought about, all I wanted to do, I watched every game. Today, I think it’s really important to switch off, because we live it every day but there’s more to life than that. I’m lucky because Paris is the perfect city for that. It’s so big that rugby doesn’t take up a huge place in my life there.
You’re drawn to travel. Is that linked to your roots, with your father being Cameroonian?
I’ve never had the chance to go to Cameroon. I’ve only flown over it, which actually made me laugh. I like travelling, I have mates who travel all over. With rugby and busy schedules, it’s hard to find the right dates to go away with friends. But I like travelling and I plan to do it more regularly in future. At the moment, the best time is summer. It’s the perfect window to discover lots of different cultures.
When you were younger, you wanted to be a vet…
That’s true. I’ve always wanted to be close to animals. It was more of a dream than anything else. I quickly realised it was easier for me to be on a rugby pitch than to sit on a chair in class. I’ve always loved being around animals. I have a cat and I plan to get a dog. That probably comes from my other roots, since part of my family comes from the countryside, in the Pays de la Loire. With Stade Français, when we were in the U21s, we did a lot of community work. I had asked if we could do something with the SPA, France’s animal welfare charity, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. Still, it’s something I could do in future, because animal welfare is very important to me.
Comments