Thomas Barbe (30) and his brother Jérémy (26) are both smiling. Yet the two brothers are just a day away from the fierce derby in Nationale 2 pitting US Tyrosse, Thomas’s club, against Peyrehorade, where Jérémy plays. For It’s Rugby, the two Capbretonnais took the time to open up about their relationship, their “different”, even “opposite” personalities, memories of their first match together in the first team, and the ones where they had to face each other, for better or worse. Among other things. A tasty interview.
IT’S RUGBY. – What state of mind are you in on the eve of this match? Have you thought about it, did you sleep well?
Jérémy Barbe: For me, it stays a special match but without any particular pressure, given that we’re in the middle of the season. I can’t wait to be there!
Thomas Barbe: For my part, I’m making my return to the squad. I’m already very happy to be able to play again. It stays a special match, because it’s against the neighbours, Peyrehorade, and because Jérémy will be across from me. Our start to the season isn’t brilliant either, so I think this derby arrives at just the right time.
Did you talk about it between yourselves this week?
J. B: (smiling) We mostly talk about rugby at home but not necessarily about the match itself. We tried to pick up a few clues (laughs), but honestly no, we haven’t talked much about the match.
T. B.: Above all, we didn’t know whether one or the other would be playing (laughs). We don’t really put pressure on each other. We haven’t put any money on it yet. It’s more our parents who talk about it, not us.
Tomorrow morning, you might bump into each other…
T. B.: You should know there’s just a small wooden gate separating us. Maybe we’ll cross paths, I don’t know. Just because we’re playing against each other doesn’t mean we won’t speak to one another. On the contrary, I think it’s beautiful that two brothers can face off.
J. B.: For me, the match is decided on the pitch. There obviously won’t be a big speech before the match but we’re not going to shut ourselves off from talking to each other (smiling).
Tyrosse-Peyrehorade, four duels in one season
You’ve already faced each other four times…
T. B. : Yes, that’s right. In 2024-2025, it was the first time we faced each other. With the two pool matches and the quarter-final home and away, we ended up facing each other four times in a single year!
With an advantage for Tyrosse…
T. B.: (smiling) Let’s say we won every time at Peyrehorade. But the away matches at our ground were more favourable to Peyrehorade. Proof being, they drew and then won the return quarter-final, where we had a bit of a scare.
Thomas BarbeIt really was a pride for me to play with him at this level.
But you’ve also played together… Is that perhaps one of your fondest memories?
J. B.: Yes, first in the Espoirs team because Thomas wasn’t playing much in the first team. So he had game time with us. That was already great, and above all, it made our parents proud. And then we were lucky enough to play one match together in the first team, when Tyrosse had been promoted to Nationale 2, at Floirac. The result wasn’t there, but it was genuinely a pleasure to play with him.
T. B.: As Jérémy said, playing with him in the Espoirs team was already great. I’d had that goal in mind since he moved up to seniors. Unfortunately he was only able to play one match in the first team at Tyrosse. He might have deserved to play others during the year but that’s how it is. It really was a pride for me to play with him at this level. Even if, as he said, the result wasn’t there that day.
From Tyrosse to Peyrehorade, Jérémy’s departure
How did you both experience Jérémy’s departure?
T. B.: He first went to Saint-Paul-lès-Dax before joining Peyrehorade. We’d more or less told him he could forget about the first team at Tyrosse. So he decided to drop a level, to Fédérale 2, to get himself going again. He did that very well, finishing as the second-highest points scorer in Fédérale 2. His good performances then caught the eye of several clubs in the area. He chose Peyrehorade, and I think he’s very happy there.
J. B.: I started rugby at Capbreton but did almost all my youth rugby at Tyrosse. I had all my mates there. So yes, it’s true, it affected me. Afterwards, I told myself it was really for my own good. First rugby-wise, because I think I’d done everything I could in the Espoirs team, I’d been there five years, and I wasn’t managing to play in the first team at Tyrosse. So I told myself: why not Saint-Paul? When I went there, I told them I might spend fifteen years at Saint-Paul, or just one year, before bouncing back. In the end, that year helped me bounce back. Today, I often play with Peyrehorade and I’m happy.
Capbreton, the garden and the Uberti brothers
Thomas BarbeWhen we were kids, we’d play against each other in the garden without worrying about the future. Though I used to let Jérémy win, otherwise he’d cry.
You’re four years apart. When you were kids, were you already hoping to play together?
T. B.: When we were kids, we didn’t really realise it, and because of that age gap, we never really thought about it. But we used to have fun playing little matches on the play area next to our parents’ house, with the Uberti brothers. We’d organise contests: Jérémy and Léo against Pablo (UBB player, editor’s note) and me. Of course, Jérémy and Léo won every time, because Léo was a lot sturdier than us (laughs). When we were kids, we’d play against each other in the garden without worrying about the future. Though I used to let Jérémy win, otherwise he’d cry (laughs). It wasn’t something that was on my mind. It’s more with age, as we grew up, that we thought: “Ah, maybe there’s a possibility”.
Thomas, you mention your characters. Are you the same on that point?
T. B.: We’re completely opposite! I’d say I’m fairly calm, reserved, a bit introverted. Jérémy is the complete opposite. He’s explosive. When he was little, he was the joker of the group, always up to mischief. Not me.
J. B.: I’m a guy who takes life day by day. I don’t overthink things. Thomas isn’t the same. He gets worked up over little things. We’re only four years and a week apart, but in terms of character, we’re completely opposite (laughs).
Isn’t one of you a worse loser than the other?
T. B.: I think we’re both bad losers, but to lesser degrees.
J. B.: If we lose, I accept the defeat. When there’s someone better than you and you haven’t been good, you have to accept it. Thomas is more of a moaner.
Thomas, when you were playing together, or when you went to watch Jérémy play, did you give him advice or let him do his own thing?
T. B.: I’ve got a bit of that older brother’s eye. I try to give him advice before matches, so he can improve his game or different rugby skills. Did he listen to it? I don’t know (laughs). Did he put it into practice? I don’t know that either. But yes, I’d try to give him a few tips, thanks to the little extra experience I had compared to him. Sometimes I think he wanted to tell me to get lost (laughs). But we talk a lot, whether after his matches or after mine: we’re on the phone all the time when we can’t see each other. We do a bit of analysis.
At Tyrosse, you followed the same path, always with that gap, the same training and the same coaches. You experienced much the same thing, with that small distance linked to your ages…
J. B.: Yes, of course. We always developed at the same level but not at the same time. The coaches knew the older brother, then they got the younger brother. They found it easier to work with me than with Thomas.
“We’re a fairly rugby family”
Did your family plunge you straight into rugby?
T. B.: Our dad played rugby at Saint-Jean-de-Marsacq. Jérémy never knew him as a player because he was too young. I was lucky enough to see him play, I’ve kept a few very brief memories of it. After he stopped playing, I took up rugby at the age of 5-6. Jérémy was constantly around it, because our parents had got involved in the Capbreton rugby school. Our father was a coach, one year with me, one year with Jérémy. He followed us through the age groups. We’re a fairly rugby family. Both our grandfathers played rugby, our uncle too. That made things easier.
You don’t have an imposing build, but you manage to hold up against big guys. Is that a strength, a weakness, sometimes both?
J. B: I’d say more of a strength. For big lads, it’s harder to tackle someone like us, because of the size difference. That plays a big part. We rely on our assets: speed, evasion. We try precisely not to avoid contact, but to dodge it to get out of trouble. Of course, it can backfire on us. When you’ve got a 120-kilo, 1.92-metre giant in front of you, you have to hang on and grit your teeth (smiling).
T. B.: What you should know is that we had exactly the same development path. We were both trained in the front row. Due to a lack of game time, we decided to switch to another position, either full-back or wing. For me, that was also a strength. In every age group I went through, I was always the smallest. Naturally, when you’re smaller, you want to prove to others that being small doesn’t mean you can’t do the same things as them.
You’re also both kickers…
J. B.: Honestly, we worked at it. We spent a few hours at the Hossegor stadium (laughs). Thomas took up kicking, I don’t even know for what reason. He wanted to help the team, I think. We’re still working on it even though we kick less than before. Recently, I actually got the chance to take on that role because our regular kicker was injured. Honestly, it’s really useful. It’s an extra asset.
If each of you had to name one rugby quality and one personal quality of the other, what would you say?
J. B.: Wow! (laughs) For Thomas, I’d say speed. That’s his major asset. One on one, if he’s on the outside, it’s going to be hard to catch him. In everyday life, I’d say he’s generous. He always wants everyone to be well, for everything to go well for everyone.
T. B.: That’s hard to choose (laughs). For him, I’d say defence. Jérémy is a great defender. He keeps proving that having a small build doesn’t mean you can’t put in good tackles on guys bigger than us. And he’s got a bit of vision too. He senses the right moves to make. Otherwise, in everyday life, he’s a grafter. Thanks to his trade as a carpenter, which isn’t an easy job. He’s been doing it since he was 15. He never lets up in anything he does. He wanted to go self-employed, and he went self-employed. He learned that trade through hard times.
Jérémy BarbeHe’s too much of a perfectionist. He wants everything to be spot on, everything to be done well.
I have to ask you each for a flaw…
T. B.: For Jérémy, it’s not really a flaw, but he doesn’t really care about anything. He does things without knowing the consequences (laughs).
J. B.: (thinking) For Thomas, it’s hard (smiling). It’s not a flaw either but he’s too much of a perfectionist. He wants everything to be spot on, everything to be done well, just like in rugby. For example, if he takes a drop goal, he wants it to be the best drop goal. If he takes a penalty, he wants it to be the best penalty. It’s a quality and a flaw at the same time.
“As if we were back in our parents’ garden”
Let’s go back to your first match together in the first team. How did that go?
T. B.: Originally, Jérémy wasn’t supposed to play (smiling). On the Friday evening, our winger Jean-Baptiste Villetorte got injured and Jérémy came into the squad as a starter. We were very happy. It all happened fairly quickly, we didn’t really have time to think about it. However, during the first match where we faced each other, I’d dreamed of a one-on-one duel against Jérémy. And I got the chance! He was at full-back and I was on the wing. I got a ball, then a one on one. I’ll speak in my own favour here, not Jérémy’s… (smiling) When I had the ball and went up against him, it was as if we were back in our parents’ garden, when we were kids. I told myself: “I’ll try the step and go.” I pulled it off. Unfortunately, there was no try off the back of it. I was pushed into touch. Afterwards, though, he got his revenge a few matches later. Same situation, I’ve got the ball. His defensive qualities meant he put in a good tackle on me. If he could have sent me to the ground with a spear tackle, he would have done it (laughs). But as the rules have changed a bit, he held back. Otherwise, he’d have broken my ribs (laughs).
Are you both ones for banter?
T. B.: Me, yes. I know I banter a lot. Beyond that, we’re both ones for banter. When we’re in the match, even if our brother is across from us, we don’t necessarily think about that. For us, he’s an opponent. It’s like with mates. There aren’t really brothers on a pitch.
J. B.:We are, but more after the matches. During the match, we’re not going to look at each other or say sweet nothings. Even if our brother is across from us, we don’t necessarily think about that. For us, he’s an opponent. It’s like with mates. There aren’t really brothers on a pitch.
La Fougère, Tyrosse’s stadium, is a bit of a “temple” for you…
T. B.: That’s where we were able to come into our own and become the players we are today, yes. Beyond that, we both started rugby at Capbreton, and we’re very proud to be from Capbreton. That’s why we live there, that’s why we’re very attached to the town. Of course, our time at Tyrosse helped us progress as rugby players and as men too.
J. B.: Yes, of course. The main temple is Capbreton, because that’s where it all started. I still spent twelve years at Tyrosse. The first time I played there again with Peyrehorade, it felt strange. My first home is Capbreton, and the second is La Fougère (smiling).
A derby under the eyes of their parents
How impervious are you to pressure? You’d imagine some people behind the railing will be giving you grief…
J. B.:As Thomas said, I’m not at all one to overthink things or stress. I take it as motivation, and even more as a laugh. There’s no particular pressure. It’s not in my nature. And since we’ve faced each other many times over the past three or four years, there’s less apprehension than at the first match, even though it stays a special one.
T. B.:I’m a big worrier (laughs). Well, this week, I haven’t stressed much because I didn’t know whether I’d be playing (smiling). I’m mainly happy to be in the squad. During the first matches where we faced each other, I had that little bit of apprehension because I wanted to have a good match, since it was against Peyrehorade. But I also wanted Jérémy to have a good one, so he could prove he’d been right to make the choice to leave.
And your parents, which side do they take?
J. B.: Our father has always said that when it’s at Peyrehorade, he’s for Peyrehorade, and when it’s at Tyrosse, he’s for Tyrosse. It’s harder for our mother. Watching her two sons play against each other, I don’t think she really experiences the match. She struggles to get into it, as if she’s watching us play against another team. We don’t feel it, but I think she doesn’t take much pleasure in this match, even if she’s happy to see her two sons play against each other.
T. B.: I think she’s the most stressed person in the world at that moment (laughs). On the other hand, when our father says that, he brings us a bit of bad luck because when it’s at Peyrehorade, it’s Tyrosse who wins, and when it’s at Tyrosse, it’s Peyrehorade who comes out on top (laughs).
If Peyrehorade win, the week is going to be tricky for Thomas…
J. B.:I think so, yes. We haven’t won at home against Tyrosse for three years already. So it would be a fine performance. And we’ll have to remind him that he came to get his teeth kicked in at Dabadie (the name of Peyrehorade’s stadium, editor’s note).
T. B.:With Tyrosse, we’re on a defeat from the last match against Peyrehorade: a home quarter-final, which we lost 45 to 40. Personally, I’ve still got that in the back of my mind. That said, if Peyrehorade win and it’s deserved, there’ll be nothing to say. But I hope we’re going to win (smiling). But yes, if I lose, I’m going to get reminded of it from all sides (laughs).
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