With the Six Nations only days away, this is a fine moment to look at the case of Vannes. True, the club may only supply one player for the competition, Dave Cherry, the Scottish hooker. One nation among many others represented at the club.

Brittany as a land of welcome, oh yes indeed. Within the first-team squad of PRO D2 side RC Vannes, the current leaders, coach Jean-Noël Spitzer works with internationals and former internationals representing France and twelve nations (and Brittany, obviously).

The incredible roll-call of colours at La Rabine

Dive into the detailed profiles in the It’s Rugby database and the verdict is beyond dispute: the Vannes dressing room looks like an annexe of the UN, or rather a marvellous melting pot where the accents blend together to form the language of winning.

The jewel in the crown is of course Mako Vunipola (England), whose 79 caps and Lions tours weigh a tonne. But behind the colossus, what unfolds is an oval-ball version of a Prévert inventory:

• Latin America in force: The grinta is provided by the Argentinian contingent of Francisco Gorrissen, Santiago Medrano and Juan Bautista Pedemonte, backed up by Uruguayans Jean Cotarmanac’h and Inaki Gurruchaga, not forgetting the Chilean X-factor Inaki Ayarza.
• Pacific power: The islands are represented by Fijians Kitione Kamikamica and Filipo Nakosi, Tongan Sione Kalamafoni, and the New Zealand class of former All Black Francis Saili.
• The European exotica: Besides Scotland’s Dave Cherry, Vannes can count on Italy with Edoardo Iachizzi, Belgium with Charles-Henri Berguet, Germany with Eric Marks, and Georgia with scrum-half Mikheil Alania.
• The special case: Note finally the presence of Nick Schonert, South African by birth, who has his eye on Germany.

A luxury game of musical chairs

All that multicultural wealth does, however, demand a particular kind of gymnastics from the Breton staff. Having a galactic squad means accepting that team selection turns into a permanent game of musical chairs during the international windows.

When the Rugby Championship calls up the South Americans or the Pacific tour mobilises the islanders, Jean-Noël Spitzer has to juggle. But make no mistake: this is a “rich man’s headache”. Where other Pro D2 clubs cobble something together to find a starter, RCV dip into a bottomless reservoir. It is the price of newfound glory: Vannes do not suffer their internationals, the club affords itself the luxury of proving that even when the music stops and the stars leave for their national teams, there is always enough talent left sitting on the bench to carry on winning.