“New Zealand had a big influence on me.”

French national anthem : What is your earliest memory of the Rugby World Cup? ?

Pierre Vilbrio: The first was in 1987. The newspaper launch “He sent me to talk about the World Cup and the technical aspects of the game. I thought it was a great idea to organize a World Cup, which was a bit corny at first. There were only sixteen teams at that time, divided into four groups of four. South Africa were excluded for reasons Political because of apartheid. We were still completely amateur, and the players did not see the World Cup as a priority. They understood then that they had to prepare for it.

What is your best memory since this first edition? ?

BF: My fondest memory, during the World Cup, is the semi-final match that France played in 1995. They played in the mud, and the game was late. There were a whole host of risks that made it a special match. The French could have reached the final, but facing the South Africans in these circumstances, in addition to the political problems behind it, in the presence of Nelson Mandela, was something.

Thanks to your long career,
As a player, as a coach, then as a union representative,
Rugby allowed you
To discover what culture is
In particular?

PV: A little bit of all of them, to be honest. I have traveled extensively during my career and worked at World Rugby for five years. I was able to go to all the countries and understand what rugby was like elsewhere, with different cultures, values ​​and tournament styles. I especially remember New Zealand for the spirit they have towards the game, their desire to always progress and be the best. The fact that a small island was mobilizing to survive through sport, I found that incredible. Yes, New Zealand had a big influence on me.

Today, are you still in the oval ball world?

PV: I don’t coach anymore. Sometimes I train with coaches. But it is more like friendship with some presidents. I am a member of the Ethics Committee of the French Rugby Federation. Suffice it to say we’ve been very busy lately.