Charlotte Escudero (15th of France Women): “A year ago, I wouldn’t have thought I was playing the World Cup”

She is one of the surprises in the list of 32 players from the XV of France Women selected to compete in the 2021 World Cup (postponed to 2022 due to Covid) in New Zealand. The third line of Blagnac, Charlotte Esquire (22 years old; pick one), she did not expect, herself, to be chosen to take part in this planetary event in rugby country. Alongside her eight Caouecs teammates who attended with Les Bleues, the player who trained at La Valette-du-Var lives a true fairy tale, she said at a press conference.

“I dreamed of the World Cup, but it wasn’t a goal I wanted to achieve”

Charlotte Escudero, who kicked off in the third row wing for the opening match against South Africa (Saturday 8 September, 3:15 a.m. French time), along with Montpellier No. 8 Romain Menager and his Blagnac partner Marjorie Mayans, had little difficulty realizing. What happened. It occurs to him: “A year ago, if I had been told I was going to start the first match of the World Cup in New Zealand, I don’t think I would have believed it, and I would have run you crazy,” admits the interested party, before continuing:

Obviously I dreamed of a World Cup, but unlike many of the girls here, it wasn’t the goal I was hoping for. Since I took my first steps in the France team, I started to really believe in it, and to be there, it’s unbelievable.

“After my injury, I kept believing in her and training hard.”

It must be said that Faroese was called up for the first time with the blue team during the last 6 countries, but unfortunately she could not honor her first international match, due to injury. “I was called in February to prepare for the tournament that was taking place in Corsica and then I was shortlisted from the final list of 36 people, except that on the second day of the tournament, I injured my knee and therefore could not participate in the six countries that happened after that,” she recalls. .

But the 22-year-old never gave up and continued to perform with Caouecs de Blagnac: “I kept believing in him and training hard. And when I was called up by coach Thomas Darrac, he gave me that hope. To be part of the list of 38 players who were preparing for the World Cup It was indeed a really beautiful thing. I was really happy to be a part of it, and of course being selected in the 32 list to go to New Zealand, it was an incredible thing for me! Explains the third grader who finally honored his first international selection, on September 3, by achieving the full 80 minutes In the victory over Italy (21-0) in Nice, in a preparatory match for the World Cup.

“It’s so extraordinary to be with girls like Mayans, N’Diaye or Forlani”

Brilliant Charlotte Escudero explains that her integration into the Women’s 15th edition in France has greatly facilitated the presence of a large Blagnac community in the ranks of the tricolor: “It’s true that it makes you instantly more comfortable. We are 9 in the 32-player group and we were 12 in the extended roster of Of the 38 players. It’s a familiar environment for me, because I have many girlfriends.” They will also be 8 KAWK present on the match sheet against Springboks Women, including 5 holders: Clara Goyo, Marjorie Mayans, Charlotte Escudero, Gabriel Vernier and neo-Blanicks Emily Pollard, who arrived this summer from RC Chile-Mazarin.

In front of her rather awkward club and teammate of choice Marjorie Mayans, Charlotte Escudero expressed her gratitude and pride in playing alongside her childhood idols. “As I often say, it’s exceptional to be with Margo, who meant so much to me in women’s rugby, or with Safi (Ndiaye) and Audrey Forlani…they are girls I like so much and playing with them now is great. Plus, I have my friends from Blagnac , so we’d say it’s very reassuring and satisfying,” explains Escu.

“We soon saw that rugby was a whole culture in New Zealand”

With stars in her eyes, Charlotte Escudero is daydreaming and grinding down everything that comes her way, like the Welcome Party, which took place on Monday 3 October at the SkyCity Theater in Auckland, attended by 12 competing teams and match officials: “This opening ceremony was really great, because we We were really immersed in the world of New Zealand rugby and Maori culture.After the official performances we had a great presentation on this Maori culture.We all realized where we were, because where we live, in downtown Auckland, you don’t really see this Maori culture.All the teams were in attendance And there was a medal ceremony for the captains, and this really kicked off the start of the World Cup.”

Even if the Hab is isolated and kept on its own, exchanging flights from the hotel to the training ground at Bakuranga United RC, they have already seen that New Zealand is a true rugby country. “We’re in a bubble, so we don’t have much contact with the outside world, but two or three times we’ve been to town, people instantly recognize us from the piled-up rooster’s clothes. They’re very happy to see the French national team in New Zealand for the World Cup. We’ve also seen Lots of posters and stuff showing that we’re here for the World Cup. New Zealanders are proud of their country and of hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup. At the beginning of the week we were at the All Blacks Museum and there too, we really realized that rugby was a whole culture here!”

To manage the pressure of the event and in particular the opening match against South Africa at the legendary Eden Park in Auckland, Charlotte Escudero will be able to count on the old, in particular her Blagnac teammate Marjorie Mayans (31; pick 13): “It would be a very big thing, especially for For girls like Charlotte (Escudero) who found out, but I hope we’ll be there to manage that pressure and take advantage of the moment, above all by making a big game”, explains that she was also international with France 7 from 2009 to 2020. “The context will be very special He will play a lot. We are the favourites against South Africa, but we won’t have to put too much pressure on ourselves and play this match like our first World Cup game. I think we still have to take advantage of this moment, but with very good pressure.”

Was this article useful to you? Note that you can follow Actu Rugby in the My Actu space. With one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.