Alban Placines (Third row, Toulouse) - The Stade de France flanker has always been instinctively attentive to others and the world around him. It is this deeply altruistic character, and the fact that he grew up by the ocean in Biarritz, that are also at the origin of his environmental and ethical convictions.
The 2013-2014 season saw the great Biarritez fall to Pro D2. It also offered Alban Placines, aged 20, his first appearances. " It was incredible, there were still players I admired on TV when I was younger," he smiles. " Dimitri Yachvili, Imanol Harinordoguy, Damien Traille, Benoît August... I trained a lot and played a bit with them, before the relegation. It was pretty intimidating.
In the lower echelons of his career, he began to learn his trade and gradually changed direction, but he has never forgotten the contribution of the aforementioned leaders. " In a way, they were there for me. Today, I still hear a lot from Imanol, with whom I talk regularly. Generally speaking, it's the kind of exchange that's close to his heart.
" I like to keep in touch with old hands. There's always good advice to be had. When I was at the Biarrote rugby school, I remember that Micjel Celaya was often on the sidelines. He was discreet and didn't say much, but it was always interesting to go and talk to him."