In 2009, while he was coach of the forwards of the XV of France, Didier Retière, now national technical director of the French Rugby Federation, decided to discuss with ballet dancers, "great specialists" of lifts certainly different from those of the oval ball ... But "with a lot of points in common", he assures the microphone of Europe 1. 

INTERVIEW

Difficult, at first glance, to imagine two sportsmen more different than a rugby player and a classical dancer.

"But there are still a lot of points in common," says Didier Retière.

Guest of the morning of Europe 1, Thursday, the national technical director (DTN) of the French Rugby Federation explained how he was inspired by ballets to make his players gain in "fluidity". 

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A "joke" at the start

It all started in 2009, when Didier Retière was a forward coach for the XV of France.

“The beginning of the story is a photo in a magazine of a dancer carrying a dancer in his hand,” he says.

The coach then thinks about the litters of his own players, at the time of the touches.

"I said to myself: but if we are able to do that with rugby players, that would be pretty incredible."

Initially, it was a "joke".

"And then, I spoke with a journalist friend who had links with the dance world. And something more serious started behind," explains Didier Retière.

The idea is to discuss with ballet specialists, "to get the feeling of great specialists".

"I went to see ballets, a choreographer came to the Stade de France, to see a live rugby match", explains the DTN.

"And then afterwards, we exchanged a lot. And it was very rich because we were really in two completely different worlds." 

"All athletes are curious"

What did the rugby player get out of it?

"Fluidity, energy savings, efficiency too".

"We do not realize the athletic performance that a ballet represents, but when we see the worn, the sequences, nothing appears on the face of the dancer ... It's just incredible", he enthuses. . 

However, the exchanges have never involved participation of some in the training of others.

"Simply this curiosity", poses Didier Retière, who admits having had to use "a lot of diplomacy" with his players, "because the mixture of backgrounds can be a little scary".

"Finally, I believe that all athletes are often quite curious about what is happening in other activities," he concludes.