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In less than three seasons, Thomas Boisseau has become a key figure in senior rugby coaching on our island. Introduced to coaching by Fabien Maurel—who brought him on to work alongside him with the Rascasses women’s team, leading them to the regional championship title last summer—he’s back this year and has joined the men’s senior coaching staff, led by Paul Bessières.
An interview with a former player who has become indispensable on the sidelines.
Why did you join the coaching staff of the men’s senior team, the Barracudas?
Thomas Boisseau: I was forced to end my playing career due to injuries, which led me to become a coach so I could stay connected to rugby. I started with the women’s team, and it went well—the Entente des Iles du Nord (the Rascasses of Saint Barth and the Archigirls of Saint Martin) were crowned Guadeloupe champions last season. This summer, the club asked me to join the men’s senior coaching staff to work alongside Paul Bessières and Patrick Rivière. I naturally accepted this challenge.
Together with the coaching staff, what goals have you set for the Barracudas this season?
We want the team to enjoy playing together; we want a close-knit group that’s always focused on “supporting one another.” As for the rugby side of things, our goal is to host the championship semifinal at home—something we didn’t achieve last year and which is very important for the club. These are unique moments in the life of a rugby club, and we want to relive them with the club and the fans.
What do you think of your men’s senior team this year?
We’re not quite at full strength yet; we’re waiting for some players to return… In the meantime, we have good momentum and a great group of friends. On the field, there are still some kinks to work out, but I think the team is motivated to push each other to have a strong season.
Last weekend in Saint Martin, you took part in the first round of the rugby sevens championship. Do you plan to participate in all the rounds of this tournament despite some financial and scheduling constraints?
We decided, along with the coaching staff, before the start of the season, to participate in two rounds of this championship so the team could get used to the intensity of the 15-a-side matches we’ll be playing during the season. The club went along with our decision and is supporting us financially; we’re grateful for that, because it allowed us to compete in the round in Saint Martin last Saturday, and we’ll also be able to participate in the round taking place in Marie-Galante in a few weeks. Rugby sevens allows us to assess the players’ potential and give everyone—both newcomers and veterans—playing time.
Last year, the Entente des Îles du Nord women’s team (Rascasses of Saint Barth and Archigirls of Saint Martin) won the first regional title in the club’s history. What stands out to you as this new season begins?
What stands out most is all the hard work the players put in over the two seasons that led them to the championship title. They asked for two practices a week after losing their first final two seasons ago. The players didn’t shy away from putting in the extra effort to get there. It was the energy they brought to practice that led them to become champions of Guadeloupe.
This season, Saint Barth and Saint Martin will have two separate teams. How will you adapt to this change?
It’s true that the Entente des Îles du Nord is on hiatus for this season… Saint Martin has about twenty players in training and doesn’t want to leave any of its players “out in the cold.” So they’ve told us they’ll be competing in the championship with a team representing their island. We, for our part, will do the same… In and of itself, it’s good news for women’s rugby to have two separate teams in the Northern Islands. It motivates us to embrace our “Rascasses” identity. The entire club is rallying to recruit new players and let the whole island know that women’s rugby in Saint Barth has a very competitive team.
The Rascasses are, of course, in the running to defend their own title. How will you keep the players motivated to achieve a potential “back-to-back” championship?
This is an extremely determined group; these players don’t really need to be kept motivated—they’re naturally motivated! They love playing rugby and playing with their friends, so there’s no need to worry about their drive. On the contrary, they’re even more motivated by the idea of winning the championship in their own colors and jersey—the Rascasses’ jersey. My team wants to show that in Saint Barth, it’s not just the men who play and win at rugby—the women do too.
Finally, let’s talk tactics—are you going to stick with the “formula” that won you the championship last year, or do you want to try something different?
I think we’ll stick with the same system… though there are some things we need to fine-tune. Last year, with the Entente des Iles du Nord, we had a certain type of player; this season, the profiles are a bit different. It’ll all come down to adapting, but yes, broadly speaking, we should stick to, more or less, the same system and the same playing philosophy—while evolving it, of course.
