Portrait of the B.A.R.B.A.R.E "boss"!

14 November 2024 Bucket

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BARBARE, the Bureau Associatif Regroupant la Bande des Anciens Rugbyman de l'ESTACA, has been managed for 4 years now by Armand de Gontaut Biron, class of 2018.

This group brings together former ESTACA rugby players and, as so aptly described on their Facebook group: "it's like the port salute it's written on".

Armand was vice-president of the BDS in 2016 and was then the point of contact, on the student side, for the organization of the Alumni Match. A match that once a year pits the BARBARE team against the XV de la cigogne, the student team.

In 2016, Rémi Crossonneau, class of 2016, and Franck Scherer, class of 1996, headed up the Alumni team. They quickly spotted Armand's passion for rugby, his ability to bring people together and his commitment. They asked him to take over from them, as soon as he graduated.

In 2018 and 2019, Armand is organizing everything. He's close to the BDS, which helps! He creates a new Facebook group by bringing together the alumni he knew, and merges it with the old group, created by Franck.

In 2020, COVID obliges... No annual match! But from 2021 onwards, Armand puts his boots back on and takes over the organization.

Every year, in June, he contacts the BDS President and the Rugby Manager. The student association organizes the match, and the BARBARES organize the famous 3rd half-time...

In August, alumni and students launch a survey to find the ideal date. September is perfect! And we pray it won't rain...

But contacting everyone, finding the place and date of the gathering, getting the ball rolling, liaising with the BDS... That's a lot of work on its own.

So Armand dreams of a bigger BARBARE! More organizers, more players, more spectators!

Armand:

"I'd had the idea of having managers for each promotion to mobilize as closely as possible. Or to set up a team like a Barbarian office. With one person to talk to the students, another to look for the pitch, another to communicate with the alumni, why not have a communications manager to make a poster and even prepare the post-game?

Today I'm taking on these roles on my own, between family life and work it's starting to take its toll. I love getting involved and catching up with my old and younger comrades, but a little help would be most welcome."

Tempted by one of these roles? Or just want to be kept in the loop? Join BARBARE: