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No ordinary Joe: Toulon's
English flanker Joe El Abd |
Toulon flanker, and former Bristol captain, Joe El Abd
has joined FRC as a regular columnist - giving us the inside
line on life down on the Cote d'Azur, what it's like to move
from the Guinness Premiership to Top 14 and generally
telling us how it is for a professional rugby player in the
modern era. This week he talks about money - and why it's
not just the pull of the Euro that's attracting Britain's
players across the Channel.
Is money the only
reason why so many British players have moved to play rugby
in France’s Top 14 this season? Certainly if you read or
listen to most of the British media that is impression you
would get, but as one of those who has moved – from Bristol
to Toulon – I can give you a more complete perspective on
the reasons for crossing the Channel. While it is clearly a
fact of life that money plays a part in most work related
decisions, for most players money is only one of many
factors that makes a move out to France hard to resist. Let
me explain.
The truth
Firstly, I want to be
truthful. The Top 14 pays well, especially when considering
the current strength of the Euro against the Pound. However,
disregarding this fact, it has always been a goal of mine
(and I know for many other players too) to play out in
France. Indeed, I began taking French lessons with my wife
two years ago in the hope that my dream might one day become
a reality. I have always been fascinated by the idea of
moving abroad to earn my living and was inspired by the
likes of footballers Steve McManaman, Michael Owen, Paul
Ince and David Beckham, who all left England’s Premier
League to ply their trade elsewhere in either Italy or
Spain. I have always felt that succeeding abroad marks a
player out with distinction, so having the opportunity to do
this myself as a professional rugby player was an
opportunity I felt I had to take.
Top 14 Table 2009/10
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Top 14 Transfers
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Top 14
Fixtures 2009/10
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Toulon team page
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On a professional level
I am sure you would all agree that challenging oneself in a
new environment is one way to take your performance to
another level. This has certainly been the case so far.
Playing with different players, against different teams and
receiving coaching from different perspectives certainly
brings out the best in you as a player. One only needs to
look at the revitalisation of players such as Andy Goode
(now at Brive) to see that sometimes change can be for the
better.
On the lifestyle front
experiencing a new culture and language gives you life
experiences you simply can’t achieve in most jobs. On this
point alone I find it surprising that more players don’t
want to seek out the challenge of playing abroad. Life down
in the south of France is certainly more relaxing and I’m
yet to find out the word for stress in the French language.
I have always found that the foreign players in England seem
to make the most out of what the country has to offer,
always using their time off to visit areas in Britain I had
never heard of. Well, now out in France it’s my turn and
seeing what the Cote d’Azur has to offer has been
fascinating so far.
Sunshine
Then there’s the
weather. I hate to sound smug but so far I have been here
nearly three months and it has rained for a grand total of
about five minutes! I am now convinced that it is the
climate of certain countries that allows them to produce the
athletes they do, because things like staying behind after
training to perform extras in the sun isn’t so much of a
chore. There also haven’t been many occasions while playing
in England that after a hill session (some things never
change!) the team has been able to perform their recovery in
the sea. No matter what country you’re in waking up and
seeing the sun out the window brings a smile to your face.
The passion and fervour
surrounding Toulon and the Top 14 is also something
extraordinary. Rugby here in Toulon is akin to a religion.
Supporting RCT is something to be proud of and as a player
you are well aware of this fact. The atmosphere at the
ground is something I have not experienced in club rugby
before. Standing before match at the Stade Mayol listening
to ‘Pilou-Pilou’ being shouted by the crowd gets the hairs
standing on their ends. For those of you who don’t know
‘Pilou-Pilou’ is Toulon’s crowd version of the Haka. Take a
look at this you tube clip to see what I mean ('Pilou
Pilou'). Why wouldn’t a player want to
experience playing in this atmosphere?
I’m going to stop there
but I hope you would now agree that there is more to playing
in France than just the money. All things considered when
faced with the question why do I want to play in France, I
think to myself why wouldn’t I!
Till next time…
