Former Harlequins prop Will Collier is impressed by the intense passion and vibrant atmosphere of Castres' rugby fans, relishing his new life in south France with the Castres club.
Former Harlequins prop Will Collier is revelling in the Castres fans’ passion and enjoying other benefits of life in south of France
Despite the fact Collier played 240 first-team matches for Quins, last weekend’s atmosphere at Clermont’s Stade Marcel-Michelin also made the 33-year-old shake his experienced head. “I came back on following a yellow card and they were baying for blood. It was like they were at some kind of dogfight. It was a real cauldron ... the energy from the crowd was unbelievable.”
Former team-mates such as Joe Marchant and Kyle Sinckler are at Stade Français and Toulon respectively, while loads more exiled English internationals are scattered the length and breadth of France. Owen Farrell, Courtney Lawes, Mako and Billy Vunipola, Manu Tuilagi, Jack Nowell, Lewis Ludlam, David Ribbans, Sam Simmonds, Dan Robson, Kieran Brookes, Jack Maunder: the list is lengthy.
“Steve Borthwick has to be allowed to pick the best players he can. There’s the counterargument of ‘we can’t weaken the Premiership’ but I feel the Premiership is always going to be a great competition. It’s not like there’s going to be a huge exodus of players to France, especially with the JIFF rules . I feel quite honoured to have found a spot for myself in the Top 14 because they’re so hard to come by.
“You can also go down to the local supermarket and find the most incredible bottles of wine for €9-€10. You think, ‘This can’t be good’. Then you realise that back home it would be retailing for £30-40 . It’s pretty amazing to have access to that kind of stuff – in limited quantities, obviously.”
Will Collier Rugby Castres Harlequins French Rugby
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