Que devient Annick Hayraud, ancienne manager du XV de France féminin ?
Joueuse à Romagnat entre 1986 et 2002 et internationale française avec le XV de France féminin sur la même période, cumulant 67 sélections, Annick Hayraud a vite fait un pas de côté pour s’illustrer dans l’encadrement en devenant entraîneure de Romagnat (2002-2015) puis manager du XV de France féminin sur deux périodes (2011-2014 et 2016-2022).
Figure respectable et respectée du rugby féminin de très haut niveau, proche de ses joueuses et avec une vision du jeu correspondant à l’ADN du rugby moderne, Annick Hayraud a marqué le rugby français en participant notamment à l’éclosion du rugby féminin.
Sa carrière sur les terrains s’est terminée abruptement après une Coupe du Monde de Rugby féminin 2011 (jouée en 2022 en Nouvelle-Zélande pour cause de Covid) décevante. Non pas à cause du résultat – une médaille de bronze pour la France – mais en termes de management, coincée entre une équipe de joueuses réclamant un jeu libéré et un staff cornaqué dans des schémas plus figés.
Aujourd’hui, c’est loin des terrains internationaux qu’elle se reconstruit, chez elle, à Riom en Auvergne où elle a repris sa vie d’avant. En parallèle, elle dispense des conférences sur le thème du sport en abordant les domaines clés tels que le management, le leadership, la gestion des émotions et la cohésion d’équipe.
Qu’est-ce que vous devenez Annick Hayraud ?
J’ai repris mon ancien travail dans les services techniques et j’ai pris une petite équipe, à un petit niveau – à Ennezat à côté de chez moi – pour leur filer un coup de main. C’est une équipe de garçons, de seniors.
Est-ce que ça vous manque cet environnement de très haut niveau ?
C’est pas que ça me manque, mais j’avais vraiment besoin de faire un break ; la fin avait été très difficile. J’avais été très déçue, très touchée et j’avais besoin de me ressourcer un peu.
Et puis de partir dans un petit club amateur, c’est autre chose. C’est quelque chose que je n’avais jamais fait chez les garçons. J’avais beaucoup donné chez les filles, mais je ne l’avais jamais fait chez les garçons. C’est vraiment particulier, c’est vraiment la base du rugby amateur et c’est très intéressant. Il y a tellement de choses à faire ; ça n’a rien à voir.
C’est visiblement ce dont vous aviez besoin…
Oui, ça permet de rester au contact. Ce sont deux mondes complètement différents avec des problématiques différentes. Mais ça reste du rugby : tu entraînes du rugby, tu reprends la base, les problématiques ne sont pas du tout les mêmes…
C’est un environnement que vous n’avez pas connu lorsque vous étiez à la fédé ?
A la fédé, j’étais dans le haut niveau. Tous ces petits clubs, tu rencontres des gens, mais tu ne vois pas la réalité du terrain tous les jours comme là tu peux la vivre : la problématique du manque de joueurs, la disponibilité de bénévoles, c’est compliqué… Là, t’arrives pour jouer et t’as pas un dirigeant, ou un ou deux mais ils font tout à la fois.
C’est vraiment le rugby des villages. C’est compliqué avec les nouvelles générations qui arrivent, c’est pas pareil qu’avant… Il faut être capable de s’adapter aussi. Il y a un gros travail à faire de transmission.
Le Covid a fait aussi beaucoup de mal dans les clubs. Et ça, quand t’es en haut, t’es dans ton projet, tu veux avancer avec ton équipe. Je n’étais pas au contact, même si je pense que ce n’est jamais facile. Dès l’instant que tu es bénévole, il faut toujours œuvrer.
Comment ça s’est fait ?
Je n’avais pas prévu de reprendre un club, même si j’ai gardé ma licence de dirigeante à Romagnat ; je me disais : si elles ont besoin, je suis là. Ils sont venus me contacter et au début je n’étais pas partante. Et après je me suis dit pourquoi pas, ça me fera une expérience d’aller filer un coup de main. Ce sont des mecs sympas avec qui je passe des bons moments.
Avez-vous eu des contacts avec la FFR depuis que vous êtes partie fin décembre 2022 ?
J’ai eu aucun contact avec la fédération sauf le week-end du 27 avril (le Crunch France – Angleterre à Bordeaux, ndlr) parce qu’il y avait les dix ans du Grand Chelem de 2014. On faisait ça en l’honneur d’Isabelle Picarel (photographe talentueuse et humainement exceptionnelle de la fédération française de rugby, ndlr). C’était quelqu’un d’extraordinaire. J’ai revu une ou deux personnes de la fédération, mais sinon je n’ai plus aucun contact.
Que l’on rentre dans une année de Coupe du Monde, ça va vous manquer ?
Je ne crois pas, non. Il a fallu digérer l’étape de la Nouvelle-Zélande et après il faut que ça avance. J’ai basculé. Il faut que le rugby continue d’avancer, que les filles deviennent de plus en plus performantes. Je suis plutôt dans cette démarche plutôt que de ressasser. L’idée, c’est d’avancer.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Everyone needs to have a bit of ball player in them Nick and second phase but forwards and backs are still different coz of where you stick your head most of the time. Pocock and tizzano were 12s right up to the edge of seniors. Pocock was 12 to quades 10 then pocock was at the force At 17 year’s old or so. Hamish Stewart was apparently was a junior 7. Don’t know when he switched but apparently he was crons 10 in the Oz 20s. A mistake too often made is playing a guy like taquele nairavuro at wing instead of as a power 8. On rugby tours we often had a spare 7 playing crash 12 coz the regular 12 stayed home. Often had a spare 7 playing on a wing too.
2 Go to commentsyikes - what a load of crap Gallan. Interesting until after your 1st paragraph, but then again not worth anyone’s time responding to such pointless analysis and of course your dumbass opinions.
4 Go to commentsOutside of their national camp, club teams seem to take a tighter stance on doping. Think that explains it really.
4 Go to commentsThanks Nick Ive always thought that there should be a few more innovative attempts at players moving from backs to forwards and vice versa. Samu was one, as was Jim Williams last century. Cole certainly could run like a back, as can Lonergan from the Brumbies. I think that it’s going to become hard again for hookers though as front rowers seem to be getting bigger and bigger, and the guys have to look after their spines as well as (in Australia) their achilles! I always thought that Folau should have been tried in the lineout…. I think the same for Vunavalu…if he lasts any longer. Movement between positions is much more common in League, mainly because the size requirements between backs and forwards are not as pronounced. Hookers and halfbacks interchanging and second rowers and centres as well. The great Cameron Smith was effectively a hybrid hooker/halfback, being able to play both positions…sometimes it seemed simultaneously! For now, it seems like McReith and before him Hooper are the standouts, though Cale could be anything. John Eals did a few “back” type things mind you, including running and kicking. As for Jones, I don't credit him as anything (in an Australian context) other than a speaker of a million throw away lines, with the occasional one being picked up! Sorry
2 Go to commentsHe's Big in Japan
2 Go to comments“England are set to lose some of their best ever players at the end of the season with the mass departure to France”… Really? Best ever? What a joke of an opening line. The england players leaving for France are… Sinckler, Ludlum, Tuilagi… that’s the list of players England are losing at the end of this season to France. All 3 are fringe players at best these days. Manu is the only one you could fathom debating being one of “their best ever players” and even that debate would be shut down pretty quickly. Pathetic excuse for journalism this. Not grounded in reality.
1 Go to commentsYep. The insanity of the decision of trying to outspend RL for outside backs just looks more and more stupid as time goes on and talented players either bully us into paying overs to keep them (Jorgensen) or simply leave as Uncle Nick comes calling (Nawaqanitawase).
20 Go to commentsInteresting that you pick Amatosero, John. I would agree with your choice. He could well be capped this year at some point. At only 21 years of age, he has a lot of experience at a high level from his time at Clermont. I’m surprised he did not remain there for longer, as last year he was really starting to move, with 14 games, six starts, well up from the previous year, 7 games, only 2 starts. Have liked what is doing with the Waratahs this year. Not an easy situation for any player there, with the poor results.
3 Go to commentsNed me old shinwah, it’s probably not a bad idea to learn how to spell the last names of great All Blacks wingers. (Otherwise we will demean our memories of Grant Bitty, Jonah Lima, Joe Rococo and Doug Howler.)
3 Go to commentsNo longer able to except the excuses offered up for Rob. The red jersey has lost it’s mana and become a joke. I do not wish Mr Penny any wrong but it is time to go. Do the right thing Rob and retire, PLEASE.
31 Go to commentsIt is a travesty that 8/12 teams play in the finals, and that 4 wins out of 14 might be enough to get you there, but every competition has this to some degree. If it was only the top 4 going through, then this season would have been over for 6 of the teams 4 weeks ago. Super Rugby is simply a feeder competition for the All Blacks and Wallabies. There are low stakes and no consequences because so few people care who wins Super Rugby. In football, winning the Champions League is the pinnacle for any player or fan. The fate of national teams in the world cup or Euros is a complete second fiddle to The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Bundelsliga etc… Same with the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB. Players and fans care deeply about their team winning NBA title, but don’t care at all about USA winning gold at the Olympics. Or more locally with Rugby League, the Hierarchy is probably NRL > State of Origin > International. For some maybe State of Origin is the top. Super Rugby is low consequence and low stakes because no one cares enough about the outcome. Players ultimately want to play for the ABs, not the Hurricanes or Blues. Casual fans aren’t talking about SR selections but everyone has an opinion on Sam Cane or Ian Foster. Super Rugby is a means to an end. The only context it has is how it effects who is selected for the ABs.
6 Go to commentsPlayoffs featuring 4 or 6 teams would mean the other teams playing meaningless games for longer and a further drop of interest in Australia. But yes a 12 team competition with 8 teams making finals is ridiculous.
6 Go to commentsJoe's picks will be more interesting than Razors. The dumping of Dave Rennie for Jones has to be one of the worst exec decisions of all time. Joe and Dave have similar styles and personalities, the players should like that. Predicting some success for Aus this year. Well more than last year!
3 Go to commentsHey Ben, Thanks for your opinion article. As a die hard rugby tragic and loyal supporter of the game can I say your article seems a touch negative so I would like to offer a slightly different spin on it. I am assuming that the sole purpose of the Super Rugby competition is not just to be a training camp for the International teams but an independent event and competition in its own right with sponsors, media companies and teams that need a financial return. Now, from this rugby fans perspective, I am enjoying the last few weeks of the competition and enjoying the fact that most teams can still make the play offs and nobody wants the wooden spoon. Most rugby followers would agree to it being a travesty if the Crusaders or the Waratahs now made it to the final but history tells us it is very unlikely with the importance of home ground advantage. Playing each team once and a four team final would give the competition integrity and a level playing field for all teams but I would be surprised if it could satisfy the financial demands of the TV rights. Maybe a six team finals series might be a possible compromise.
6 Go to commentsAll good choices John, even the Tah players ha ha. Others that might be worth a look would be ; Cale, Tom Lynagh, Uru, Keunzle, Anstee and maybe Rory Scott because we need a backup to McReight and he has improved a lot from last year and Tim Ryan.
3 Go to commentsWe only have 12 teams - and probably should only have 10. If we cut it down to 10, had a single round robin format, and only had semi-finals and a grand final, the final game would be on the first weekend of May. Meanwhile the AFL (similar to the NRL) runs until the last weekend of September and starts almost a full month after Super Rugby. At least the players would get plenty of rest!
6 Go to commentsAs article says re Japanese Final. Todd Blackadder up against his old mentor/ coach at Canterbury and the Crusaders , Robbie Deans. Both legends in this part of the world. Richie Mo’unga, ( another legend), playing brilliantly for Toddy’s team.Great to hear.
2 Go to commentsNo doubt Razor will want to kick the 2024 campaign off with a decisive selection of the top match fit players to insure his selection as the appointed coach has maximum impact. We the supporters and critics will settle for nothing less because historically it is what we have become ingrained and accustomed to. With that in mind and the distinct fall from grace of his beloved crusaders we will expect him to stamp his mark in the same way he left his old post.
9 Go to commentsI would've expected a better turn around in response to the changes within the team and its management. Lacking in my opinion is the skill sets that once was and now seemingly vacant within the squads regular front runners. Furthermore there seems to be no set game plan, the accuracy that once was is no more, the quality off the bench were poor matchups and frankly I feel a lot has to do with the coaching. Never thought i’d be critising the sadas to this degree.
5 Go to commentsAverage AB captain by recent standards. Speaks to the wider issue
9 Go to comments