Antoine, if you had to sum up the first half of the season in just a few words, what would you say?
I would say it has been inconsistent, but it allowed us to better understand the demands of this new Bundesliga format, with 10 teams and therefore a higher level of competition.

From a sporting point of view, are the results in line with what you had imagined at the start of the season?
Clearly, we’re not where we would like to be. We had a solid period in October after a difficult start. The win against Germania and the draw against SC Neuenheim are definitely highlights of this first phase, but we also have a few underperformances to regret against teams within our reach.

Were there any surprises (good or bad) during this first part of the championship?
Some young players really stepped up and delivered when several key players were unavailable. The group remains positive and united. On the downside, we’ve had to deal with a lot of injuries over the last 4–5 matches, with more than 20 first-choice players missing for the game against Munich due to injuries and national team call-ups.

Overall, what has worked best in the club’s rugby project since September?
The work done with the youth is incredible. There is real progress in terms of performance and commitment, both from the players and the coaching staffs across our different age groups. The U14 and U16 teams have an excellent record and have the opportunity to qualify for Belgian Division 1 for the second half of the season, while the U18s are leader in their pool (waiting for the 2nd last game) despite a reduced squad.

Sporting project and ambitions

What are the Rugby Club Luxembourg’s sporting ambitions in the short and medium term?
At senior level, the goal is to climb back up the table. The main lesson from the first half of the season is the level of personal commitment required from everyone. More discipline, more desire – that’s what we sometimes lacked in certain matches to really push on.
For the rest of the club, the motto remains the same: enjoy rugby, develop players who love spending time in the sport, and help them grow both as individuals and as rugby players.

For the second half of the season, what will be the main objectives, both collectively and individually?
The collective objective in BL1 is to move away from 9th place, which currently means a relegation playoff. The second half of the season will be tough, with a lot of away games. However, we’ll face a direct rival, HRK, twice within three weeks, and March will be decisive for the team’s future in the German top division.

What areas will the coaching staff focus on in the coming months?
All areas need improvement. We’ve had major issues in set-piece and in continuity of play. We need to work on our willingness to keep the ball alive. It’s through playing rugby that we’ve hurt our opponents this season, even if we haven’t always managed to convert our strong periods into points.

How does youth development and the academy fit into the club’s overall vision?
Youth development is crucial for the club’s future. This season, four players who were in the U18s last year have already made their debut with the first team. There is real work to be done on the transition between U16, U18 and senior rugby.
Maintaining a second team is key to giving everyone game time, especially young players who need minutes to develop. It’s a bridge we’re lucky to have and one that should encourage young players to stay involved in rugby after U18s, even if we remain impacted by the limited university options in Luxembourg, which often push our young players to study abroad.

In your opinion, what sets Rugby Club Luxembourg apart from other clubs in the region?
I think the culture that is being built within the club is a huge positive. We offer our members a strong community space where they can grow, meet people from all backgrounds and cultures. We have nearly 40 nationalities represented at RCL. The journey is still long, and we’re building it brick by brick with a dynamic Board and incredibly committed volunteers.

Club life & collective dynamics

How would you describe the mindset within the playing group, the coaches, and the club as a whole?
Despite inconsistent results, the group dynamic remains positive. There’s no need to be fatalistic – we’ve been unlucky with injuries recently, and the run of matches (five games in six weeks) at the end of this block has taken its toll.
That said, we do need more coaching support, especially for the second team, to help newer and less experienced players progress at their own pace, as well as a forwards specialist for more specific work.

The connection between teams, volunteers and supporters seems stronger than ever – is that something you feel internally as well?
Absolutely. The volunteers do an incredible job, especially within the rugby school. We can never thank the parents enough for the time they give, allowing our members to focus on the rugby development of the children.
In terms of spectators, you only need to come to the stadium on a Saturday to see it – we sometimes attract between 200 and 300 people, which is comparable to average attendance in Luxembourg’s BGL League football. Rugby is still a niche sport here, but I truly believe that through RCL, it has real growth potential.

How much has the club’s structure (staff, coaching, organisation) evolved in recent seasons?
We now have a strength and conditioning coach who also works with the national team. Our medical staff has expanded, with two main physiotherapists and two others rotating to provide better player follow-up.
As mentioned earlier, our main weakness remains on the technical side, where staffing is limited. It’s difficult to find people willing to commit their time.

News & upcoming highlights

What are the next major sporting events not to be missed?
For the seniors, we’ll resume training next Monday to prepare for the second half of the season. A warm-up match against the Oxford and Cambridge Alumni is scheduled for 21 February, followed by the Bundesliga restart on 14 March.
The youth calendar should be released shortly, while RCL will host the next Lux League event for the rugby school on 24 January.
The Girlz staff is also working on building a stable and regular calendar so that our young girls can gain more match experience.

Are there any projects, events or new initiatives you can already tell us about?
There are many projects, although we also have to adapt to local constraints. The Gala has been postponed and should now take place in April. The JP Morgan Tournament is also being organised and will be the highlight of May (16 May).
During school holidays, new training camps will be organised so that children don’t completely step away from rugby and can continue practising their favourite sport. We should have 8 weeks of camps in 2026, while we had only 2 in 2024.

A word on activities off the pitch (schools, companies, events, social rugby…)?
A lot of work is being done in schools by Matt Dennis-Soto. His goal is to reintroduce rugby into school programmes, where it has been neglected by the Federation in recent years. This is a key area to build on, both to attract new players and to grow interest in our sport.

Final word

If you had one message for the players, members and supporters of the club, what would it be?
First and foremost, I would thank them. They are the essence of our organisation. Without them, we couldn’t develop projects or grow the club. Today, we have around 500 licences (Rugby + Touch) across all roles, making us one of the largest team sport structures in the country. In reality, around 1,200 people gravitate around RCL. So to everyone who contributes to the club in any way: a huge THANK YOU!

And for those still hesitating about joining Rugby Club Luxembourg, why is now the right time?
Because the best moment is always now! What excites me most is seeing spectators who had no initial interest in rugby becoming loyal supporters. Whether it’s a friend of a player, a family member or a colleague, every new supporter can feel the sense of community that comes with joining our club. It’s one of the core values rugby is built on, and one we fully intend to rely on to keep growing the RCL family.