"A first step towards what I aspire to do," the confessions of the promising Oliver Cowie, a starter with the RCT against Castres
Florian Dalmasso Published on 09/13/2025 at 08:30, updated on 09/13/2025 at 08:30
Change of status. Fully recovered from his ankle injury, Oliver Cowie is one of Toulon's key players at the start of the season. Already starting three times (twice in friendlies against Perpignan and Clermont, then for the first day of the Top 14 in Montpellier) by Pierre Mignoni, the youngster, just 20 years old, is asserting himself. Ambitious and determined, he agreed to speak to Var-matin .
A first victory in Montpellier to kick off the season, hard to dream of better, right?
It feels really good. It's a way to validate our preparation. Everything wasn't perfect, and that's normal, but it's positive.
As in the friendly in Issoire, you started in the center, partnering Juan Ignacio Brex. A pair that seems to work well together...
Honestly, it's pretty easy to play with "Nacho." He's an experienced player who talks a lot on the pitch. He's working hard on his French, but for now, we're using whatever language comes to us (laughs) . Often English, since I speak it fluently, it's easier. My Italian isn't good enough yet (smiles) . But it's true that, between our two associations, we've gotten along quite well. We have to keep going.
Last year, you played your first three professional matches with Toulon. Do you feel you've reached a milestone?
No. We'd rather say that it's a first objective, but for me, it will never really be finished. It's a first step towards what I aspire to do. I was more consistent than last season, but I think I can always do better. We'll see what I manage to produce this year. Even if, obviously, overall, I'm happy with my season. So, yes, I'm disappointed not to have been able to finish it as I imagined with this injury (read opposite), but happy to have been able to play my first professional matches, as well as to have experienced this season with an incredible group in the Espoirs.
How can you avoid putting too much pressure on yourself when, from a very young age, you've been heralded as a future great?
Honestly, I don't think about it too much. My philosophy has always been: "Do what you can... and we'll see." Throughout my injury, I had time to think about it. And I think I came back with a lot of confidence. Now it's up to me to perform. I can't choose for the coach, but I can influence his decision on the pitch, in training, by giving it my all.
Do you consider this season, at just 20 years old, to be already decisive in your young career?
It's certain that this could be the moment when I'll have the opportunity to take a more important place in the team. Last year, I was happy to play with them. But we always want more, better. And, for that, it's up to me to progress and constantly bring more to the team. Let's not just say to ourselves: "He played his first match." It's up to us, the younger ones, to show that we deserve to play and that we're not just there to hold the shields in training. The objective is to pull the whole group up.
What did Pierre Mignoni say to you during the off-season? What does he expect from you?
The club has always shown me that they have confidence in me. The staff didn't want to put pressure on me, probably because I put enough pressure on myself (laughs) . But now it's up to me to do my best and prove that I deserve to play for Toulon. The coaches just want me to play freely. It's up to me to do it.
How have you changed since last season?
I feel more comfortable, whether in the group or on the field. And that's normal, it's the logical evolution. But above all, I have to stay myself and not overdo it. I'm not going to start talking for the sake of talking. That's not my style and I don't want to do that. I have to continue to gain confidence, whether technically or mentally, so that everything goes well.
On May 3rd at the heart of Mayol, then aligned with the Espoirs against Perpignan, Oliver Cowie remained on the ground in the 15th minute. Pushed down by the Catalan hooker, the kid didn't really know at that moment what was wrong with him. He says: "The tackler collapsed on me and after that, it was hard to say. My knee went inside, my ankle outside and locked under him. Immediately, I knew that my ankle was broken. I had already had this injury on the other side and I knew the pain. But I was especially afraid for my knee. It was hurting me. I remember, I was trying to reassure myself with the guys around me who had already experienced it... Luckily, it wasn't touched and I only had the ankle."
"In my head, it was a little harder."
At that moment, the kid, who aspires to possibly play the rest of the season with the pros, while continuing with the Espoirs, knows that his year is over. "That was probably the hardest part," he continues. "My adventure with the Espoirs ended abruptly. It leaves a feeling of unfinished business. I would have liked to finish with those guys. They went all the way to the final, I followed them as best I could. With the other injured players and those outside the squad, we made buses to support them in the final phase. At the time, it was okay. After the matches, in my head, it was a little harder."
Injured, Oliver Cowie wore a boot 24 hours a day for six weeks before being able to move his foot again and head to Cers (European Sports Rehabilitation Center) in Capbreton. "Oh, Cers, it was a hell of a time, " he recalls. "We had a good group, but honestly , for two and a half weeks, you really struggle. It's tough." Back on his feet, "Oli," as he was nicknamed, got a taste of rugby again, ironically or not, in a friendly at Aimé-Giral against Perpignan. But with the big boys, this time. Proof, again, of his development. F. DA.
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