AS Monaco rugby players qualified for Paris

Expected eagerly by all their opponents and rugby sevens fans, the AS Monaco players responded this Saturday in Mont-de-Marsan for the very first stage of the In Extenso Supersevens. From their first match, in the round of 16 against Castres, the Monegasques set the tone for the entire sevens world. A crushing victory, 43 to 0 with a perfect copy and a fast game delivered wonderfully. In boss size, ASM proved to the 3,100 souls present in the stands of the Stade Guy et André Boniface that it would be a serious contender for the stage victory, but also for the final victory in Paris, in early 2026.

And the least we can say is that Monaco will continue their momentum in the quarter-finals. It's not just the weather and its 40-degree temperatures that are proving unbearable in the Landes region on Saturday. The Principality's players are doing the same, giving their all, body and soul, on every ball and disgusting Union Bordeaux-Bègles, who have been touted as one of ASM's main rivals this year. With two tries in the first minute from Gaspard Lalli and Iowane Teba, the Principality club is quickly heading for another walkover. Leading 26-7 at halftime, Monaco then naturally controlled their rugby until the final whistle.

A tight semi-final

It was finally, against all odds, against the Barbarians that Monaco was surprised and had to bare its teeth. Facing an opponent they had only known for 5 days, ASM was for the first time in the competition trailing at half-time in this semi-final (5-12). However, Ryan Godsmark's team did not mix speed and haste and, with a lot of experience, managed to turn the tide with a try scored by Patrick Okong'o in the last minute (17-14).

A respected logic

Monaco could not have hoped for a more formidable opponent to conclude this first stage of the season. Against the reigning French vice-champion, Section Paloise, ASM gave itself a scare in the opening minutes with clear Béarnese domination and a first try scored by the Pau team (5-0, ^4th ). Stung, Monaco reacted immediately and showed great strength of character with three tries scored, one after the other and just before halftime, to take the lead (14-5). Pau, who had so far overturned all their opponents in the second half, hoped to come back to level with ASM. But the Monegasques, smarter and more diligent, monopolized the ball and put on a show. Monaco scored a series of tries and won, once again with great control (29-5). ASM logically won this first stage of the season and already secured their ticket to the grand finale in Paris next February. This is the first stage victory for AS Monaco Sevens, which will be able to relax in Dax next Saturday and in Pau on Saturday, August 30, for the last two stages of the Supersevens, but will, as always, play with an obsession for victory.

The Monegasque group: Ardao, Sainz-Trapaga, Devoto, Sokoyi, Lacamp, Nyongesa, Mazzoleni, Lalli, Etcheverry, Isherwood, Manteca, Thooris, Sau, Teba, Okong'o, Jaars. Coach: Ryan Godsmark.

The results: 1/8 Castres 0-43 Monaco; 1/4 Monaco 26-7 Bordeaux, 1/2 Monaco 17-14 Barbarians, Final Monaco 29-5 Pau. "Pure happiness" for Ryan Godsmark

First stage and first victory with the goal already confirmed: securing your ticket to the final in Paris. What do you remember from it?

This is the very first time we've won a stage, it's nothing but joy. It did us a lot of good to have a tough match in the semi-finals; it put us back on track and allowed us to pull off a perfect match in the final.

Will the fact that you have already qualified for the grand final in Paris allow you to approach the rest of the tournament without pressure?

I think yes and no. We're only aiming for one thing: to win the first three stages. That's our goal. We'll really want to confirm this next Saturday in Dax and we'll be aiming for victory. I know our opponents will be even better prepared, as was the case in previous years, but we'll try to win in Dax, as we will in Pau in two weeks.

Are there any things to improve for Dax next Saturday?

There are always things to improve, we've especially noticed this in attack. When we play our offensive system, it's pretty good. For defense, it works too, but there are some individual decisions we make on the field that we'll have to work on.