“You will win, I’m sure!” Hugues Aufray sent this message of support and encouragement to the players of Stade Rochelais from his Facebook page, before their Champions Cup final, this Saturday (5:45 p.m.) at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, against the Irish province of Leinster.
Facing the camera, for more than 1 minute 30, the 92-year-old singer, bon pied bon œil, reveals that he is aware that each pre-game warm-up in the Maritimes is done to the sound of his famous song Santiano. “Hail to the people of Rochelle, hail to President Vincent Merling! I come to you today to tell you that I am wholeheartedly with you in this fabulous match that you are about to deliver. You must emerge victorious. I’m sure ! (…) You are an example for French rugby.”
Hugues Aufray had already posted a message of support last year before the European Cup semi-final against… Leinster. Responding favorably to a request from a La Rochelle fan, Patrick Loubière. Which does not despair of one day bringing his idol to Marcel-Deflandre. If we know his passion for horse riding, the singer, who has never practiced rugby (“I regret a lot unfortunately”), however grew up in the Tarn with his mother and has family ties in Béarn.
The unforgettable interpreter of Céline and Stewball ends his message with a humorous pirouette, asking the players of La Rochelle not to “be too strict” with those of Leinster, one of his great-granddaughters being… Irish.
