French side prepare for World Games with Cavan training camp

GAA news

Jack Madden

With the GAA’s World Games taking place in Waterford from July 13-17th, the France Ladies’ international side are Cavan- bound on an intensive four day training camp.

The triennial World Games has attracted 112 teams this year, drawn from Iberia, Slovakia, Germany, Canada, Argentina, Paraguay, Australia and Zambia among other countries, including a large cohort from the United States.

Added to that list is the French contingent, who have their eyes on the prize, as this week’s training camp shows.

Soléne Jolicard has already shown her array of skills, her proficiency in the English language leaving her best placed for interviews. Though she’s not the biggest full-forward, she hopes her pace and agility will cause headaches in the Breffni County and beyond.

At 30, she confesses: “I’m one of the veterans now!”

Her GAA club Clermont is one of a multitude represented on the national side, with the Celtic links to Brittany unsurprisingly meaning the likes of Rennes are the powerhouses of French Gaelic football.

The size four is pumped and punted across the length and breadth of France, however, meaning arriving to Cavan will be an achievement in itself.

“The only thing we told the girls is that we have to be in Cavan for Wednesday, 8.30! Do whatever you want. If you want to take the ferry, if you want to take the plane, it's up to you.

“I've talked to the Irish girls back in France, and they all say it's funny that you're going to Cavan, but that's all they will say!

“I think there's something about you Irish, with Gaelic football. Like, I think it's more than just a game, and that's something that's very different from us in France, and I think that's something we can see when you are playing.

“I think that's what we need to learn from you. How it’s not just not a game, but it's also culture, it's something that you share. And we can feel it, because every time we come to Ireland, you guys are so welcoming, and you love the game.

“It’s this passion, this knowledge that we want to take from you.”

But that’s not to say there won’t be a competitive edge. The French have injury prevention talks, video analysis, training observations and more in their jam-packed schedule.

They feel this challenge will prepare them like no other for the ultimate goal of winning the World Games, having been defeated by Canada at the semi-final stage last time out, with a B team also being sent by France:

“I think you guys are very physical in the impact, but also the pace you put in the game, like, it can be hard to keep up! What we French have is, I think we've got good skills, actually.

“We've got a tactical point of view that is quite different, because we play lots of other sports, like traditional football, basketball, handball, and we bring all those cultures into Gaelic Games.

“I think it's going to be tough, because we're going to train and play pretty much every day for four days. We don't train every day here in France, so I think we'll have to manage the intensity.”

The Cavan Gaels fixture is on tomorrow (Thursday), with the Shercock match taking place on Sunday at 12pm, so as to give the team the chance to watch Cavan v Monaghan in the Ulster Intermediate final, as well as the men’s final.

They have their colours pinned to the Breffni mast.

“What matters most is we have great games against Cavan Gaels and Shercock. We're looking forward to cheering on the Cavan girls too (in the Ulster Intermediate final against Monaghan), so hopefully they get a good result.

“We’d love to be able to watch more games, we saw the National League final, Cork against Galway. We try to at least watch the All-Ireland finals every year.

“Usually we have to pay everything by ourselves, because we are not developed enough, but we managed to, and thanks to Gaelic Games Europe as well, to get a funding from Erasmus Plus, so it's a grant, and we're managing every cost so that the players and the staff don't have to pay anything. So, it's a huge help for all of us,” she added.

The World Games, which will attract 2000 players, coaches and supporters to Waterford, takes place from July 13-17. Alongside the matches will be the popular opening and closing ceremonies, a parade through the Apple Market to the John Roberts Square, and a business forum including political and ambassadorial figures as well as a keynote address from GAA President Jarlath Burns.