Present at Human Padel open, William Servat, former player of Stade Toulousain and the French rugby team took part in the Cupra All Star Padel Game with the singer Eyal. At the microphone Padel Magazine, The EDF rugby forwards coach tells us about his encounter with padel.

Padel Magazine : How did you discover this sport? We talk a lot about the padel section of Stade Toulousain...

William Servat: The facilities are right next to the club, so it's easier to find out about it. I've known about padel for a year and a half. My wife got into it, so she automatically got me a little bit more interested in the sport.

Servat-Eyal Cupra All Star Padel Game

It's so pleasant, you take pleasure very quickly, there is no need to have an excellent level. Unlike tennis, you quickly take pleasure. There are four of us, we always share moments before and after the matches, inevitably it attracts. A lot of people around us got into it, it allows to have a little competition between us and to stay in contact with some old. We share great moments, it's a great sport.

PM: We have spoken with Didier Deschamps that it would be possible to see padel courses for footballers one day. Would this also be a possibility for rugby players?  

WS: Beyond the padel course, I think there are a lot of rugby players who are getting into it. They play between competitions, on the recovery months where they can actually get a little sweaty fun. It is not necessarily very risky muscularly speaking and they take advantage of it.

Servat-Eyal Human Padel Open

There was a desire from Marcoussis to put two padel courts inside the National Rugby Center (CNR) to try to bring this fun aspect to both the staff and the players. The objective is that people can meet outside of competitions and that people who work for the federation can also play with the players. It's a great opening, it allows everyone to meet.

PM: What is the best pair of padel in the French rugby team? Do you have a name to give us?

WS: You know, almost all the players on the French team play padel, so yes, there was the pair Ramos/Sheepish, but hey she was dethroned and honestly they missed it a bit. I think there are plenty of players who are gifted, there are Anthony (Jelonch), at the moment he plays less with his knee injury. Obviously there is 'Pools'(Anthony Dupont), Cyril Baille, who know racket sports and who also play padel very well.

RamosPenaud the padel pair that hurts rugby

PM: There are a lot of people from Toulouse (laughs)

WS: It's true that there are quite a few players from Toulouse, after all you know the facilities are nearby. Stade Toulousain gives all club members the opportunity to play padel, to have free slots and to be able to go there often. The proximity of the facilities makes the difference!

To see the full interview it's right here

Vincent Gallie

A fan of oval ball, round ball and also racket sports, he was bitten by padel during his adolescence in Galicia. As comfortable in front of the camera as behind a microphone, Vince will be able to bring his vision and expertise as a passionate fan of the little yellow ball.

On the same subject

Tags