Rather than scoring a hat-trick in Loughborough Students‘ big win last weekend, Mario Pichardie should have been turning out for Spain at the Rugby World Cup.
The 21-year-old flanker helped guide Los Leones to qualification for the showpiece tournament, only for World Rugby to find Spain had illegally fielded South African born player, Gavin van den Berg, during qualification.
Spain’s dramatic victory over Portugal in March 2022 was eradicated and Pichardie’s side were dumped out of the tournament, paving the way for Romania to qualify and Portugal to advance through last November’s repicharge event.
Pichardie has turned his attention back to the club game this season and his treble helped Loughborough Students secure their first win of the season over Dudley Kingswinford 46-7.
He said: “It was a big win to get five points for the team and to build forward. In the National League side we want to finish in the top six in National Two West. We came up short in the last few games but to get five points on the road is a massive confidence booster. Hopefully we can build a win streak in the shortterm.”
Pichardie, who also plays in Loughborough’s BUCS Super Rugby team, has revealed his frustration in the past having to play in the slower National Leagues but he says the quality is improving and the physicality is what impresses the 6 ft 3inch, 17st forward the most. He added: “The quality in the league is growing every year but the players aren’t full-time rugby players and have jobs during the day. So, you can’t expect the handling quality you get in the higher leagues but the physicality is massive across the board. It doesn’t matter what league in France or Spain, they may be more jouer but the physicality in England is an aspect that other countries should be looking up to.”
The forward, who has won seven caps and scored a try on debut against Namibia, could be forgiven for bitterly watching the likes of Romania, Namibia and Portugal that Spain have beaten in recent years, but he is instead proud of the tier two nations’ displays.
Pichardie said: “When I made my debut against Namibia we beat them quite easily, then you see them on the pitch at the World Cup. And you watch Portugal – we played them three months ago and you see the same faces and feel like you should be there with Spain. It’s hard to watch but at the same time I’m proud of how the tier two nations teams are doing in France. Spain is one of the top tier two nations that will keep pushing and hopefully upset one of the big nations in 2027.”
Spain were replaced by Romania in Pool B and the European side suffered a 76-0 humbling by South Africa last weekend after losing their opening game to Ireland 82-8.
Pichardie said: That’s the group we should be in but it’s the hardest group in the whole World Cup. Romania aren’t performing at this World Cup which is frustrating for us but things happen and it’s about how we bounce back going forward.”
