At 21, the ASM quarterback, a pure product of the training ground, is enjoying his playing time with the pros. Biology student, photography and nature lover, he leads a rich double project focused on environmental protection.

The circle is complete, as they say. Thomas Rozier made his professional debut in the Top 14 during a trip to Castres in November 2020. His christening at the Stade Michelin, where he watched games as a child, was against CO on September 11th.

If it wasn’t the victory, the young hope showed resilience mainly in the air. Against LOU on day one, he showed a lot of power on the high balls.

Double Draft

With a sympathetic grandfather and father who donned an ASM shirt even for the cadets, Thomas Rozière continues the ASMist tradition. This pure training center product lives a dream but keeps its feet on the ground.

“It’s crazy, but it’s a goal that has been achieved, but not fixed, because in professional rugby you have to overcome every day”, explains nº 15. “The sacrifices are enormous, but the structures, the colleagues and the team they also help. When you are young and can touch this world, it is a huge pride, but we cannot skip steps.”

Thomas Rozier trained in defense with the youths, moved to the wing with Esper, but returned to his first love with the professionals after gaining confidence this summer during pre-season matches. The legs and head also work really well for the 21-year-old.

Like many young people at Clermont, Thomas Rozier was able to study alongside a biology course.

“Biology really is a coveted option, it defines the player, it doesn’t suffer. The dual project is important. I’m in my third year of a BA in life sciences. I did two years to keep up with Rugby and college. I graduated because what I do I love what has to do with the environment, the study of populations and ecosystems.

In nature, Thomas Rozière has as much fun as in the green, which is another favorite land of his. He shares another passion: photography, and photographing birds in particular.

Agile In The Air

On his Instagram account, photos of rugby and his hobbies intermingle. He doesn’t hesitate to reference his photographic equipment: a Nikon attached to a Tamron 150-600mm, and to post pictures of barnacles or cranes… “I have two or three perfectly matched bird books that I’m leafing through.”

Family walks along the Puy du Dome trails as a child set him apart and a passion for birds was born. And that of photography is also related.

“It allows me to balance with rugby, try different things and get away on the weekends. I hope to continue that passion and in the longer term make it my future work after what has not been a small career as a rugby player.”

At a time when young French people are concerned about the future of the planet, many quickly realize the urgency…

Naturalist or surveyor, taking censuses of animals or plants could be future tasks for him after Rugby. “In the long term, I would like to be involved, to make things happen in sports clubs”, he admits. “Everyone needs to realize that the world we live in suffers in spite of everything. Natural disasters show that everything is connected, and you have to put things and means in place.”