Nîmes, France – February 4, 2026 – Samuel Nouchi, a towering figure with a champion’s pedigree, has been appointed sports director of the Rugby Club Nîmois, tasked with building consistency and propelling the team toward the Nationale league.
A New Leader for the RCN
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The former second-line player arrives with a clear mission: to structure the club’s sporting project and strengthen recruitment, leveraging his extensive network and experience.
- Position: Sports Director
- Club: Rugby Club Nîmois
- Contract: Long-term commitment.
- Initial Focus: Observation and collaboration with existing staff and players.
Standing over two meters tall (2.04 m, to be precise) and weighing in around 100 kilograms, Nouchi promptly commands attention with his imposing physique. However, it was the directness of his speech during his official presentation on Tuesday, February 3, at the le Drop brasserie, that truly made an impression.
What is the key to building a successful rugby team? Nouchi believes patience, consistency, and a strong human dimension are the most crucial foundations for any enterprising and lasting project.
“I Am Not a Magician”
Nouchi was characteristically candid, stating, “I’m definitely not a magician.” He described the challenge ahead as one he embraces “without pressure, but with a lot of excitement.” His initial approach will be one of careful assessment. “I’m not going to revolutionize everything.I talk a lot with Guillaume Aguilar, I’ll meet the players, especially immerse myself in the locker room,” he explained.
This measured approach reflects a career spent at the highest levels of the sport.Beyond his championship win with Biarritz in 2002, Nouchi also played for Agen, Montpellier, and Béziers, experiencing firsthand the demands of elite rugby.
Leaving Béziers for a New Challenge
Following his playing career, Nouchi transitioned into coaching, spending nine successful years managing the AS Béziers espoirs team.He will continue in that role until the end of the current season while also contributing to the professional Pro D2 group. However, he felt compelled to seek a new challenge.
“Béziers made me some proposals,” Nouchi said, “but Nîmes represented a real new challenge. I wanted to challenge myself again, to work with a senior group and to share my passion in another context.”
Nîmes president Steeve Calligaro expressed his enthusiasm for Nouchi’s appointment. “This corresponds to the requirement of the Nationale,which remains our ambition in the short or medium term,” Calligaro stated. “Today, Guillaume Aguilar is surrounded by two multi-active coaches who do a vrey good job, but the high level requires us to structure ourselves more.”
Calligaro emphasized that Nouchi’s experience and network will be invaluable in strengthening recruitment, a key area for improvement. “It will help us gain consistency,” he added.
Collaboration with Aguilar
Coach Guillaume Aguilar welcomed Nouchi’s arrival, viewing it as a supportive addition rather than a challenge. “What matters most to me is that the team wins,” Aguilar said.
Nouchi echoed this collaborative spirit, stating, “I am for real participation of all, I am in the collaborative.” Aguilar affirmed that, ultimately, “he will decide.”
Samuel Nouchi arrives in Nîmes ready to inject new life into the club, armed not with a magic wand, but with a firm belief in the power of patience, consistency, and a human-centered approach.
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