Gabriel Paganini from Band-Sarries, trained for a month at Saracens FC in England, after the partnership between the European team and the Ibirapuera club
São Paulo (SP) – An Band-Sarries athlete’s lived in the last days the dream that every rugby player in the country would like to accomplish. Gabriel Paganini, aged 21, had the privilege of spending a month at the training center of the Saracens (Sarries) in Saint Albans, 35 km north of London. The internship is part of a partnership between the Bandeirantes and the English club, in December 2013, the project will offer a new stage in the evolution of Band-Sarries and Brazilian rugby in general, the way the 2016 Olympics.
Paganini returned from England this week, excited about the lived experience among the professionals of a leading rugby clubs in the world. “I was very well received, everyone at the club are extremely polite and greeted me with hospitality beyond what I expected. A daily training load was around six hours, in two periods, except when there were games. Impossible not evolve physically and technically with a these work.’s amazing professionalism. learned a lot in those 30 days. “
The Brazilian of 1m92 and 101 kilos stayed in Saracens Headquarters and played a tournament in Saint Albans Allianz Park, the stadium of the club. “We fought for a sevens championship (seven players) against English clubs. I did two tries, we were champions and I received many compliments,” celebrated Paganini, which gradually is returning to my training routine, work and study in São Paulo. In-Band Sarries are three weekly workouts of 1h30m that he conciliates with the graduation of Physical Education and work in a gym.
The professionalism of English rugby with the structure found in the country where the sport was born 140 years ago, impressed Paganini. “I trained between youngs and adults also. All categories have the necessary support in the training center as full gym, physiotherapy, luxury locker room with shower and tub, furthermore the most important: Six training pitches in perfect condition” .
Rugby and London Eye – For the first time in the UK, the Brazilian athlete took the few days off rugby to see firsthand the postcards of the English capital. “I and trainees from other countries that have partnered with the Saracens had a weekend off and went to London. Knew Big Ben, the London Eye (ferris wheel to the Thames), an amusement park and other sights. Enjoyed a lot!”, reported Paganini, that next weekend should reinforce the Band-Sarries to play his first match at Super 10, the Brazilian rugby championship.
Before leaving for England, he obtained the first information with the Saracens FC coach Paul Gustard, who came to Brazil and gave clinics to all categories of Band-Sarries field in Ibirapuera, action also sustained by the partnership. Gustard for the first time in Sao Paulo, brought the experience of the Heineken Cup finalist in 2014 and five titles in the Aviva Premiership, English rugby league.
“Soon the Saracens FC will send to Antonio Martoni (CEO of Band-Sarries) a complete assessment of my performance in Saint Albans. My strengths, those that need to be improved. It will Help a lot in my development,” said multipurpose Paganini, which acts as number 8 or wing, functions that require strength and agility. Usually are the best tacklers in team.
“To anticipate, I’ve talked a lot about my time at Saracens with Martoni and Mocho (Ramiro Mina, Bandeirantes Saracens coach). In the technical part training is practically equal to Band-Sarries’s. What makes the difference is the tactical part, they hardly stop the ball, prioritize the pass instead of the contact, and always at high speed “compared Paganini, the Brazilian who returns from the Land of the Queen with important tools to help develop rugby in Brazil.
Original text in Portuguese by Ary Pereira Jr. (ZDL Comunicação): zdl.com.br, translation by Marcelo Bellório.