Uini Atonio, a former France rugby player with 68 caps, is now coaching the forwards at Stade Rochelais, his long-time club. His career was cut short earlier this year when he suffered a heart attack, but he has since transitioned into coaching. His former teammate Ronan O’Gara, now the club’s manager, believes Atonio has made a smooth and complete transition from player to coach, which is unusual as such transitions often take up to two years. O’Gara highlights Atonio’s ability to inspire younger players and his deep understanding of the game. He notes that Atonio is not only focused on the forwards but has a comprehensive vision of rugby. Atonio himself says the transition has been easier than expected. He acknowledges that the abrupt end of his career led people to assume he was struggling, but he insists he has been able to pursue his goals and now enjoys sharing his experience with others. Last season was difficult for Stade Rochelais, particularly in the scrum, where they were heavily penalized and lost out in the play-offs to Paris. O’Gara made improving the scrum the top priority for the summer. Atonio responded by organizing frequent scrum sessions during pre-season. He admits he may have been too strict, but he believes the team will be judged weekly on their performance in the scrum. Sébastien Boboul, the attack coordinator, finds it amusing that Atonio, who once avoided scrums as a player, is now focused on them. Boboul explains that when a team is dominated in the scrum, it can affect the pride of players like props. The effort has already shown results: Stade Rochelais has scored several tries from scrum-related plays this season. Young players like Alexandre Kaddouri praise Atonio, calling him one of the best props in the club’s history and a valuable mentor. Atonio is working with a very young front row, with an average age of 23.5 years, after the departure of older players. He believes maturity is not solely tied to age. He aims to pass on his self-critical nature, which he developed as a player, to his team. His goal is to help each player reach their potential, not just the forwards. Captain Grégory Alldritt has also committed fully to the scrum training, emphasizing that the scrum has always been a key strength for the club. Atonio still needs to complete a two-year training program at the CREPS of Montpellier to earn his state coaching diploma, which he hopes to validate by February. Meanwhile, his players occasionally see him tempted to return to playing, showing that his connection to the game remains strong.