Allez Vannes! Le Rugby's adopted team in Fédérale 1 is about as far away as you can get from l’Ovalie. Based in the heartland of Brittany in North West France, Vannes are our boys in the basement this season. But who are the players that make up les Vannetais?

Pilier
Anchoring the scrum is hulking Uruguayan international tight-head Gaston Szabo. The 26-year-old was a mainstay of the front row last year, and has also gained valuable European experience with former club Cetransa El Salvador. It’s a three-way fight at loose-head between wily 34-year-old veteran Christophe Bert, Mickael Garcia, an astute summer recruit from Pro D2 outfit Saint Etienne for whom he played 25 games last season, and Argentinian Carlos Muzzio, who bagged a very useful 3 tries from 18 games last season. Nourredine Zouai an experienced, reliable squad member, who can play on either side of the scrum, heads a strong list of back up props. Also waiting in the wings is the runaway winner of the most-likely-to-have-Spanish-and-Japanese-parents award, Juanito Takosi, and bulky 26-year-old Mamadou Sy.

Talonneur
Numero un numero deux is experienced 31-year-old Regis Loubery, who has Pro D2 experience from his time at Tyrosse. It’s also not often you see a player undertake a Tyrosse-Vannes move – imagine telling the wife that when you arrive home with the news. Loubery bagged an impressive 6 tries last season and will be hungry for more glory this time around. He’s backed up by Muzzio and talented 21-year-old Remy Pointier.

Deuxième Ligne
The maison de chaudière isn’t an area of bountiful resources for les Vannetais. Spearheading the second row is grizzled 33-year-old Michel Martin, who moved west from Bobigny in 2008 and has been a first choice ever since. He’ll be called upon once again to lead operations. Scrapping to line up alongside him are promising ex-Dax giant Adrien Thiebaut, who moved from Niort in the summer, and 28-year-old beanpole Adrien Le Roy, both of whom shared equal playing time last season. Our money is on the latter to win the day.

Troisième ligne
It’s normally a case of any three from four on any given Sunday. Leading from the front is experienced 30-year-old Rosario born, ex-Rovigo Argentinian U20-cap Jorge Gonzalez. Like many of his compatriots he’s since switched allegiances to the blue of Italy, having arrived in Vannes via that well worn route of Cape Town and Brescia. He can play anywhere across the back row, although blindside is his flavour of choice. He likes his new home but thinks it rains too much (try Abertillery, Jorge!). He’s usually partnered on the openside by wily 33-year-old veteran Guillame Robic, who’s been in the Vannes-guard at the Stade Jo Courtel for as long as we can remember.

The most likely player to make up the triumvirate is 31-year-old Juan Martin Soffredini, an Argentinian who has an abundance of Heineken Cup, Challenge Cup and Super 10 experience with Overmach Parma (aka Crociati Rugby). He adds a bulky presence at the back of the scrum, preferably at numero huit. The competition for a starting jersey will come primarily from athletic 30-year-old stalwart François Bourdrel, who did a sterling job last season when called up at blindside and would be a starter for most clubs at this level. Best of the rest are promising youngsters Pierre Pedrono and Yoann Tanguy, both of whom will be looking for more game-time this season after waiting in the wings for too long.

Demi de mêlée
Lightning quick scrum half Clément Payen is a part of the club furniture. The 24-year-old missed only two games last season, having previously plied his trade in the capital city with Massy. His sniping play around the base of the scrum will be vital to Vannes’ chances this year. He’s backed up by the very German sounding Thomas Diemunsch and Antoine Bargain, who was a snip when he signed from Montauban.

Demi d'Ouverture
Controlling things from the pivot position is Thomas Le Barillier, the 34-year-old who formed a potent partnership with Payen last season. He’s an old-fashioned, one-club man who’s racked up an impressive 911pts from 104 appearances over the last five seasons (is it now obvious we can only go back five years for our stats info?). Thomas is a crafty customer who’s forgotten more about outside-half play than most people know.

Centre
This is arguably the weakest area for notre hommes. Leading the rather murky way is Argentinian Sevens star Mauricio Gimenez, who started 19 games last season. Having spent most of his career with hometown club Jockey Club Salta, he switched allegiances to Italy before moving to France, firstly to Domont then Vannes. Your guess is as good as ours as to who he’ll be paired with. It’s probably a toss-up between 32 year old Olivier Jeffroy and Ludovic Nicolas, a Vannes veteran who’ll be hoping for a clean bill of health after a long-term injury restricted him to only one start last season. In reserve are Argentinian Juan Gabriel Mistura, who joins from Federal 2 outfit Vienne and unproven pair Sebastien Plouvier and Vincent Bertevas.

Ailier
Out on the wings it’s a straight two-from-three fight. Pick of the bunch is 32 year old Jérôme Obligy. The Vannes veteran has been a mainstay of the team for several years, racking up an impressive 173pts (including a whopping 19 tries) in the last, erm, five seasons. Although he’s a utility back who can slot in at full back or in the centre, he prefers it up the touchline. He could be partnered by blossoming 23-year-old Argentinian Maximiliano Cocetta, who bagged a useful 9 tries last season. If not, we’ll be seeing more of Émilien Pirel, a Vannes stalwart who’s made more than 70 appearances dans les cinq dernières saisons. Pick of les autres ailiers is reliable back up Kevin Burgaud, a promising 23-year-old who has Top 14 and Pro D2 experience with Stade Francais and La Rochelle respectively.

Arrière
King of the quinze is 31-year-old Senegalese international Steeve Sargos, who started all but four games in 2010/11. He also notched up an impressive 113pts last season, cementing his status as reserve kicker behind Le Barillier. He joined Vannes from Romans in 2009 having previously spent time with Biarritz, Mont-de-Marsan, Tours and, most notably, Oyonnax. Sargos has the honour of having played for the African Leopards, the first ever Pan-African representative rugby union team. He’ll be backed up by Obligy when necessary.