Among the top scorers for RC Mediterranée, back Jack Kellner plays for the Belgian national team Black Devils, whom he praises for their passion.
Jack Kellner has been a Black Devil since last February. The young man may not be Belgian by birth, but he has a deep commitment to and immense respect for rugby in the country. “I was born in Belgium and lived there for ten years, so I have the sporting nationality,” he explains. “It’s a pride, both for the high level at which it allows me to play, and for the feeling of being bilingual.” In February, he participated for the first time in the Rugby Europe Championship, known as the Six Nations B Tournament, first in Romania in the snow (defeat 23-6) then against Germany in Belgium (victory 18-3), before a concussion sustained in Palavas kept him away from the field for a while.
Internationally, “the pace is different. There is much more speed. The strategy is driven by a high level style. It is different compared to the French Federale. But the contacts remain quite the same: we find this tough rugby, these complicated rucks,” he described. This connection mentioned between the French Federale 2 and the national team is not insignificant for a developing nation. “I had a lot of preconceptions about Belgian rugby because, over there, I played in Flanders where rugby is less developed than in Wallonia. The country is like split in two on this point.”
“Everything for Belgium”
Then there was the almost Belgian qualification for the next World Cup, missed on a draw against Samoa. But, above all, the human aspect: “Once selected, I discovered players who are totally passionate about this game, who talk about rugby all the time. They live and practice it to the fullest and at the same time, with a lot of pleasure.”
Attentive to each player’s journey, he returned admiringly of what it means, for many, to play for their country: “Most are not afraid to go abroad to play at a higher level than in Belgium. Many choose the French National and Federale 1, others go to Ireland, still without fear, where they manage to combine their studies. In fact, these players take everything they can to try to evolve at the highest possible level.”
For Jack, the path to rugby was quite straightforward: “I was lucky to start directly with rugby, without going through football which Belgium is known for. Until I was ten, I played in Antwerp, before coming to the south of France, to Frontignan, and then I was spotted by Montpellier where I played for eight years.”
“A true deep field player”
Since the current season, Jack Kellner has been a key player for the Palavas defensive line. This tall blond player does not go unnoticed, standing out for his consistently good decisions. “He is a player who can change pace, has a good kicking length, always in the right position, and has a sense of anticipation,” dissected his manager at RCM, David Theillet. “He is reassuring for his teammates due to his true qualities as a deep field player. He sees opportunities and leads very interesting plays.”
Above all, he is, for his coach, the epitome of the passionate Belgian he himself describes: “I have known him for a long time,” Theillet recounts, “because I had him in my Youth team at Montpellier. He is a player who, certainly, has a lot of talent, but also is a true hard worker. He can, and still has time, to write a beautiful story at the highest level.”
