{"id":266972,"date":"2025-11-06T17:28:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T17:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/266972\/"},"modified":"2025-11-06T17:28:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T17:28:09","slug":"the-belgium-blog-charles-henri-berguet-salut-dubai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/266972\/","title":{"rendered":"The Belgium Blog: Charles-Henri Berguet \u201cSalut Dubai\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\tAs Belgium look to become the fifth Rugby Europe Championship team to make the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, we will follow their journey with a number of blogs from within camp, starting with Charles Henri Berguet!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Bonjour!<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">It\u2019s Belgium\u2019s and RC Vannes Charles-Henri Berguet speaking from this side! \u00c7a va? <\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Rugby Europe and Belgium challenged me to write a blog on our journey through the Final Qualification Tournament for Rugby World Cup 2027, that starts this next Saturday in Dubai. I\u2019ve accepted the invitation and let\u2019s start with the very beginning\u2026 the travelling!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We arrived on Monday, after meeting up in Brussels. On paper it seemed like a long journey, but actually it didn\u2019t as we like to be together.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We all want to deliver something big not only to our fans, who have been with us every step of the way, but also for us. We are a team, and that team is called Belgium, the\u00a0Diables Noirs.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762450089_551_573295311_18432345991102855_5707892734467787293_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1056\" height=\"458\" data-caption=\"Credit: Belgium Rugby\"\/><br \/>\nCredit: Belgium Rugby<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Namibia is going to be a massive first test, and to overcome them, we have to be the ones dictating the tempo and pace of the match. The opening twenty minutes will be crucial, as they will tell you which team best adapts to the conditions. It is very hot here in Dubai. The one that shows the best spirits will surely end as the victor. <\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">However, like us, Namibia has all the ability and qualities to reach the World Cup, as does Samoa and Brazil. Everyone has the same shot, which makes this tournament even more interesting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">So, saying that, why do I think we have a good chance? Because of our team spirit. Because of our camaraderie. Because we feel as one, and, as I\u2019ve mentioned, we like to spend time with each other, even when we are not in national team camps. <\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Every time we meet up, it is excellent, and for me, it is more special when I have the chance to play beside my clubmate Jean-Maurice Decubber and William van Bost. I can wholeheartedly say that we are all friends, and that\u2019s why this journey is so special for us all.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Unfortunately, we can\u2019t physically share the journey with many who are very special to us: our fans. They have been incredible, supporting us and pushing us to believe we can go the extra mile or reach the next level. Despite them not being here, we are going to play like we can hear their voices all the way from Belgium. They are part of us, and we are going to put out a big performance, for them and for everyone who believed in us. <\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">And because of their effort and love, I\u2019ve pushed myself to become an even a better player. I\u2019ve been enjoying my life as a Belgian international, and I try to step up every time I\u2019m called to play for my country. Looking ahead to what\u2019s coming our way, I need to be on the same level as my teammates, as I know they will be at their best, and I can\u2019t let them down.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">This past year, I\u2019ve evolved as a player, learning and improving new techniques and skills, as I want to keep improving. For example, I\u2019ve been polishing my offloading game and the best time to use it. It isn\u2019t something you expect from a prop, but the best in the world do it, and I want\u00a0to be the best version of myself. But I am the same Charles-Henry Berguet, the young guy who loves and enjoys playing rugby to the fullest. So, I changed without really changing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762450089_44_577247101_1692384505412267_6641320999780797217_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"553\" height=\"737\" data-caption=\"Credit: Sportkipik\"\/><br \/>\nCredit: Sportkipik<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Looking back to the last time I spoke with the Rugby Europe fan community, so much has happened since then. We ended up beating the Netherlands to qualify for the Final Qualification Tournament, a result unexpected by most. However, that\u2019s how we like it, when most don\u2019t expect a Belgium win. It makes us want to win even more, to tackle harder, to smash our bodies in the contact line with more power.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our mantra is \u2018Judge us if you want, we don\u2019t care, as we are going to give our all and we will see who wins in the end.\u2019 There\u2019s a French saying that perfectly sums us up: C&#8217;est \u00e0 la fin du bal qu&#8217;on paie les musiciens. Let the show wrap up before drawing your conclusions!<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">That win [against the Netherelands] wasn\u2019t a one-off result, as we have gone on to land another good result, like our victory over Canada back in July!\u00a0It was such an amazing feeling. <\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We felt we had the level to beat the United States of America, but we lacked game time to gel and get everything in order. However, after two weeks working together, we felt better prepared to take on the next rival, Canada. We didn\u2019t fear them. We wanted to win, to impress everyone and show how far Belgium have come. Again, as we enjoy being together, it is easier for us to click and sync. <\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">That\u2019s what happened against Canada, and that\u2019s what we want to do in this Final Qualification Tournament.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Looking ahead, I have great respect for Namibia, and I do think they are at the same level as other teams that have already qualified for the World Cup. That being said, if we want to produce something big, we need to show the same energy we have shown against Canada. We can\u2019t fear team A, B or C. We need to believe in ourselves. I\u2019m ready to die for every one of my teammates. I\u2019m ready to make the first and the last tackle. I\u2019m prepared to sacrifice my body and mind for them, and I know my teammates are as well. <\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">For me, representing Belgium and playing rugby means everything. And I have another chance to do it in such a great stage as the Final Qualification Tournament. <\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We are not feeling any anxiety at all. I would say that we are really excited for the tournament to begin, and we want to give our best. Whatever happens in the end, we want to feel that we gave everything we had.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Now, it is time for me to get ready for that first big match-up against Namibia. I am hungry for that clash and to hear my teammates sing the national anthem right beside me. Watch and support us this Saturday, November 8th!<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 252.0pt 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;\" class=\"MsoNormal\">You can watch all the action from the Final Qualifying Tournament on Rugby Pass TV and if you are in Belgium it will also be shown on a variety of TV stations: LN24, Auvio and Sporza.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 252.0pt 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;\" class=\"MsoNormal\">You can keep up to date from all the happenings in Dubai by following Belgium on their social channels. <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 252.0pt 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;\" class=\"MsoNormal\">\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As Belgium look to become the fifth Rugby Europe Championship team to make the Rugby World Cup 2027&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":266886,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,760,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-266972","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-rugby","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-rugby","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=266972"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266972\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/266886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=266972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=266972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=266972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}