Tournat: “No feeling beats being back home”

When the pandemic brought handball to a standstill in March 2020, it prevented Nicolas Tournat from properly saying goodbye to the fans.

The HBC Nantes line player had made the choice, months before, to leave his only club so far and join Industria Kielce. But he got no opportunity to thank the fans one last time.

“I was really gutted that I did not have the chance to say goodbye to them. They push us so hard on the court, I had built so many friendships and bonds with them, leaving without having the chance to play one last game left me heartbroken,” Tournat says now.

His first match back in Nantes with his new club was equally weird, as that game was played behind closed doors at La H Arena.

But fast forward four years, and the French national player is back again where it all began.

“It is not all about me but also about my family. My kids did not quite understand what it meant when I told them we were moving back to Nantes, but now they are really happy they can see their grandparents more often,” Tournat says with a smile.

Tournat will be in the spotlights on Wednesday, when Nantes host Kielce in the MOTW of round 2, with the throw-off at the La H Arena scheduled for 20:45 CEST (live on EFTV).

Tournat played his first comeback game at home last week, in a French league game against Istres Provenc Handball which Nantes clearly won 43:31.

“It was super cool to see all those faces again. The fans are a part of why I came back, even though the Kielce ones were impressive as well. But no feeling can beat being home, really,” he adds.

Over his four years in Poland, Tournat has become, in his own words, “more grown up, more experienced, both on and off the court.”

With Kielce, he played under head coach Talant Dujshebaev as the Polish champions competed at the EHF FINAL4 2022, when they ultimately lost the final after a penalty shootout against Barça.

“I think I made a lot of progress, it was a really good experience going there,” Tournat says. “Kielce are a top club, Talant is a very demanding coach, but one who will push you to the top as well. I have nothing but good words to say about the club.”

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Just like Tournat, Nantes have developed over the past four seasons, too.

“You can see it is now a club that is not overlooked by the powerhouses across Europe. I often told my teammates in Kielce to take Nantes very seriously, and every time they would tell me I was right,” he explains. “The club is growing and getting even more professional every season. What it lacks now is a major title.”

While the road to the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 is still very long, Nantes are eager to add their first points in group B in the MOTW against Kielce, following their defeat against last season’s finalists, Aalborg Håndbold, in Denmark last week: 38:31.

“In a way, there is no rush as the group phase is long, but in the meantime, it would be great to beat Kielce at home to get things going,” Tournat says. “We know it is going to be tough but we also know that we have everything it takes to do well in the competition.”

And Tournat is ready to play against his former teammates. Among them are fellow French internationals Benoit Kounkoud and Dylan Nahi, as well as former Nantes line player Theo Monar.

“Of course, it will be special, but I try not to think too much about it,” Tournat says. “It will be fun seeing them before the game, but at the end of the day, it is a game.”

Photos © 2024 HBC Nantes