First for the MHR and last for the Catalan Guilhem Guirado. After two finals lost in 2011 and 2018, Montpellier won, this Friday against Castres at the Stade de France (29-10), the first Brennus shield in its history. At 36, the hooker born in Ceret (Pyrénées-Orientales) therefore ends his career on a very good note. Guilhem Guirado won his second French championship. He had been crowned in 2009 with the USAP.
“I leave with dignity, proudly, with a lot of emotion and my family who came to support me. I didn’t want to imagine such a beautiful end, but I have a special history with this stadium, with the France team. There has been a lot of suffering throughout my career, so to end like this is to leave with beautiful stars in your eyes and character“, reacted in particular theformer captain of the XV of France at the microphone of France Info.
A second titleunexpected” for Guilhem Guirado, after the three lost finals in 2010 (USAP), 2016 and 2017 (Toulon): “I had to wait 13 years, the number 13 brought good luck, but before that I broke my teeth with Perpignan and Toulon, two clubs that are dear to me. I never thought I would be able to taste a final or a coronation. It’s a pride in the fact that I never gave up. I said goodbye to rugby in the most beautiful way.“
Discharged by concussion
The Catalan, on the other hand, left his partners earlier than expected this Friday evening. Guilhem Guirado came off with a concussion in the first half as the MHR was largely leading (20-0), victim of a high tackle from the Castres captain Mathieu Babillot with a shoulder-to-head impact. Replaced to pass a concussion protocol, the match doctor refused to allow the hooker to return to the pitch. “It’s a little hard, frustrating and disappointing, but I don’t hold it against them, that’s how it is, it’s the health of the players. They let me savor“, specified the player to the 74 selections in the blue jersey.
“Make way for young people now! I gave everything I had to give, I said everything I had to say and above all I tried to transmit. My only regret is perhaps not having won the Brennus with Toulon, but hey, I’m still spoiled“, concluded Guilhem Guirado.