If Damien Chouly is not yet looking in the rearview mirror, the figures of his career are starting to scroll, they impress and bear witness to a regular career which commands respect. 46 selections for the French team, 402 matches in professional clubs and two Brennus shields. Among others. It will be time to linger and look back on more than 16 years of high level, in a few months.
Guest of France Bleu Roussillon, Damien Chouly spoke of his probable end of career. The decision is not completely taken but we are getting closer: “Are you going to stop your career at the end of the season?“”Certainly !“, answers the third line.
He is almost 40 years old but works as if he was 20 – Lucas Bachelier
He who returned two and a half years ago to the USAP is still waiting a little to see, the decision to hang up the crampons remains heavy to take: “It’s not totally decided, when you play rugby, you want to play ball but yes, it will certainly be the last season. I especially listen to what I feel, what my feelings are, whether physically and mentally I’m okay. I know that the season is going to be very long and very complicated, we will have to be very strong on all points. But I’m leaving like it’s the last. “
Invited by his side, the third line Lucas Bachelier does not hide his admiration for his teammate: “Can you imagine? He was 10 years old and I wasn’t playing rugby when he started his pro career. It is incredible this longevity, it is a dinosaur. He is almost 40 years old (laughs) but he works as if he was 20. He always wants to, he is always the first in training, he guides the others on the rigor, he pulls us to the top level. “
I miss a European Cup but a maintenance this season will be the equivalent
Two weeks ago on the Racing field, Damien Chouly has symbolically reached the symbolic and mythical bar of the 400 matches in a professional club nearly half of which were disputed with the Catalan jersey. His career marched at high speed between this first match, at 19, in 2005 under the jersey of CA Brive on the ground of Clermont and this one: “It’s true that it feels weird, It’s very pleasant and it’s a feeling of pride to have been able to succeed in having continuity and consistency. I’m proud of that but beyond these matches, what we remember is the titles and the adventures that go with it. I have two Brennus but a European Cup would have been good, this season a maintenance will be honestly the equivalent, for me. “
There are about twenty matches to play for Damien Chouly and his career will probably end around 500 professional matches (clubs and selections combined). A career, for the moment embellished with 38 tests and not the slightest red card, just 17 yellow cards. Regularity, performance, consistency but also calm and serenity sum up the career of the original Haut-Viennese who is now working to write the last page of an already well-supplied book.