Two Brennus shields, 82 selections and three contested World Cups: he is a major player of the last decade of French rugby who is about to make his exit. In an interview with the daily L’Equipe, published this Wednesday, October 13, the third international line of Bordeaux-Bègles announced that he would retire at the end of the Top 14 season.
I don’t want to risk making the season too long.
The one who is now 35 years old says he saw a few days ago his trainer, Christophe Urios, to inform him of his decision. “The coach said to me: ‘I think you are good’, but I don’t want to risk making the season too long. He understood. I will be 36 years old in February, my body and my head tell me that it is. is the moment “, he explains.
Revealed in Montpellier, Picamoles won the Top 14 twice, in 2011 and 2012, with Toulouse, before having a one-year experience in England, at Northampton, where he earned the nickname “King Louis”.
Then returned to his favorite club, Montpellier, the powerful third-row, little used, left him during last season to join UBB, which will therefore be his last club.
Under the coq jersey, the Montpellier player has played three World Cups (2011, 2015, 2019) and experienced very different periods. From a World Cup final against the All Blacks to less glorious periods under the mandates of Philippe Saint-André and Jacques Brunel. “I did not have the best period for the France team”, he admits in L’Equipe, while claiming to have lived “a luminous adventure” in selection.
“I only want to keep the positive of my career. I am lucky in rugby. Some were scheduled. Me it happened like that”, he testifies. “This sport gave me confidence in myself (…) The field was my outlet”. Once the crampons are hung up, Picamoles intends to embark with his partner in an organic goat farm.