His teammates couldn't hold back their tears.
And they flowed in cascade at the moment of the minute of silence, of meditation in memory of Jordan Michallet, their opener tragically disappeared on Tuesday.
The images were very strong, the emotion at its peak when the players entered, captain Mathieu Bonnot in the lead, his face scarred and his eyes already red from having cried too much.
So they all got together.
The holders, the substitutes, the friends outside the group and the staff, squeezing very hard to hold on.
Before saying goodbye to their friend.
Without, however, being able to hold back their sobs during this heartbreaking minute of applause.
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Among them, no player with the number 10 on his back.
Peter Lydon, who stood in for the missing partner, didn't wear one.
No more than its vis-à-vis Carcassonne.
On his wrist, on the other hand, a large band with words for his comrade.
Thoughts when trying to get back to normal life as a rugby player.
“
At the final whistle, it was very poignant.
The group gets up slowly.
Some players are more affected than others.
We must support the most bereaved
, ”recognized Jean-Étienne Lesueur, the hooker from Rouen.
Jordan Michallet, who turned 29 on January 10, was found dead at the foot of a building under construction in Rouen after falling from the fourth floor.
The thesis of suicide is for the moment favored by the investigators.
A terrible tragedy that left the Rouen club in shock.
All of the proceeds from this match, lost against Carcassonne, will be donated to the player's family.
The partners of Rouen Normandie Rugby have put online Thursday an online kitty for the benefit of the companion of the young man who disappeared too soon.
