Left pillar: Vasil Kakovin (30, Racing 92)
Passed by Brive, Toulouse and currently Racing 92 for three seasons, Vasil Kakovin is a reference to the post of left pillar in Top 14 since his arrival in 2010. At 30, he still has some good years ahead of him but does not yet know what will be his future. Because despite his CV, the Georgian international (25 selections) does not yet have a club for next year, and has only held 5 races this year at Racing 92. Lyon, Bordeaux and Montpellier would be everything likewise very interested in his services.
Hooker: Jean-Charles Orioli (30, La Rochelle)
In the shadow of Guilhem Guirado during all his years spent in Toulon, Jean-Charles Orioli had chosen to join La Rochelle in 2016, and is still in Charente-Maritime today. But he has not yet extended his lease with the Rochelais and thus finds himself, at 31, without training for next season. He could pay dearly for not showing up in the coming months, even if he had time to prove himself at the start of the season by compiling 14 game sheets.
Right pillar: Census Johnston (38, Bayonne)
Time does not seem to have a hold on Census Johnston. At 38, the Samoan pillar (60 selections) has still not announced his retirement, and may well choose to embark, again, on a new challenge. He has for him an XXL prize list consisting of three titles of champion of France (one with Biarritz, two with Toulouse) and a European Cup won with red and black. Enough to seduce a club to hire the current Bayonne despite his age? Not sure, even if it has been used regularly by Yannick Bru this season.
Second row: Dominic Bird (28, Racing 92)
Here is one who should not miss proposals despite the end of the season disrupted by the coronavirus epidemic. At 28, Dominic Bird is in great shape at Racing 92 and has participated in 20 sky and white meetings since the start of the exercise. And even if he has not yet extended to Racing or found a new challenge in Top 14 or elsewhere, the old All Black should easily find a new club. It remains to be seen whether it will be in France or not.
Second line: Virgile Bruni (31, Lyon)
For Virgil Bruni, even hoping to be able to win a new contract is already a victory in itself. Away from the field more than a year due to a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee, he returned to competition in March 2019 and has since become an essential element in the rotation on the LOU side (13 match sheets this season), even though he injured his thigh again. After 4 years in Toulon and as much in Lyon, he may be looking for a new challenge at 31 years old. A time announced at Provence Rugby, he has not signed anything yet, but showed at the start of the season that he had lost none of his rugby.
See this post on Instagram
Replaying is good, being cut a little less. Hope it lasts . @marcgalaor thanks #lourugby #lou #Lyon
A publication shared by Virgile Bruni (@veuurg) on Sept. 3, 2019 at 9:25 a.m. PDT
Third wing line: Camille Gérondeau (32, Castres)
Launched in a major renewal operation, the Castres Olympique should not offer a contract extension to Camille Gérondeau, who arrived in the Tarn in 2018. A complicated situation for the third line passed by Racing 92 and Clermont, and who will now seek to win a last big contract at 32 years old. Not indisputable during his three years at ASM just like since he arrived in Castres, he is still regularly aligned (14 starts this season) and should seduce a Top 14 or Pro D2 club.
Third wing line: Louis-Benoît Madaule (31, Stade Toulousain)
Louis-Benoît Madaule may be among those for whom the suspension of the championship comes at the worst of times. Arrived in Toulouse from Bordeaux in 2017 to cross a milestone, the former UBB captain struggled to win in front of the terrible red and black competition, and a serious leg injury stopped his season last year. And while he finally found playing time and honored his first tenure of the exercise against Bayonne on the last day, he is now facing technical unemployment without being able to show that he has lost none of his qualities .
After 7 months and 3 weeks very happy to find the grounds and the victory with the friends.
A moved thought for @ diarra0837 rests in peace. https://t.co/BKkl0RJxVe
Third center line: Sergio Parisse (36, Toulon)
After 14 seasons at the Stade Français, the legendary captain of the capital's club signed to Toulon this season and arrived in the Var after the World Cup disputed with Italy. If his motivation could be a source of concern after his hectic departure from the SF, the third line quickly responded on the ground. In three months, he has become an essential element of Patrice Collazo's pack, and has gone on to tenure for the position of number 8. It remains to be seen whether Parisse will want to embark, at 36, in a new season. But if that's the case, he shouldn't have too much trouble finding a final contract.
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