Roubert (Lou): "Terribly bruised at not seeing the enormous work find its just reward"

He dreamed of it. A Brennus shield in Lyon, expected since the double in 1932 and 1933. The dream has vanished. The 2019-2020 season will not come to an end and Lou, second behind the UBB at the time of his suspension, must give up his hopes. "If this decision is approved, which is more than likely, the fact that we could not defend our chances until the end will obviously remain a huge regret and we are terribly bruised not to see the enormous work and the investment of all of them, find their fair end-of-season reward via a third consecutive semi-final, ”underlines bitterly Yann Roubert.

" We will never know if we could have brought back the Shield, but the loss of this chance to do so is hard to live "

For eternal regrets. “We will never know if we could have brought the Shield back to the Matmut Stadium in Gerland, but the loss of that chance is hard to live. We are eliminated, like all our counterparts with whom we would have argued the final stages, by this terrible virus. " Terribly disappointed but fatalistic. "If I admit that I would have liked to keep the flame alive, however thin, as long as there was hope to be able to play at the end of summer to find an epilogue for this season and hope to find the field as soon as possible to share these sensations that we miss with the whole family of LOU Rugby, the health of all has always obviously remained the indisputable priority and the majority decided to make an end today. ”

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An end which bodes difficult days, economically speaking. "We will have to fight, just like many homes and businesses in great difficulty in this context, in the face of the damage already suffered and to come." He hopes, to face it, that the players will make an effort, a drop in wages which has been the subject of tough negotiations for a month between the leaders and union representatives. "We already thank all of our players, staff, employees, partners, supporters and friends who, in order to help the club, which is necessarily very weakened by this terrible crisis, will make considerable efforts", Yann Roubert prognosis.

A standing ovation for the resumption for the neo-retired Julien Puricelli

In his long message, the president of Lou does not forget to thank the supporters and partners for their support. And send a special message to the players who will no longer wear the red-and-black jersey. "Allow us to have a very special thought for some players in the 2019-2020 squad who did not have the chance to experience this famous" last game "under the colors of LOU Rugby. We will wait impatiently next season, to see Jean-Marcellin Buttin treading the lawn of Matmut Stadium in Gerland when he comes with SU Agen. We wish a very good continuation to Carl Fearns and Liam Gill, emblematic and symbolic players of the dynamics of our club for several seasons now. We will offer a very special standing ovation to Mr. Julien Puricelli, for his entire career and his immense personal investment for our club, who officially hangs up his crampons to join the LOU Rugby coaching bench. ”

As for transfers, "one or two surprises to come"

Yann Roubert also announces reinforcements. Those acquired from Mathieu Bastareaud, the 22-year-old young opener Léo Berdeu (on loan to Agen this season), the Australian third-line Colby Fainga'a and the American hooker Joe Taufetee. But also "one or two other surprises to come". Proof that, financially, the Lyon club still has a few resources…

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