Rugby player Bakary Meité signs up as a hospital maintenance worker

Professional rugby player evolving in Pro D2 in Carcassonne, Bakary Meité decided to engage in the fight against the Covid-19 as a maintenance agent at the Sainte-Périne hospital in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. This idea came to him from a family member who already worked in the hospital environment. “The hospital was looking for people to do the cleaning, because this period is very hard for them. There was a lack of people. People refuse to come to work. There are sick people. And then there are people who are simply afraid, ”explains the rugby player exclusively to RMC Sport . Before adding "At the start, I agreed to do it because in my head I said to myself: If it can help the nursing assistants to do it, it's great ."

"I feel useful and I am proud to do what I do"

For Bakaray Meité, this work is not degrading, on the contrary: “Very honestly, it's hard. But I receive so many thanks from caregivers ... It is very rewarding. The roles are reversed. In the current situation, they are relieved and I feel like I'm doing something crazy. They can devote themselves to their job. So I feel useful. And I am proud to do what I do. I tell myself that I am doing something useful, something good. ”

The world of rugby mobilized

The third line of Carcassonne is not the only one to be involved in the hospital environment to help in the fight against the coronavirus. Indeed, the Italian rugby player Maxime Mbanda was hired as a stretcher bearer in his country. Several French players also work in nursing homes or as occupational therapists, such as Gaëlle Hermet, Agathe Sochat or Camille Boudaud.

Like many healthcare professionals, our #XVdeFrance players are also mobilized during this # COVID2019 pandemic.

For them and for all the other nursing staff, this evening, at 8 p.m., at our windows, #OnApplaudit! # 20honapplauditpic.twitter.com / ppMyzR6h6P

Since the end of the French rugby championships, several Top 14 clubs have also launched solidarity pools to support the fight against Covid-19, whose funds raised are intended for hospitals in their region.

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