The third international line of Bordeaux-Bègles Louis Picamoles, 35, announced in an interview with the daily
L'Equipe
published on Wednesday that he would retire at the end of the Top 14 season.
To discover
Calendar and results Top 14
Ranking Top 14
The player with 82 selections for the France team says he saw
his coach Christophe Urios "
a few days ago
" to inform him of his decision. “
The coach told me 'I think you are good', but I don't want to risk having too many seasons. He understood. I will be 36 years old in February, my body and my head tell me it's time,
”he explains.
Revealed in Montpellier, Picamoles won the Top 14 twice, in 2011 and 2012, with Toulouse, before having an experience in England, at Northampton, where he earned the nickname of "
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. He played three World Cups (2011, 2015, 2019) under the jersey of the Blues, with which he never won anything. "
I have not known the best period of the France team
," he admits in L'Equipe, while claiming to have lived "
a bright adventure
" in selection. "
I only want to keep positive things from 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, who describes himself as “
introvert
” and “
hypersensitive
”, intends to embark on an organic goat farm with his partner.
SEE ALSO -
"
Raclette
", favorite word in French, Neymar who is learning the language ... The "French interview" of Marquinhos at PSG