Maxime Mermoz, retired since 2020, does not exclude, if his body allows it, to resume rugby to help Algeria, his mother's country of origin, to qualify for the World Cup-2023 in France, he told
AFP
on Friday
. "
If I can, it would be a pleasure to put on the crampons to help them,
" said the former 35-year-old center three-quarter, recalling that he still suffers from inner ear problems. “
I'm already trying to do sport on a regular basis,
” he adds.
Selected 35 times with the Blues, and finalist in the 2011 World Cup, Mermoz could play with Algeria from next year under a relaxation of eligibility rules approved this week by World Rugby.
A player will be able to claim to change national team "
only once
" provided he has not played in an international match for three years, "
to be born in the country of the federation to which he wishes to be transferred
" or "
d 'have a parent or grandparent born in this country
'.
Sofiane Guitoune and Rabah Slimani also in the viewfinder
Mermoz, whose mother is Algerian, last played with the XV of France in 2016 and therefore meets the criteria.
"
It would be a source of pride to make rugby in Algeria and Algerian rugby known to the rest of the world,
" he said.
“
I did more than ten years in the France team.
It was awesome.
But there, it's another life, another process.
It's not personal, it's for them
”.
The three-quarter center of Toulouse Sofiane Guitoune (32 years old, 9 caps) and the pillar of Clermont Rabah Slimani (32 years old, 57 caps), who have Algerian origins, could also claim to play with the XV of Algeria, but not before the fall of 2022 since they both played in the 2019 World Cup with the Blues.
Read also World 2023: why the qualifying tournament for the Africa zone will be played in France
However, the Algerians, currently in 90th place in the world ranking, will play before that, in June 2022, their ticket for the 2023 World Cup during a qualifying tournament in the Africa zone.
If successful in this tournament, of which Namibia will be the big favorite, Algeria would find itself in the group of France, which it would face in Marseille.
“
It would be a beautiful symbol and an easy match for France when you see their current level
,” smiles Mermoz.
"
The victory would already be that we learn that there is rugby in Algeria
."