Last Friday, at the Allianz Riviera in Nice, Rory Kockott was not part of the group of 23 Castres players selected to face Stade Toulousain.
As scrum-half, Tarn manager Pierre-Henry Broncan preferred Santi Arata and Jérémy Fernandez.
Kockott, 36, was one of the substitutes who could enter the game in the event of a problem, so he took part in the pre-match warm-up, just in case … And he received a warm welcome from the Castres supporters present in Nice who chanted big
“Rory!
Rory!
Rory!”
when he walked past them.
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Schedule and Top 14 results
Ranking Top 14
Because the scrum-half of South African origin, who has 11 selections for the France team, is a true icon at Castres Olympique.
During the club's last two titles, in 2013 and 2018, he played a decisive role in the success of his team.
Except that now he is no longer the number 1 choice, or even 2, in his position.
“
There are also two other scrum halves, Jérémy Fernandez and Santiago Arata, who passed him.
Rory has moved back in the hierarchy”,
had recently recognized Pierre-Henry Broncan.
Read alsoTop 14: Castres-Montpellier, the fight of "big arms"
But Kockott retains an essential role within the CO, a club to which he has remained faithful despite the solicitations of several other teams (Toulouse, Toulon).
He participates in all strategic meetings, intervenes with his teammates, shares his great experience, he who has been playing in the Tarn since 2011.
"Rory is 200% involved as if he were a starter and it's very positive for us .
and for the group,
greeted David Darricarrère, CO rear coach.
He is one of the leaders of this group.
He is there in all the meetings, he gives his opinion, he participates.
There is no problem.”
And press:
“He is as important outside as inside.
It is an additional asset for us to have a boy like that who can also convey important messages.
“Rory will not be missed by the referees”
For a long time, the native of East London alone represented the image of the Tarn club.
A painful player, who never gives up, always talking with the referees and chasing his opponents.
Which earned him quite a bit of enmity.
At 36, he normally has to hang up his boots at the end of the season.
Unless there is a last minute reversal, he should not participate in the final against Montpellier.
But he will remain in the fold of the club.
“Rory will not be missed by the referees,
jokes Pierre-Henry Broncan.
Next season, I think he will stay in the club's entourage and if we have a problem at the scrum, we will not look too far for a medical joker.
I'm sure Rory will continue to talk.
He's not going to gain weight, like some journalists..."
He would play in any other club, it would be the best 9 in the world.
But since it's in Castres and we have a painful image, that's not the case
Jeremy Fernandez
This season, his full playing time: 14 matches played in the Top 14, including 9 as a starter, for 606 minutes played, his lowest total since his arrival in the Tarn.
“Whatever happens, Rory remains a leader at heart and a player who brings all his experience, because he has been playing at the very highest level for a very long time.
He still has this natural leadership over the group,
insists his young rival Jérémy Fernandez (25) with Actu Rugby.
We feel that he likes these end-of-season matches and this flavor of the final stages, and he is very important for the group.
Leaving him in the stands, “
it is sure that it is difficult humanly, but we are there for the athlete.
We also and above all have to think about that
,
”
says David Darricarrère.
Strong tribute from Jérémy Fernandez:
“Everyone will have a little twinge in the heart to see him go, even those who do not play scrum half.
Because we can say that it is painful, but if it is painful, it is because it is noticed and makes the team win.
We have to realize that.
He would play in any other club, it would be the best 9 in the world.
But since it's in Castres and we have a painful image, that's not the case.
In any case, it is my point of view…”
Adored or hated, Rory Kockott does not