Nearly 5,000 people had gathered to party this Saturday evening, Place de la Comédie, and celebrate with dignity the first title of French rugby champion in the history of Montpellier.
Winners of Castres (29-10) at the Stade de France, the day before, the Hérault players had indeed rushed to join them and brandish the shield of Brennus at the stroke of 8 p.m.
The entire workforce was obviously present, with one notable exception: Mickaël Capelli was missing... after missing his TGV.
The MHR buses have just arrived at the Place de la Comédie in Montpellier.
Welcomed by supporters.
#MHR #Top14 #Champions pic.twitter.com/eiVgwxb9jD
— France Bleu Hérault (@bleuherault) June 25, 2022
After a hectic day spent partying in Paris, all the players had to leave the capital together heading south.
But, when boarding the train, the second-line Hérault would have taken the wrong track.
"There were two trains, there are 59 guys who went up on the left and he went up on the right", laughed Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, defense coach of the MHR, interviewed by RMC Sport.
Capelli, who played 22 minutes in Friday's final, was expected to join his teammates later in the evening after the minor setback.
“He must be in Lyon, I think, he will arrive there… It's nonsense”, concluded Elissalde.
He will be able to go directly to the GGL Stadium, where the Montpellier festivities are to continue, to spend a last moment with his teammates: next year, he will wear the colors of Pau, where he has signed up for three years.