A large photo of James Théodore, smiling, his jersey n°3 signed by all his teammates, an oval ball placed at the foot of the altar of Chartres Cathedral. The ceremony of meditation and tribute to the memory of the young 22-year-old right pillar, who died last Tuesday, brought together, late yesterday afternoon, more than 300 people. In the ranks of Notre-Dame, many young CCR graduates were present, who had come to support the family of their friend, Hayden, his 4-year-old son, and his 15-year-old little sister.
James embodied hope, as he went through hardships.
Thomas Louis (The president of C’Chartres Rugby)
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But around this family, in shock, many Chartrain sportsmen from other clubs in the agglomeration wanted to pay a last tribute. Two speeches marked this sober ceremony, imbued with emotion. Thomas Louis, the president of the CCR recalled the memory of this colossus of 1.96 m, always smiling, who always knew how to take up the challenges that life imposed on him. “James embodied hope, as he went through so many hardships. Let us all remember his incredible strength, let us be his relay to his son, his sister and his family. »
You leave us alone, you left to join the stars.
Renaud Gourdon (The coach of C’Chartres Rugby)
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Then came the words of Renaud Gourdon, the coach of C’Chartres Rugby. With a tight voice, the Chartrain coach returned to the tragedy of the death of his young player, a pillar of promising talent, a hard worker, a hope of rugby as all coaches would like to have in their workforce. The shock was violent last Tuesday, “like one of your percussions” which knocked out his entire senior group.
An unbreakable bond
“Since then, it’s been an abyssal void, you’ve left us alone, you’ve gone to join the stars. Some players sign contracts for one year, two years, or even more, you, without negotiating, you have just signed a lease for eternity with us. From now on, we will all have an unbreakable bond whatever the path of each one. We will always be 24 on our match sheets. »
Drama at C’Chartres Rugby: James Théodore, a hope flies away
A long silence. Renaud Gourdon resumes his praise “You always had a smile despite the events of life, you had also made a lot of effort and sacrifice to become a professional rugby player, a gifted player, an exemplary teammate. “The very morning of the tragedy, James Théodore confided to his coach his desire to play higher than the Federal 1: “Here you are up there among the stars. »
Hervé Paraut
The funeral of James Théodore will take place on Tuesday March 15 at 2 p.m. in the Saint-Étienne cathedral in Meaux (Seine-et-Marne).
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