Pro D2. The XV-type of players who end their professional career

15. Jack McPhee (Aurillac)

A real good player. Support, speed, elegance… In short, Jack McPhee “stinks of rugby”. For 9 seasons at Aurillac, it was a treat to see the New Zealander on the lawns of Pro D2. At 34, after an exercise during which he played very little (4 games), he decided to say stop, due to multiple concussions.

14. Christopher Lacour (Valence-Romans)

At only 29 years old, the winger of Valence-Romans decided to move on, despite the Drôme club’s desire to keep him. Tired, no longer having the flame, Christopher Lacour leaves professional rugby, but will continue to “have fun” in Federal 2 in Saint-Jean-en-Royans. At the same time, he will convert as a carpenter/cabinetmaker.

13. Jean-Philippe Cassan (Aurillac)

Pur Cantalou, Jean Phi Cassan started with football before joining the world of rugby and climbing all the levels in Aurillac stadium. After 12 seasons with the Pros, he decided to retire, not having been spared by a serious shoulder injury. Cassan only played one game in the 2020-2021 fiscal year. He has already set up his real estate agency.

12. Julien Rey (Carcassonne)

Passed through Colomiers and Bordeaux-Bègles, the center Julien King ended smoothly on the side of Carcassonne. At 34, he will leave professional rugby. 2016 will remain his prosperous year, having experienced two selections with the XV of France during a summer tour in Argentina.

11. Tom Homer (Montauban)

A special case. The Englishman signed up with the club Montauban, but he will never wear the Tarn-et-Garonnais jersey and he will never play in Pro D2. “My body no longer follows,” said the versatile three-quarter (winger, center or back), who wanted to be honest with himself and the Montalban supporters. All at just 31 years old…

10. Clement Gelin (Mont-de-Marsan)

At barely 27 years old, the opener of Mont-de-Marsan, Clement Gelin, wanted to leave the professional world. Trained in Grenoble, he will return to Isère, but on the side of Voiron in Fédérale 2. This year, due to strong competition, he only played one match with the Landes club.

9. Paul Boisset (Aurillac)

It is a myth of Aurillac stadium who stores the crampons: after 25 years at the club, the “tignous” Paul Boisset decided to end his career. 245 professional matches on the clock, class actions and a strong character: Jean-Alric’s public is not about to forget him…

8. Bakary Meite (Carcassonne)

Passed by Drancy, Orléans, Massy, ​​Béziers, Stade Français or Carcassonne, this third line with a big heart had a rather atypical career. A time, Bakary Meite was even a customer adviser in a bank and mixed the two activities. Strong, but also swift, he has often left his calling card to opposing defenses.

7. Joel Koffi (Carcassonne)

Not necessarily highlighted, the third line Joël Koffi has yet been one of the best third line wing of the Pro D2. He has almost 330 Pro D2 games, being rarely injured and showing consistency in his performances. Good defender, mobile, hard to hurt, he was part of the pack of Carcassonne for 10 big years.

6. Bertrand Guiry (Provence Rugby) / Aurelien Beco (Colomiers)

Make way for two elements that have long plagued the lawns of Pro D2. Trained in Perpignan, passed by the UBB and Biarritz, Bertrand Guiry ended his adventure at Provence Rugby. At 32, he stops the charges. In Colomiers, it is a history that stops in the person of the captain Aurelien Beco. Victim of an Achilles tendon injury, he played only 40 minutes this season. Despite everything, he marked the history of his club by bringing it to Pro D2 after having joined it 10 years ago, in 2011.

5. Julien Le Devedec (Provence Rugby)

The former Brive player and French international (11 caps) ended his career at Provence Rugby. Aerial player, very comfortable in touch, Julien Le Devedec was trained by Stade Toulousain before continuing his career in various Top 14 clubs. Lacking playing time with Montpellier in 2020, he left the club to join Provence Rugby. He hangs up his cleats at 34.

4. Jonathan Best (Beziers)

Passed through Grenoble and Beziers, this big warrior, never stingy with his efforts in combat, is retiring from work at the age of 37. Algerian international five times, Jonathan Best is also known for his activity on social networks and his sense of the good word. He will play a year for the club of his hometown, the Rugby Club Romanais Péageois, in Federal 3, before hanging up permanently.

3. Yohan Montes (Provence Rugby) ?

It’s a big track record that should leave the Pro D2. Yohan Montes, it’s still 5 Brennus shields. At 36, the right pillar has not been retained by Provence Rugby. He is still waiting for a solicitation, and it is not impossible that he will make the decision to stop.

2. Jean-Philippe Genevois (Nevers)

Forced to stop his career to preserve his mental and physical health, the 34-year-old hooker leaves Nevers and the world of rugby. His fragility in one knee has kept him away from the field this season, playing only 190 minutes in the 2020/2021 financial year. Arrived in 2017, Jean-Philippe Genevois had previously passed through Bourgoin, Toulon and Biarritz.

1. Thomas Synaeghel (Biarritz)

Passed by Agen, Dax or even La Rochelle, the 34-year-old left pillar ends his career at Olympic Biarritz. Holder only three times this season, Thomas Synaeghel nevertheless knew how to mark the Basque club by playing there for seven years. Rough player, man of obscure tasks, he will offer himself a new challenge in rugby as coach of the forwards of Oloron in Federal 1.

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