Paris (AFP)

"It brought laughter, sunshine". Former international 3rd line Ibrahim Diarra died Wednesday at 36 years of age from a heart attack, mourning French rugby which has multiplied tributes to the former Castres.

The former player from Montauban, Castres, Pau and Lavaur died on Wednesday in Paris. Friday, Castres Olympique had announced that the French international of Senegalese origin was hospitalized in Paris, at the Georges-Pompidou hospital, in "a critical state".

After a cardiac alert, Diarra suffered a stroke at home, then he was operated on at the Georges-Pompidou hospital.

Relatives of the player told AFP that he then had several strokes which had caused brain damage so irreversible that treatment was under consideration.

Diarra, nicknamed + Ibou +, was crowned champion of France in 2013 with Castres where he played from 2009 to 2016. He once wore the jersey of the Blues in 2008, against Italy, during a meeting of the Tournament of six nations. Revealed in Montauban (2005-2009), he ended his career with two almost white seasons in Pau (2016-2017), then Lavaur (2017-2018).

In total, Ibrahim Diarra has played some 180 Top 14 matches, the vast majority with Castres.

Racing 92 rugby director Laurent Travers, who remained close to Diarra whom he had trained in Montauban and then Castres, praised the "joie de vivre" of his former player.

"He brought laughter, sunshine. And he gave everything on the ground," said Travers, contacted by AFP.

- Legendary "smile" -

"How sad!", Reacted to AFP Laurent Labit, new coach of the back of the XV of France. "Ibou, I saw him arrive at Montauban when I was a coach. Frankly, I would not have thought, at that time, that he would make such a career at the highest level. work, and then he followed us with Laurent Travers at Castres olympique ".

The president of the Federation Bernard Laporte said he was "upset that he could leave so early", on Twitter. "We will forever remember his smile and the eternal memory of a great rugby player. My sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Ibrahim Diarra," he added.

Top 14 clubs paid tribute to him on Twitter. "Ibou, we will always remember your legendary smile and good humor," wrote Castres, adding in a second message: "You will remain eternal at Castres Olympique and we will now focus on bringing your memory to life and supporting your loved ones ".

The Toulouse Stadium underlined that "the big rugby family is terribly sad this evening after the disappearance of one of theirs" and the Section of Pau hailed "a real warrior on the field who never missed an opportunity to express all his joy of living outside. "

Racing, Bayonne, Agen, Lyon, Toulon and the Stade Français also expressed their condolences on Twitter to those close to Diarra, as did the Federation, the League and the specialized media Midi Olympique.

© 2019 AFP