Paris (AFP)

After years spoiled by injuries, the third line of Toulon Charles Ollivon has just been named captain of the XV of France, the last milestone on the road back to the fore for this Basque giant.

At 26 and with only 11 selections for the French team, Ollivon is an early captain. But the Toulon player has already proven his strength of character by re-playing rugby after a double fracture of the scapula, while specialists predicted the end of his career.

Fabien Galthié, new coach of a XV of France who wants to be reborn after a promising World Cup but with a taste for unfinished business, has opted for the symbol: appointing Charles Ollivon captain raises resilience and obstinacy as exemplary values.

Character, it was indeed necessary to return to selection and participate in the World Cup in Japan, last fall, with only seven matches played in 2019 in Top 14. The big brown 2 meters tall and 113 kilos came back from far, far away.

In November 2014, at only 21 years old, Ollivon experienced his first two selections in Blue, a year after having hatched with Aviron Bayonnais. "He had this thing of being in the right place at the right time," recalls Jean-Michel Belascain, who trained him in juniors and cadets. "He was sticking to the ball. He felt the game. We could play after him. And he had hands! He was able to shoot 15-20 yards from both sides."

- Two white years -

Rowing relegated in 2015, he went into exile in Toulon to continue his ascent. This was stopped dead by a first serious injury in April 2017, which deprived him of any official match until August 2018. Upon his return, after only two games played, his left shoulder dropped again in training , and makes him fear the worst: the end of his career.

But after almost two white years, he found the light as holder in spring 2019 for the end of the season with Toulon and slipped in extremis in the group of Blues to prepare for the World Cup.

"It was a fight but I didn't think about stopping," said Ollivon, concentrated look, well trimmed beard, who quickly closed the subject without avoiding it. Evidence of a calm but determined personality: "He was not a character," Belascain still remembers. "He was very attentive. He was a real relay for us, coaches."

Called in the shoes of a reservist, the Toulonnais comes out of the preparation match against Scotland (32-3) with the stuff of a holder. Confirmed in the list which leaves for the Japanese archipelago, it is aligned from the start number 7 during the crucial victory against Argentina (23-21).

Against the "Cougars" and against Tonga (23-21) in the pool, as against Wales in the quarter-finals, he played the entire match. Against the Welsh, he even maintains the dream of a qualification in half after a magnificent test, while collective fluidity; test also nominated at the World Rugby Awards 2019 in the category of the most beautiful of the year.

- "Unexpected" -

Despite the cruel defeat (20-19), the World Cup is a promise for a rejuvenated XV of France and, personally, a success for Ollivon.

Before the quarter-final, Charles' father, Jean-Michel, barely believed in his son's journey during a training session open to relatives: "It was unexpected, with all the hassle he endured. is a wonderful story, but only once lived, because during the story there were very complicated moments ", he said for the Federation website.

At 26 years and 11 selections, Ollivon is younger and less experienced than his direct predecessors: in 2016 at the time of his appointment, Guilhem Guirado was 29 years old and 38 selections, Thierry Dusautoir 27 years old and 25 selections in 2009, Lionel Nallet 31 years old and 32 selections in 2008 ...

You have to go back to 1998 to find a younger captain with Raphaël Ibanez, then hooker of 24 years old with only six selections on the clock ... who today participated in choosing Ollivon as new manager of the XV of France.

That year, in a vintage rich in tri-color sports successes, the French team had won the Five Nations Tournament, Grand Slam in the end. What inspire Captain Ollivon? Response from February 2 against the vice-champions of the English world.

© 2020 AFP