Paris (AFP)
"A little special end clap that will leave a bitter and unfinished taste". International winger Vincent Rattez said goodbye to La Rochelle club and its supporters on Tuesday as the 2019-2020 rugby season is over.
Tuesday's government announcements ended the current Top 14 season, frozen since March 13, and Rattez (28, 5 caps) will join Montpellier this summer. The former Narbonnais will therefore no longer wear the jersey of the maritime club, which he had joined in 2015.
"Thank you to the supporters for your unfailing support in good and bad times, you are truly a magnificent audience. I really enjoyed myself!", Posted the player on his Instagram account.
"Thank you to your friends for making these four years a crazy game of fun, I will miss you even if we have not finished closing the season in our own way, we have a jubilee to celebrate!", Added the one who had reached the final of the 2019 European Challenge.
In 98 La Rochelle games, Rattez registered 27 tries and played in two Top 14 semi-finals.
Wounded against Italy, during the second match of the Six Nations Tournament, the neo-Montpellier had been operated on in mid-February for a fracture of the fibula. He was due to return to the field in May, after three months of rehabilitation.
The Prime Minister's announcements on Tuesday showered the last hopes of those hoping to see rugby again this summer: "events that bring together more than 5,000 participants" will not be able to be held before September, "said Edouard Philippe.
Meeting at the end of the afternoon on Wednesday, the presidents of Top 14 and Pro D2 should take another step towards formalizing the stoppage of the 2019-2020 season.
© 2020 AFP