Bayonne (AFP)
The Australian center of Bayonne Izaia Perese, plagued by depression problems, was authorized by his club to return to his country for treatment, we learned on Monday from the Basque club.
The 23-year-old, former Brisbane Broncos (Rugby Union), arrived in Bayonne this summer.
But his tenure on the Basque coast had started badly with a sprained knee contracted on the second day.
Single father of a little girl back in the country, Perese had asked to carry out part of his convalescence in his country, which his club had accepted.
Back in France, he had three matches between the end of November and the beginning of December before being hospitalized on December 6 in the morning following a massive absorption of drugs the day after his last appearance on a field against Toulouse (20-24) .
Perese had since been on sick leave and psychologically monitored.
Despite his contract running until June 2022, his return to Australia could be final according to South West, who indicated that the player would have said goodbye to his teammates via their common messaging group.
Before joining Rowing, Perese had dealt with the justice of his country last spring after being arrested in possession of drugs in February and charged with trafficking of illegal substances.
Sacked by the Broncos and then released on bail, he had finally benefited from the leniency of the Queensland justice, which had lifted the legal proceedings to allow him to leave Australian territory.
© 2020 AFP