"It's a real pride to be a native of Montpellier and to be able to represent this club. I don't necessarily realize," he said Thursday at a press conference, not yet knowing that he was only at 80 minutes to lift his first Shield of Brennus at 22, the first for MHR.

Operated on October 20, his recovery should have lasted eight months, and therefore led him until June 20, a few days before the final.

"It is sure that if someone had told me that I could have tasted these final stages, I would not have believed it," he said again on Thursday.

The international with 14 caps explained that he had, just after his injury, "a discussion with Guilhem (Guirado, editor's note): I had set myself the objective of returning next season, in the best conditions, to really take the time ".

Unavoidable

So he took his time, supported by his teammate Benoît Paillaugue, also injured, and who served him "a little hare", as he told this week to the bi-weekly Midi Olympique.

"Afterwards, when you have such a group, which grows every weekend, it really makes you want. We did a lot of work with all the staff and little by little, it became a goal", he said. he explained on Thursday.

Arthur Vincent (d) tries to escape Castres Vilimoni Botitu (c) and Santiago Arata Perrone (bottom), June 24, 2022 at the Stade de France FRANCK FIFE AFP

Recovered earlier than expected, he returned to competition on the 26th and last day of the championship, in Clermont (20-15), against whom he played seventeen minutes.

His performance sufficiently convinced the Montpellier management for him to be established for the semi-final in Nice against Union Bordeaux-Bègles, won 19-10.

This is to say if the staff of Philippe Saint-André, who made him sign his first pro contract this season, was eager to find him.

Since his debut in the Top 14, in October 2017 against Stade Français, the double world champion under 20 has indeed established himself as an essential element of the MHR and the standard bearer of its renewal.

So much so that, shortly after his left knee operation, he had chosen to extend his contract with his training club, thus refusing Toulouse's proposal.

"Slightly Complicated Moments"

For the native of Mauguio (Hérault), a town in the Montpellier conurbation where he discovered rugby at the age of 5, before leaving in U14 at the MHR and never leaving, find the ground in time to play the finals there , so it was "just a bonus".

"It's a real pleasure to find the guys, so it's damn nice," he added Thursday with a smile, like a kid delighted to have made a good joke.

The center of Castres Thomas Combezou (c) tackled by the back of Montpellier Anthony Bouthier (g) in front of Arthur Vincent (d), June 24, 2022 at the Stade de France Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

Especially since his months of convalescence, to live far from his teammates, isolated to treat himself, were "necessarily a little complicated moments", he said modestly.

"The feeling that I had myself, a little outside the group, is that everyone felt concerned, was fully in this project and it was really nice to follow them like that", he said. still entrusted.

Friday evening, in the final, it is he who starts his match "hard" by scoring the first try of the match, following a low kick from Zach Mercer, from the 6th minute.

Six minutes later, he sends his rear Anthony Bouthier to the test, giving him a pass in the back of all beauty.

In the stands, Philippe Saint-André, like a lion in a cage, then exults, in response to them killjoys who had denigrated the game of the finalists: "and that's not good rugby?".

© 2022 AFP