France star hints at early retirement online in cryptic message

France and Stade Français back-row Sekou Macalou has sparked speculation over his future after posting a cryptic message to his Instagram account on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old, capped 20 times by Les Bleus, wrote: “Time goes by, seasons go by… sometimes a last, sometimes a new. This one will taste unique.”

The post has left fans wondering if Macalou, who covers the back-row and even the wing, could be considering stepping away from the game earlier than expected.

While no official word has come from either the club or the French Rugby Federation, the timing of the message has caused confusion as it could signal an impending retirement, a farewell season at Stade, or simply a reflective note ahead of the new campaign – his 10th with the club after joining from fellow Parisians Massy in 2015.

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Team-mates of the flanker past and present only added to the confusion with the comments made to his post. Fellow France flanker Cameron Woki commented: “Let’s make the most of the last one,” while his Stade Francais team-mate Louis Carbonel wrote: “Have a good last season Sékou.”

Macalou has not featured for France since their 2023 World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of South Africa, featuring from the bench on that occasion. He has continued to be an ever-present member of the Stade Francais squad, coming on from the bench in their recent win over newcomers Montauban in the opening match of the Top 14 season.

Macalou is yet to publicly clarify the meaning behind his words, and with the season so young, it may be a while before we found out whether he will hang up his boots at the end of the campaign or be heading off for a new challenge in the game.

Stade Francais face Pau on Saturday in the second round of the Top 14.