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'How many memories, how many years have passed': Parisse's retirement message
A week after Sergio Parisse bowed out of professional rugby in front of the Stade Mayol in Toulon, the former Italy captain has shared a retirement message on social media.
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The 39-year-old posted a lengthy message on Instagram on Saturday not only thanking those that helped him throughout his career, but recalling the moment rugby became a passion of his.
In his penultimate game as a professional, the 142-cap international lifted the Challenge Cup, scoring in the final against Glasgow Warriors as he did against Gloucester in 2017 when he won the same prize with Stade Francais.
While he wishes he could continue playing, his career had to draw to a close at some point and he has shown a durability and longevity across his 20-year career that few could rival.
“I remember the coach’s first indications: “pass the ball back”… yes, run and advance by passing the ball backwards or at most on the same line,” Parisse wrote. “At the beginning it wasn’t so obvious, but day after day, training after training, it became normal… I stared at the ball as it spun to try to anticipate its direction before it bounced on the ground… so beautiful, what memories!
“If I had to describe the precise moment in which I understood that rugby was not just a pastime but something much bigger, I would say that the answer closest to the truth is when at the age of eight I participated in a tournament with my club… I remember a precise action that triggered something in me that I would carry with me throughout my career: two guys passed the ball running towards the goal area, calm, almost joking, while my teammates watched them from afar without even trying to stop them. So I started running desperately to try to tackle them and not let them score and after a long sprint, when I reached the one who had the ball in his hand, I dived to tackle him from behind, getting a cleat on the face… a lot of nosebleeds came out and after that day, and for all the other games I played until I was 39, I told myself that I wanted to be stronger than the others, I wanted to be the one to have the ball in my hand and run to score the try. God only knows how many other times I’ve lost in my life and how many more I’ve been hurt, but since that day I haven’t let go of the rugby ball, at home, in the garden, at school… I went to the club 2/3 hours before of training to make passes trying to catch targets: the Hs, a flag, a step in the grandstand, even my sister, at home, had to catch the ball that I passed or kicked to her. I had different types of ball, always rugby, some bigger, some smaller, some foam with which I trained to kick drops in the kitchen!
“How many memories, how many years have passed, it really seems that time has flown by, how much I would like to continue playing. I don’t think I will ever be able to explain the feeling that I will have for life for rugby and from that day, 91 to today, 2023, I have always tried to be the best rugby player possible!
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“Thank you dad for playing rugby, thank you mum for taking me to play every week, even with a 39° fever to see my teammates training, or when training was canceled due to the rain and I asked you to take me anyway in case there was any other boy present to make even just two passes… And thanks to my sister, for being my “teammate at home” for so many years. Thanks to every single coach, from the first ones of the Club Universitario de La Plata, to those of the national youth teams, those of Benetton Rugby.
“Thanks to John Kirwan for having believed in me at only 18, making my debut in the senior national team, thanks to Max Guazzini for allowing me to discover Paris and the Stade Français, thanks to Nick Mallet for having entrusted me with the captain’s armband at 24 and thanks to every single coach I had in France and during my 142 appearances in the blue shirt. Thanks to Toulon for adopting me as a “grown up” giving me the chance to win a European trophy at almost 40 years old.
“Thanks to my fans: like you there is no one in the world! Your affection and unconditional support have made successes special and disappointments more bearable. Thank you my love for coming into my life in my darkest moment, making me discover what love was, supporting me in every single moment and giving me two wonderful children who are our greatest pride!
“And last but not least (as Snoop Dog would say) I would like to thank ME! I would like to thank ME for always believing in ME, I would like to thank ME for working harder and harder, making invisible sacrifices for everyone but which made the difference! I would like to thank ME for always being consistent and sincere in every single moment of this long and wonderful life as a rugby player.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to comments