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Jefferson Poirot announces shock retirement from Test rugby at 27

By Ian Cameron
(Photo by YANN COATSALIOU/AFP via Getty Images)

French prop Jefferson Poirot has decided to retire from international rugby at the age of just 27 – in a bizarre move announced in an interview with Le Equippe. Poirot, who has 35 caps to his name and who is highly rated in France, informed French head coach Fabien Galthie in person before giving an exclusive interview to the sports paper, which was published this today. This afternoon the prop took to social media to explain his decision further. “It’s time for me to tell you about the difficult decision I made a few months ago.

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“That I’m taking a step back from this grail that is the France Team, this wonderful team that is so dreaming, that is so hard to reach but that is also sometimes trying,” wrote Poirot.

 

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C’est l’heure pour moi de vous faire part de la décision difficile, que j’ai prise il y a quelques mois. Celle de prendre du recul vis à vis de ce graal qu’est l’Équipe de France, cette équipe merveilleuse qui fait tant rêver, qui est si dure à atteindre mais qui est, aussi, parfois éprouvante. Comme pour beaucoup de joueurs ayant eu la chance de la côtoyer, elle m’a constamment remplie de joie. Après 5 saisons à m’y investir, à participer à cette course contre la montre, j’ai décidé de prendre du recul, pour me consacrer pleinement à d’autres objectifs personnels. Cette décision me permettra de ne plus avoir la sensation d’être, à 50%, sur tous les fronts, et de me recentrer sur un objectif à 100%. L’objectif qui m’obsède de plus en plus de gagner des titres en club, de passer un cap dans ma carrière de joueur, et d’être un Papa à temps complet. Ceux qui ne me connaissent pas seront surpris, peut-être déçus, ceux qui me connaissent pourront comprendre. Mes proches me soutiennent, et cette décision a été murement réfléchie, en aucun cas elle n’est un coup de tête : c’est pour moi la bonne décision. L’homme debout, le père de famille, c’est celui qui prend les bonnes décisions, au bon moment, pour être le plus grand possible. Je souhaite remercier entraineurs, joueurs, bénévoles, dirigeants que j’ai eus l’honneur de croiser ces 5 dernières années en bleu, remercier l’ensemble des acteurs français de la coupe du monde 2019. Point culminant de ma carrière internationale, elle restera à vie gravée en moi. Je souhaite bonne chance à l’Équipe de France pour la suite, je suis persuadé que cette équipe a un avenir radieux. Cette génération exceptionnelle, les moyens mis en place par la fédération et l’encadrement sportif, c’est « la génération France 2023 » ! Je lui souhaite d’être la première Championne du Monde. Le rugby français le mérite, et je suis content d’avoir pu participer, humblement, à toutes les étapes qui lui permettront d’atteindre, je l’espère, ce magnifique objectif. Désormais cantonné au statut de supporter du XV de France, je vous aime ! ??? A bientôt. Jeff Poirot

A post shared by Jefferson Poirot (@jeff_poirot) on

“After 5 seasons to invest in it, to participate in this race against the clock, I decided to take a step back, to devote myself fully to other personal goals.

“This decision will allow me to no longer feel like I am 50% on all fronts, and to focus on a 100% goal. The goal that keeps me obsessing about winning club titles, turning my career in playing, and being a full-time Dad.”

“Those who do not know me will be surprised, perhaps disappointed, those who know me will be able to understand. My loved ones support me, and this decision has been carefully considered, in any case it is not a whim: it is for me the right decision. The upstanding man, the father, is the one who makes the right decisions, at the right time, to be as tall as possible.”

“I would like to thank coaches, players, volunteers, managers that I have had the honor of meeting for the past 5 years in blue, thank all of the French players in the 2019 World Cup.

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“The culmination of my international career, it will remain engraved in me for life.

“I wish the French team good luck for the future, I am convinced that this team has a bright future. This exceptional generation, the means put in place by the federation and the sports management, is “the France 2023 generation”! I wish her to be the first World Champion. French rugby deserves it, and I’m glad to have been able to participate, humbly, in helping to achieve, I hope, this magnificent goal. I am now confined to the status of a supporter of the XV of France.”

Born to a Nigerian father and a French mother, he took up rugby at the age of nine and moved to CA Brive at age 15. He went on to represent France in the U20s, including at the 2012 Junior World Championship, where France finished in sixth place.

The 117kg frontrower made his test debut on 6 February, 2016, in a 23-21 Six Nations triumph over Italy and first captained Les Bleus in the 32-3 victory over Scotland in August, 2019.

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