Machenaud sends defiant message as fears mount after heartbreaking scenes

Bayonne scrum-half Maxime Machenaud will learn the full extent of his knee injury today, but has vowed to return despite now being the age of 36.

The former France scrum-half left the Stade du Hameau pitch in tears on Saturday following a knee injury in the final quarter of his side’s 47-24 defeat to Pau. He had been on the field for a little over 10 minutes before he was helped to the sidelines again.

Not only did the defeat displace Bayonne at the Top 14 standings, with Pau taking their place, but it looked to be a damaging blow in the twilight of Machenaud’s career.

Further heartbreaking changing room scenes suggested Machenaud knew he had fallen victim to a serious injury, but he took to Instagram on Monday to share a defiant message.

Alongside an image of his knee in a brace, the 38-cap France international, whose last outing for Les Bleus came in the 2019 World Cup, vowed that he would come back stronger from the injury.

 

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“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the outpouring of support I’ve received,” the scrum-half wrote (translated by Google). “Your messages, your kindness, and your energy have touched me deeply—it gives me even more strength.

“The medical verdict will arrive tomorrow, perhaps with some good news, but one thing won’t change: my determination. No matter the injury, no matter how long it takes, I will come back. Stronger, and still with the same passion. And always ready to fight for that jersey.”

Bayonne are yet to reveal the extent of the injury, but it seems highly unlikely that Machenaud, who turns 37 in December, will feature this weekend, when the Basque club will look to bounce back from defeat when they host ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Parc des Sports Jean Dauger.