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'The world is my oyster': Exeter's Don Armand confirms retirement
Don Armand is to retire from playing at the end of his ninth season at Exeter following his move to England from the Stormers in 2013. The 33-year-old has managed 197 appearances for Rob Baxter’s team but the Zimbabwean-born forward is now set to hang up his boots to focus on family life and business.
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“I have had a while to think about it because it wasn’t an easy decision,” explained Armand about calling it quits at Exeter and on his career as a rugby player which featured two England caps. “Having done that, I know this is the right thing for me and my family. Bringing to an end a lifetime of rugby does fill me with sadness but equally, I go away with so many happy memories.
“There is no doubt playing the game has made me a way better person than if I went down another route in life. I have had so many valuable life lessons, all of which have influenced me as a person, and it’s those lessons I will use for the next chapter in my life.
“It has been out of this world,” added Armand about his time at Exeter. “Someone said to me before I arrived, it will be the best club other than my uni that I could come to and they were spot on. I do call that person the Oracle and they were spot on.
“In terms of community, supporters, the club in general, the people within the club, it fit right into the mould that I was used to and thrived in back in South Africa. I’m super grateful for the club allowing me to wear the badge, represent them on the field and, hopefully, I have been able to carry forward all that passion in my performances.
“Exeter is home for us. I always wanted to make sure I settled roots for my family. It’s an important aspect of anyone’s upbringing, so I am very grateful that we get to settle down the road because there are so many exciting things happening there. I am glad that we are able to stay so close to something which has been my life and my family’s life.
“The world is my oyster. First and foremost, I want to continue developing myself. Obviously, I have the GAS brand, the Gaming Athlete, which I want to expand further. I want to take that next step forward and be brave in the gaming world. Health and wellness around this area, it’s hugely important.
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“I want to enjoy being part of that more and getting my head around it all. It’s like starting U9s rugby, though, you have to learn those basic skills first. Luckily, I have some amazing people around me who will help me grow in that respect and they will give me those wise learnings from their own experiences.
“Also, my wife has a business which I hope to help with, and we hire out a swimming pool, which I think is lovely! Whatever the future is bright and I’m looking forward to it.”
A wrist injury means Armand won’t play again for Exeter before he retires in two months’ time. “We still have a lot to play for and memories to make. It’s exciting, even though I won’t actually be on the field. I want to make sure I’m connecting properly with those players each day, getting them ready and helping them as much as I can. For me, I don’t want to look back and think I was sad for those last two months, I want to be involved, I want to play my part.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments