At 25 years old and a rugby education very much deep rooted in the south west of England (having played for Bristol and Gloucester), I embarked on a journey to the land of Frogs legs and baguettes to play for the LOU - One of France's oldest clubs in the city of Lyon, at the gateway to the south of France. Three years on I will share with you my experiences on what has been a humbling and awesome challenge, and give my insight into French rugby.
Unfortunately for my LOU teammates and I, our fling in the big league is over. Officially relegated from the TOP14 in what can only be described as a big shame.
After winning France's 2nd tier championship "Pro D2 , a new stadium and a stack full of new signings including World cup winning scrum half Ricky Januarie and all action Argentinean back rower Juan Leguizamon, things had looked promising to say the least. But superstar players, celebrity spectators, and mid season sackings (our coach got the chop mid season and our fly half captain became head coach. All very Francais) were not enough to save us from relegation. Hopefully the signings of L'Homme des cavernes -the caveman- Sebastian Chabal and his Racing metro team mate Lionell Nallet will help the team bounce back next season and no doubt keeps bums on seats.
What has made things even more frustrating on personal note is that I've been largely out of action this season with injury; sitting in the stands has not been good for my hairline. So with Lyon's fate sealed to be playing back in ProD2 next season, it looks like Brive will be dropping down with us after losing at home to Bordeaux at the weekend ¦unless of course they can pull of a miracle and get a bonus point win at the mighty Clermont. Not looking promising!
What I find equally exciting as the pending last few games of the season, is what happens behind management office doors at this time of year. It is this time of year that the clubs do their recruiting and negotiations. I can almost hear the simultaneous slapping of agents lips as we speak. With huge stars already plying their trade in France, it's always exciting waiting to see which Galacticos will be packing their bags and moving to France.
This year it has even more significance to me as my contract at Lyon runs out at the end of the season. It's always a funny time for a professional rugby player as your life can literally turn on its head in a matter of a few phone calls. For example like when I signed for Lyon. After landing at Heathrow Airport after a relaxing 10 day break in the south of Spain, I turned my phone on to receive a message from my agent telling me that Lyon had made me an offer and would I be interested. Two days later I flew to Lyon to meet the coach and have my medical, and as Sunday drew to a close I had moved to Lyon ready for training in the morning ¦all in a matter of days. As excited as I was, I was heading to a new team, in a new city, in a country, I begun wishing that I had studied French instead of German for my GCSE's. ¦.So you can see - this time of year can be slightly unnerving, but equally exciting, as you await to find out where you are going to be calling home next season ¦.
¦.So after three seasons of playing for Le LOU, a new language learned and a truckload of memories, the big question is where will I be running down the wing next season? Will it be in here in France, back in the UK or in some other part of the world? My next move is out of my control now, and in the hands of the agents!
