- Rugby found Jimmy Marlu: “I no longer have professional activity”

From the grass to the parquet, from the posts to the basket, there is only one hook or one dribble. Rhythmized during more than ten years of career in rugby, the daily life of Jimmy Marlu is energized today by basketball. At 47, the former professional rugby player passed through notably Clermont and Biarritz Olympique is involved in the club Joan of Arc of Biarritz (JAB). No as a player! Since 2018, he has served as president of the basketball section of this multi-sports association.

At the origin of this commitment, his two daughters Noa and Mila. It all started in 2012. “I coached my children in basketball for several years. As a parent, I helped out at the club. Today, I am no longer a coach but I take care of the management of the club and I particularly support the seniors who have achieved great things over the last three years: a rise to Regional 3 with a title and an accession to the Regional 2,” the JAB leader proudly points out.

Marlu, a galactic from Biarritz Olympique

Beyond the courts, Jimmy Marlu still maintained an investment in rugby within his former club Biarritz Olympique. First as an educator at the rugby school, then by occupying a place in the office of the club’s amateur section alongside his former teammates like David Couzinet, Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvili. Complicated years for Aguiléra.

“Like everyone, I experienced these moments very badly. The understanding with the professionals was not healthy. There were tensions. It’s a shame. In addition, the children suffered the consequences,” regrets Jimmy Marlu who, like his galactic friends, resigned from the office at the end of 2023.

With the changes at the head of the BO taking place at the end of this 2023-2024 season, Jimmy Marlu assures us: “Personally, I will not commit anywhere. I’m going to take a break from the soundtrack even though Shaun Hegarty is a friend. If he needs me, obviously we can sit around a table to discuss,” admits the former double French champion winger.

In professional reconversion

Along with his associative activities as a volunteer, Jimmy Marlu worked as a goods dealer. But the difficult situation in this sector is pushing the former rugby player to currently think about his professional future.

“At the moment, I no longer have any activity. After my rugby career, I got into real estate. I was a property dealer associated with a friend. We opened real estate agencies in Biarritz and Anglet. With the crisis in the market, I preferred to stop my agency activity at the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022,” explains the Biarrot who first began his retraining in communication thanks to a meeting in his last club: Union Bordeaux- Bègles.

“When I arrived at UBB, I met Patrick Laporte, the three-quarter coach. He is at the head of a communication network through textile objects. He invited me to discover this activity and accompanied me. Before the end of my career, I created my company Marlu Diffusion in this field and joined its network. »

An end to his career forced by serial injuries

While preparing for his career change, Jimmy Marlu knew the end of his career was near. At the end of the 2008-2009 season at UBB, the native of Martinique was only 32 years old.

“I didn’t plan to stop my career right away. My adventure in Bordeaux-Bègles unfortunately ended with a neck operation after partial paralysis. From there, I decided to stop in the face of all the injuries,” confides the player trained in Massy who joined Clermont in 1996.

French Champion with Biarritz in 2005 and 2006

Before his arrival at UBB, this formidable winger experienced ups and downs at Olympic Biarritz. First the good years of the red and white club from the Basque Country with two French championship titles in 2005 and 2006.

Seasons where Jimmy Marlu did not play the final stages. “In 2005, I was going to become the best try scorer of the season. But I injured my Achilles tendon during the last few days. I was overtaken by Caucaunibuca who scored one more try,” remembers the serial scorer from Biarrots.

“I was in good shape at the Olympic Biarritz until this injury which led to complications. I caught Staphylococcus aureus in the hospital, which really damaged my left leg. I fought to come back. Coming back, I had a triple fracture of my fibula. »

Former winger for Olympic Biarritz and the XV of France

Player of Clermont until 2003, destiny brought Jimmy Marlu to the Basque Country. Or rather his family! No need for an agent when you have a wife to determine her sporting future. Faced with several proposals, the Clermontois at the time had an original way of choosing his rugby destiny.

“I asked my partner where she wanted to go. As she is from Mont-de-Marsan, the closest for her was Olympic Biarritz. I went there to please him,” smiles the winger with 4 selections with the XV of France.

And what selections with the Blues! In the group for the World Cup in 1999 during which he did not play any matches, Jimmy Marlu also participated in the Grand Slam of the 2002 6 Nations Tournament. A record completed by a junior title with Massy and a European shield won with Clermont in 1999.

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