Rugby (Top 14). “It was one injury too many” for Martin Laveau, forced to end his career at 27

You have had a series of physical problems. How did you feel during this period?

I had some difficult times at Castres where I couldn’t play matches back to back because of repeated injuries. I mostly had muscle injuries that took time. I always came back well, I made the effort to never give up because I know that when I was available, I could have fun on the pitch. It was very frustrating because you don’t help your club much at times like that.

Did having to retire seem inevitable after that Achilles tendon injury?

When I got injured (Editor’s note: the rupture occurred on January 15, 2023 in Edinburgh), I didn’t have…

You have had a series of physical problems. How did you feel during this period?

I spent complicated periods at Castres where I couldn’t keep up the matches because of repeated injuries. I mainly had muscle injuries which took time. I always came back well, I made the effort to never give up because I know that when I was available, I could enjoy myself on the pitch. It was a lot of frustration because you don’t help your club much in those moments.

Did having to retire seem inevitable after that Achilles tendon injury?

When I got injured (Editor’s note: the rupture occurred on January 15, 2023 in Edinburgh), I had not at all imagined having to stop everything. The rehabilitation was complicated, I was not progressing in the right direction. I met several doctors who clearly told me that my career as a professional sportsman could not continue. It was the injury too many.

It’s been almost a month since you announced the end of your career. How have you been feeling since then?

It felt good to announce it even if it wasn’t easy at all. I received a lot of messages, it touched me. I really thank everyone. I don’t think I really realize it yet but I have a lot of things to manage to get into my new life. I think I’ll realize it when my friends start playing the championship again.

What activity will you turn to?

First of all, I’m going to enjoy the time I couldn’t afford with my busy rugby schedule. I’m also starting to think about my future. At the moment, I’m doing a training course. I don’t have a specific idea yet, but I’m motivated to find an exciting job and I want to work. I’m going to stay in Toulouse for a while with my partner (a doctor in Purpan). We’ll return to Bayonne as soon as possible if opportunities allow us to.

You spent as much time in Castres as in Bayonne (six years). What do you remember from this experience in Tarn within a club where you managed to make a place for yourself quite quickly?

In 2018, Christophe Urios gave me the chance to express myself and I played a lot of matches. It was incredible to be able to play with the reigning French champion team. The Castres club can sometimes be criticized by some, but it is a club that exudes the values ​​of rugby. In addition to being very well managed, the players and supporters are really close. A bit like the values ​​of amateur rugby. It is a club that plays at the top of the table. I really enjoyed playing with this club with which I identified.

In 2021-2022, you had a great season (13 matches as a starter, 4 tries) but without playing in the final against Montpellier. Is that still a regret?

I had been in the rotation all season. I would have liked to play more but we were all performing well on the wing. Unfortunately for the half and the final, the staff put me 24th. I just did the warm-up. These are choices that I respect but it will remain a big disappointment. In addition, we took a nice beating in the final (29-10). I still have very beautiful memories of it. I was able to discover the Top 14 final phases and the Stade de France. As an enthusiast, it was cool! And then during the season, we finished first in the regular phase. The group will still have marked the history of the club.

As luck would have it, you experienced your last match with Castres in Bayonne, without playing, during the final day of the Top 14 at the beginning of the month (17-28). How did you experience this moment?

I would have preferred to play this match. But ultimately, it was a great weekend personally. The Bayonne club and its president Philippe Tayeb were great: I had a great outing. The fact of entering the stadium and the public chanting my name was a lot of emotion. I wasn’t expecting that. The Bayonne and Castres supporters together were incredible with me and I thank them for that, it will remain engraved! I haven’t seen everything go by, I will have time to think about my career, but I think I left a good image in Bayonne but also in Castres and I find that important. It’s a little pride.

Love of rugby 7s

Youth Olympic rugby sevens champion in 2014 (alongside Alexandre Roumat, Alex Arrate, Arthur Retière and Sacha Valleau), Martin Laveau has always had a passion for the discipline. “This period made me grow. I had several opportunities to play 7. I was tempted but 15 took over and was taking up a lot of my time. This sport is great but you have to devote a lot of time and a lot of preparation to be at the level. As I never wanted to let go of the 15th it was therefore not possible for me. »