Injured during the tour this fall, the right pillar of Aviron Bayonnais, Tevita Tatafu, plans to resume the collective this week with his club. He will then apply for the Gloucester reception. Before joining the French team?
It was last fall that Tevita Tatafu (22 years old) took his first steps with the French team, against Japan, during a November evening where the right pillar spent 50 minutes on the pitch . A week later, the Aviron Bayonnais player started again against the All Blacks, but he was forced to leave the pitch after just nine minutes game, hit in the ankle.
Although we have not seen the pillar in action since, his return is now imminent, since he recently resumed individual training. “Physically, he has resumed racing, but it is a style of player who must regain rhythm through play, preciselyindicated his manager Grégory Patat this Tuesday morning. He will resume rugby this afternoon, with touches. He will have some content Thursday morning, he will do “partial”. We will adapt the charges concerning him. I think he needs to retrain, to match, to have timing, before leaving for the international project.”
Patat: “For me, it would be hasty for him to leave directly with the France team”
This weekend, the pillar will also make the trip to Georgia, to accompany his team who faces the Black Lions in the Challenge Cupbut he will not participate in the match, Grégory Patat having decided to play Martin Villar and Pascal Cotet on the right of the scrum. “Tevita will travel with us. He will be extra”explains the technician, who could, on the other hand, give him playing time next week for the Gloucester reception. “If it's possible, I'll include him for Gloucester and I hope I have him for Perpignan. For me, it would be hasty for him to leave directly with the French team, thinks the Gersois. I don't yet have clarity with the French team staff, which I regret.”
He was able to go on vacation for fifteen days
Physically, the pillar seems in good shape, if we are to believe his manager. “He hasn't gained too much weight. assures Patat. He went on vacation for two weeks, because it was the right opportunity, he only had to wear one boot (for his ankle, Editor's note) and we preferred that he be back at the club three weeks after his injury, so that he completes his rehabilitation and reathletics program. He has since worked on the sidelines of the group and quickly recovered from his ankle. However, since he was injured six weeks ago, I haven't seen him in rugby.”
Before getting injured, Tatafu had had a solid start to the season with Aviron Bayonnais, in line with the previous year. Arriving on the banks of Nive in 2020, the pillar quickly established himself as the number one on the right of the Basque scrum. “Rowing is lucky to have a nugget in its hands. I think we can support him with very high standards.”Grégory Patat said about him in November 2023. He has since become international and could soon experience his first 6 Nations tournament.
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