Pascal Papé, current manager of Bourgoin, raised the subject of players’ mental health at the microphone of RMC. Without taboo, the former second row and captain of the France team talks about his past with the hope of continuing to make things happen.
It is a testimony which will undoubtedly make it possible to move away from the idealistic vision which persists around what a rugby player should be. Because a rugby player is above all a man, with his strengths and weaknesses. And at a time when the mental health of players is taking on real importance, Pascal Papé, former second row and captain of the France team, once again lifts the veil on this subject which is close to his heart. In 2016, the current manager of Bourgoin published a book called “double game”. He recounts his weaknesses, his moments of doubt and his childhood, which is the trigger for his distress following a serious injury. “It was a France-Italy match. I was captain of the French team. I was proud. Around the 50th minute of play, I took a knee to one of my vertebrae. At that moment – there, I no longer feel my right leg and in the space of 24 hours, I go from captain of the France team to nothing..
At this time (2013), mental health is still a topic “taboo, because when you are mentally ill, you are weak” explains Pascal Papé at the microphone of RMC. This injury and this sudden solitude will, however, bring back old memories. “I was adopted at six months old. My biological mother was a prostitute and had problems with drugs and alcohol. […] I always hid from everyone who I really was. I wanted to be like the others. With this injury, I felt a bit like at the beginning of my life, a worthless person who was going to be of no use. Everything exploded, in rugby, but also personally.”
A dark time
A shock which pushed the former international to think the worst: “I questioned my existence. I came to wonder if I deserved to be there.” In his story, Pascal Papé recalls another night of insomnia: “I took a lot of medication, for my back, for depression too. It all formed a bit of a molotov cocktail. I still see myself as if I were outside my body, as if I was watching the scene, telling myself that The only thing I wanted was to sleep. I wanted to sleep forever. I took everything I needed to sleep..
Old demons who are now behind him thanks to the acceptance of his past: “I accepted my story. I am very happy to see people who identify with what I tell and who are able to take a step forward. It’s worth all the titles in the world” confides Pascal Papé. A past and recent experience which inevitably make mental health a very important subject for the former Stade français player: “this subject has gained importance in recent years. We must realize that a rugby player can have weaknesses. We are like the others. And to perform well on the field, you have to be in good spirits”.
Yes there are addictions but they don’t just happen
The CSBJ manager goes further in his thinking. Asked about recent extra-sporting affairs in the French team as in several clubs in the championship, the former second row thinks that mental health can be a trigger or at least an element to take into account in the balance: “If you’re getting drunk or doing cocaine every chance you get, there’s something wrong. I can’t understand getting drunk. mouth at the slightest opportunity or we can take cocaine after each match I’m sorry but I don’t understand it’s a real scourge today. So, yes there are addictions but they don’t. It doesn’t happen like that. It’s caused by something. It’s a way of escaping from a certain truth. The mental health argument can come into play with what happened recently. rugby, we need to work on the link between addictions and mental health. Personally, I would campaign to make this connection.”.
Morocco
