Amateur Rugby. Joe Tekori played his first match with Blagnac: victory at the end

See my news
Follow Rugby News

Removed from the field since 2022, Joe Tekori put on his crampons again and played his premier match under the colors of Blagnac this weekend, in Federal 1.

Came into play at 50^e minute under an ovation from the Ernest-Argeles public, the colossus, who wore the colors of Castres and Toulouse professionally, brought a lot of power to the Caouecs pack.

Trailing 11-12 when Tekori hit the pitch, the Blagnac players reversed the trend to win very easily against Gruissan 38-12 (without offensive bonus however). It's the 3^e consecutive success for the team managed by Christophe Deylaud.

Ahki, Kaino, Barassi or Graou came to encourage him

Wearing a jersey adorned with No. 26, Joe Tekori, who came to Blagnac “to clear his head” after losing his wife last July and his older brother at the end of September, played in front of his two sons, Owen and Preston, came to encourage him for the occasion.

They weren't the only ones. Indeed, many players from Stade Toulousain, such as Richie Arnold, Pita Ahki, Paul Graou and Pierre-Louis Barassi, but also coach Jerome Kaino, were seen around the pitch.

Tekori in Blagnac “for nothing”

At almost 41 years old (he will celebrate it on December 17), Joe Tekori, also employed at Stade Toulousain as equipment and logistics assistant, has decided to take a license in Blagnac, where he has lived for more than 10 years, because that he also “wanted to give something to the city”.

“Joe is an extraordinary person. He comes for nothing,” emphasized At the time of Rugby co-president Bruno Delpech.

Deylaud: “He comes to have fun”

By mutual agreement with Stade Toulousain, Joe Tekori will only play when his schedule allows it, and this does not impact his missions at Stade Toulousain. “Joe comes to have fun,” Christophe Deylaud told us.

The latter even wanted to be very clear: “I don’t see Joe as a full-fledged player. My leitmotif is the young people of the club and the training, I am not going to go against that. […] Joe doesn’t come as No. 1 to play at all costs.” But having Joe Tekori, even on the bench, still helps a lot…

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.