Ah, Toulon-Bayonne. A necessarily special meeting for Anthony Étrillard. Born and trained on the banks of the Nive, the international (3 caps) has only known two professional clubs in his career. Landing on the harbor in 2015, the Basque retired from sport last June. Hampered by a nasty Achilles tendon injury since February 2023, he has never managed to really come back. Forced to say “stop”, he has discovered, for five months, the life of a retiree.
Newly married, Anthony Étrillard now benefits, at 31, from his little family. If he intends to return one of these four to the heart of the Basque country, the hooker is still on the side of Carqueiranne. We don't leave the region like that. Meeting with one of the best-known mullets in the Top 14.
At the beginning of July, you announced your retirement from sports. Five months later, what has changed in your life?
The main change is that I didn't start the season again (laughs). I admit that at first it still feels a little weird. Afterwards, I had a very busy summer. I got married in July in the Basque country, I had a lot of things to manage, and the children started school quickly.
How do you manage this transition when you have dedicated your whole life to rugby?
Of course, everyday life changes. I've always been used to the months of July and August being a bit… delicate. It's the offseason, it's hard, it's intense. There, I have a lot more time (laughs). I enjoy good things, the beach, family, friends… it's different. But it's like all good things: you get used to it quickly (smile).
And at the same time, it's also the first summer where you didn't have to pay attention to weight, do prep work… It's also a way to decompress, right?
Ah, clearly. Even though in the offseason before, I was already injured, I was still in it. You can't let yourself go that much. But I'm still a little careful, eh! I'm not totally freewheeling (laughs). I simply put a little less constraints on myself.
Do you keep the motivation to train and maintain yourself?
Yes. Sport remains a third of my life. So stopping overnight is not my philosophy. And what's more, I don't want to become a noodle dish (laughs). The advantage is that now I can only do what pleases me (smile). I run a little and above all, I continue with physiotherapy to try to treat my heel. Anyway for my injury I have to exercise. Without putting too much strain on it or letting it rest too much so that it doesn't get complicated as soon as I make an effort. It's a balance to find.
Have you taken any exams since your career break? Are you still being followed?
Of course. Unfortunately, just because I stopped playing rugby doesn't mean my injury has gone away. I am still in care. I had a test recently, so yes it's better, but there's always a little thing. It will be part of the rest of my life, that's how it is.
Has the pain lessened?
It's still getting better. Obviously, by stopping the intensity of training and rugby, the pain decreases. Afterwards, honestly, I feel that I cannot string together two big sessions. When I go for a run to get back into athletics, I can see that the next day it's more complicated. That I lack strength. For everyday life, it will do it. For my future work, I think it will still bother me a little.
Exactly, you are approaching your future work. Have you ever thought about your career change?
Yes, it's accelerating! Everything is not yet 100% defined but I have a project in mind. I hope it goes to the end but I prefer not to comment too much for the moment. It will be a business in the region. Suspense (laughs).
Since your career ended, what do you miss the most?
The adrenaline of matches. Everything that concerns training, I reassure you, it's okay, you quickly get used to not going (laughs). But on the other hand, I miss the day of the match, the pressure, the result, the fight. And then, when I watch TV, I tell myself that I'm still happy in front of my TV (smile).
Now retired, how is Anthony Étrillard keeping busy?
I have a house, so I always have things to do (laughs). I'm tinkering! Otherwise, I take my children to school, I go pick them up, I enjoy. When you're athletic, this is less the case. Even though I had been injured for a while, my weekends are different. When you're in a career, you're always in the flow. But when you do this job, you know, it's part of the game. Once you've stopped, family life is very pleasant to discover or rediscover. In any case, as far as I am concerned, I am very happy.
You confided in our columns in July that you had thought long and hard about your sporting retirement. Five months later, no regrets?
Honestly, none. The hardest part was making the decision. I still had two years of contract at the RCT. Afterwards, I knew that I was more at the end than at the beginning of my career. My injury sped things up a bit, but once I made up my mind, it was pretty easy. I had my family, my children, I knew what awaited me and I was also happy to make the switch.
Have you returned to Mayol since the start of the season? If so, is it weird?
Yes, I went to see them against Castres. Afterwards, to be honest, it had been a year and a half that unfortunately, I had been watching the matches in the stands… so that doesn't fundamentally change. But my children like going to Mayol and for me, it is with great pleasure. So no, not weird. Besides, I will be there facing Bayonne (smile).
And then, will you be for Toulon or Bayonne?
Ah, that! We'll see. For the better (laughs).
These two clubs represent a big part of your life…
Clearly. Toulon, for me it’s… Toulon, that’s it. This is the biggest part of my professional career. A legendary club. And Bayonne is the club of my childhood. Since I was little, I have been going to see them play and they are the ones who took me to the highest level. It's always a little nostalgic to see them again. It makes me remember good memories but it necessarily remains a special meeting.
Would you have liked to complete the loop in Bayonne?
It would have been pleasant but I had two years of contract left in Toulon. So why not, but if it was loop for loop's sake, not necessarily in good shape, no. Of course, for the story, it would have been cool to finish in Bayonne but in rugby, you don't control everything. Now I've moved on!
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