MHR: two months after his last appearance in the Top 14, Thomas Darmon has a chance to (re)seize

Thomas Darmon n'a plus joué en Top 14 depuis le 2 décembre dernier. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Le centre du MHR Thomas Darmon, 25 ans, devrait retrouver du temps de jeu en Top 14 ce samedi 17 février contre le Racing 92, deux mois après sa dernière apparition en championnat. 

Sometimes it's like that. A stroke of bad luck and the thread of trust crumbles little by little. Thomas Darmon just had an injury at the wrong time. A small one, a stubborn foot for a fortnight. But enough to fall down the hierarchy in his position and fail to prove himself to the new staff.

An indisputable holder with Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, and even summoned to the group of 42 of the XV of France at the beginning of March 2023, the Montpellier player has taken a back seat with Vincent Etcheto, the coach of the French team. attack on the MHR since the end of November. His last appearance in the Top 14 dates back to December 2 and a tasteless defeat in Bayonne (34-19). Enough to accumulate a bit of frustration for the Héraultais, overused last season with 28 match sheets in all competitions (25 starts, 9 tries).

Also read: MHR-Stade Français: Thomas Darmon, has a new chance to settle in the center

"This injury caused me to miss two matches, at a time when players were coming back and performing. Obviously, when you play less, frustration builds up. The terrain will be the best answer", confides the person concerned, who should be there at Racing this Saturday (5 p.m.).

On contract until 2026

Geoffrey Doumayrou, Jan Serfontein, Arthur Vincent… It's certain that Thomas Darmon's competitors are not names with a “second knife” connotation. The experience of the first two is also a rare commodity in the Montpellier squad. In this troubled period for the club, where maintenance is on everyone's mind, the staff draws on it to reassure a group lacking confidence.

Also read: Montpellier: center Thomas Darmon imitates Arthur Vincent and extends his contract with the MHR

For Darmon, an uncomfortable situation sets in. Faced with reduced playing time, serenity diminishes. And as soon as he is on the pitch, he has to prove. Naturally, the pressure increases. "I've experienced this before. No one ever gave me any gifts. It doesn't scare me. I had a good challenge. I reacted well to all that. I am especially very motivated for the future", he assures, determined.

In these moments of doubt, what should you do ? Discuss with the staff ? Keep quiet and work ? "You have to discuss with coaches, what was done. I know where they are waiting for me. It's up to me to work in their direction, identify what I need to improve. We do it every day huh. But there, I perhaps did it even more", he explains.

This reminder of humility comes in the wake of his extension with Montpellier at the end of September. Courted by several championship teams, notably Clermont, Darmon refused to continue the adventure with his favorite club until 2026. Even if the salary could be more interesting elsewhere . "I signed up for the long term. I have other ambitions and above all I want to get this club out of this shit. We are in an emergency situation", concludes -il.

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