Pau-MHR: All Blacks legend Sam Withelock, the other Pic du Midi, awaits Montpellier at the Hameau stadium

Sam Whitelock a rejoint la Section Paloise cette saison pour une dernier défi de rugbyman. MAXPPP – David Le Deodic

All Black legend, Sam Whitelock settled in Pau at the start of the season. With the Section, he is firmly awaiting the MHR, this Saturday April 20 (5 p.m.) for the 21st day of Top 14.

He took care to wait until April 2 to be certain that it was not an April Fool's joke. Sam Withelock has announced the end of his immense career in a few months, after a final French experience, in Pau, alongside his brother Luke. "I have two obsessions today: finishing my season with Pau at my best level and not spending the year too long", wrote -he at the time of his decision.

15 years of a career which led this kid from Palmerston North, third of a family of four rugby players, to the status of legend of his sport. A career spent almost entirely in his country of the long white cloud, interspersed with a visit to Japan and a trip of a few months to the foot of the Pyrenees. 153 selections, two world titles (2011 and 2015), a bronze medal (2019) and a place as vice-world champion last October in France, have forged the list of the most capped All Black in history .

"Competing has always been part of my life. My four brothers and I are like that, we have always challenged each other", he explained during the presentation of the Challenge at the start of the season.

Michael Jordan for model

The one whose sporting role model is Michaël Jordan (normal when we played in the New Zealand junior basketball team) and admits a particular tenderness for the game of… Former Blacks fullback Christian Cullen has therefore naturally become one of the leaders of his team. "A rugby player must always try to do his job as best as he can. It's easier then to be a leader and to be able to talk to others", he said in an interview at Rugby Pass.

"He is so good at his job, And it’s his passion, for his part testifies ;former coach Ian Forster on New Zealand radio. He has a straight mentality, he wants to win every competition. And he applies that to everything he does. He always had influence even without being captain."

Return home

It’s in Béarn that the giant will end his life as a rugby player. Afterwards, he will return home, on the other side of the world to take care of his three children. But also to take over the destiny of the 850 hectare farm that this son of a farmer owns near Hawkes Bay.

And perhaps, one day, his statue will adorn the entrance to the rugby museum in his birthplace, next to that of Charles Monro, the man who introduced rugby to New Zealand.Montpellier knows what awaits him on Saturday.

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