Retirement of Geoffrey Doumayrou: “I had offers, but I want to turn the page”

Geoffrey Doumayrou, 34 ans, va tirer sa révérence au GGL Stadium ce samedi 1er juin. Midi Libre – JEAN MICHEL MART

MHR center Geoffrey Doumayrou will play his last match at GGL Stadium this Saturday June 1 against Lyon (25th day of Top 14).

Geoffrey, can we say that you are going to celebrate your jubilee in Montpellier this Saturday ?

(Smile) Yes, normally. This will be my last match here. It's been on my mind for a while now. With all the worries I've had for quite some time, I thought I was going to move on to side. I hope to participate in this match to have a little fun at the GGL one last time, and to thank the public for what they gave me.

You returned to the club three years ago. But you have often been hampered by injuries. Are you frustrated ?

That's the least I can say. The first year, very good, despite a somewhat particular problem. The following year was complicated with my cruciate (rupture of the cruciate knee ligament in January 2023). And this season, I had a lot of muscular problems, perhaps due to age (smile). But it reassured me in my idea of ​​stopping, of not doing another year. There, I know it’s the end.

Did you hesitate to pursue your career ?

I had some offers. Here, I was waiting to see how the season would go, given the year I had before. In the end, it was complicated this year too. There, I no longer have any hesitation. I know that I want to turn the page, move on to something else, do other sports on the side, enjoy my children without paying attention to what I have to do.

"The club's difficulties are largely due to the players"

Since your return, the club has been on a roller coaster ride. A title, a year of transition, a roadblock to come… How did you experience it??

I went to a club where I experienced worse than that. Stade Français is a club where you have to hang on. There was this story of absorption (with Racing 92, in 2017). We held demonstrations at the NRL headquarters and we trained at the same time. I was somewhat prepared for turbulent years.

In terms of results, for two years, it’s not great. There are passages like that. We must make do. Above all, we, on the pitch, must stick together too. The club's difficulties are largely due to the players, to our results on the pitch. Everyone became aware of it. That’s the first thing we said.

Afterwards, these are sporting years. That’s how it is. Sometimes things don't go the way we want.

The group looked very marked after the match against Toulouse (22-29 defeat). Have you taken more charge of yourself ?

No more than usual. We talked, but not more than usual.

You were surely imagining a final outing in a less tense context…

Let's say that I have never played a play-off in my career. But the fact is there. And that gives me even more motivation to participate and perform in these matches.

At least you will have experienced everything with Montpellier.

Yeah, I think it won't be bad. Let's say that I would have preferred to play in the final phases. There are some who have finished with titles at the club.  Me, I will end up with a play-off. That’s how it is. We don't choose.

The important thing is to finish in good health anyway. And above all, we keep this club in Top 14.

How do you rate this season ?

It’s a bad year sportingly. Like the others where we don't qualify. Whether you finish 7th, 12th or 13th while staying on a jump-off, it’s the same thing. This is my philosophy.

You are from Montpellier, you grew up here. How much does this situation impact you??

I'm not going to tell you that it doesn't affect me. These are things that affect me and bother me. Afterwards, I also think that it’s in moments where we also see the character of each man.

And there, our backs are against the wall. There is this ax in three weeks. We must show the character we have deep within us, that we come together.

Everyone must also look at themselves in the mirror in the morning and tell themselves what I am doing as much as I can. And then, we will be able to maintain this club if everyone does their best.

Bio express

– Né on September 16, 1989 à Montpellier.
– Height : 1.86m.
– Weight : 95 kg.
– Clubs : Montpellier (2008-2012), Stade Français (2012-2017), Stade Rochelais (2017-2021), Montpellier ( since 2021).
– Palmarès : Top 14 (2015 with Stade Français, 2022 with Montpellier), Challenge (2017 with Stade Fran& ;ccedil;ais).
– Selections: 13.