RUGBY. “I didn’t even know if I was going to play again”, the winning return of MHR center Geoffrey Doumayrou

Successful return for Geoffrey Doumayrou with the MHR after a nightmare year in 2023. Midi Libre – JEAN MICHEL MART

Montpellier center Geoffrey Doumayrou made his return as a starter in the Montpellier attack line. And it was felt, as the 34-year-old seemed to bring bonding and serenity against Toulon (27-17) this Sunday, January 7.

He stamps his feet, raises his arms, slips a few words of annoyance to the fourth referee, as if to challenge a few decisions. Geoffrey Doumayrou left the field after 62 minutes of battle against the Toulonnais but he experienced the match as if he were still on the pitch. "He's like that, he has to be chewing on something", smiles his coach Patrice Collazo, who also trained him at Stade Rochelais between 2017 and 2018.

Also read: Top 14: the MHR achieves a valuable success against Toulon and relaunches itself in the race to maintain

After almost an entire year of taking care of his brakes, the fault of a bad knee (rupture of the cruciate ligament in January) and tired calves, "Doum" can finally take care of his opponents on the meadow. From his teammates too. Against the RCT, in addition to an excellent performance, we saw him communicate at every moment, positioning the guys. Always with a very sure, serene tone. What this team lacked.

"I's been having a tough time mentally"

This tone is also sometimes surly, often giving him the air of being in a bad mood. "I have a temper. I challenge the guys, the coaches. Some see it negatively. Those who know me know that it’s to perform,” he declared in a post-match press conference on Sunday evening. 

The 34-year-old bearded man is back. His character and his aura have not been impacted by the struggles of 2023. "I am a competitor. When things are not going well, you have to know how to say them and hear them. When it's good, too. I am hard on myself before I am hard on others. I'm almost finished with this, maybe it's time for it to end. The guys can't stand me anymore, slipping, smiling, international with 13 selections.

2024 presents itself as a final challenge for him. There is no question of reliving last year. "2023 is to be forgotten. I had difficult times mentally. I didn't even know if I was going to play again. And then seeing the club, my club, in this situation, I can't stand. I will savor the victory (against Toulon), concentrate on the sequence of matches and we will see then. Even if I had a few cramps at the end, he assures, always with a touch of humor.

Also read: "Our benchmark match", "we're going to scare other teams"… reactions after MHR's victory against Toulon

Doumayrou has therefore become a rugby player again. To the great pleasure of this team, which finds one of its leaders in the middle of the field. His association with Jan Serfontein took its toll on Sunday evening. If the father of the three-quarters manages to continue, the MHR gains a leader in Fulgence Ouedraogo, Benoît Paillaugue or Guilhem Guirado, now retired.

A final challenge for the one who started at the Pic Saint-Loup rugby school. Before joining the club, as did Paillaugue (hopeful coach) and "Fufu" (ambassador) ? This was the project under Jean-Baptiste Elissalde. "We'll see what happens next”, said the person concerned on Sunday evening. To be continued.