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'Fantastic competitor' Vito hints he will 'probably' soon retire
By Liam Heagney
Double All Blacks World Cup winner Victor Vito has suggested he is poised to retire from playing at the age of 35. Capped on 33 occasions by his country, including ten appearances at the 2011 and 2015 finals, the back-rower is nearing the end of his sixth season in France with La Rochelle where he is held in the highest regard.
However, that admired reputation might not be enough for him to extend his time at the ambitious Top 14 club he joined in 2016 following eight Super Rugby seasons with the Hurricanes.
Following the progress of La Rochelle to the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup, where their aggregate win over Bordeaux has now earned them a home tie versus Montpellier, the club held its monthly player interview media session on Tuesday where it was revealed by Vito that he is contemplating hanging up his boots.
Suggesting that he will "probably stop his career", Vito explained to French media: "I want to help my wife more to raise our three children."
It was earlier this month when new La Rochelle assistant coach Donnacha Ryan, the ex-Ireland second row, outlined to RugbyPass the favourable impression Vito, one of the club's co-captains, had made on him during his transition from player to coach following his own retirement last summer from playing at Racing 92.
“Such a fantastic guy, a great player, always training looking to get better, always wants to help out guys," said Ryan. “It’s really fantastic to see a guy work like that and it’s pleasing as well because you know guys back in Ireland are doing pretty much the same thing as he does and he has won two World Cups.
"So it’s great to know that Ireland has come a long way and great that a world-class guy has come over and has kept his good behaviours from when he was a young guy. A big thing is you can come over to France and take it easy, but you have to be ambitious and if it’s in your DNA that’s it – he’s a fantastic competitor.”
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Latest Comments
Don't think you've watched enough. I'll take him over anything I's seen so far. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
Go to commentsHopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
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