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Portuguese World Cup hero comes out of retirement to join struggling French club
By Josh Raisey
Former Portugal hooker Mike Tadjer has come out of retirement to join his boyhood club Massy in France.
Despite representing Os Lobos, the 34-year-old was born in Massy, and represented the club earlier in his career. Though the World Cup was supposed to be a swansong for the former Perpignan No2, he has been drawn back to rugby just weeks later to help Massy, who are languishing near the foot of the Nationale- the third division in French rugby.
Tadjer will be available for them from this weekend, where he could play his first match since Portugal secured their first ever win at the World Cup with a last gasp victory over Fiji, where Tadjer said he could "die tomorrow".
The 34-cap international had a standout World Cup, which culminated in that win (as well as a draw with Georgia earlier in the tournament). Following the 24-23 triumph in Toulouse, he said: "Obviously I can die tomorrow. It's going to be an awesome day for me. I have retired after this World Cup, to finish like that it is unbelievable for me.
"Some are amateur in Portugal, some are professional in France. For four years we built [towards] this and today we are happy to win this game.
"I hope we continue to work in a good way for the next generation."
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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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