1
The Vakatawa verdict on first game back after ending his retirement
By Liam Heagney
Virimi Vakatawa has given his reaction after playing his first match on Friday night since coming out of retirement. It was September 2022 when the France midfielder announced that he had to retire from playing with immediate effect.
It emerged that the 32-cap Test centre had been banned from playing by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby’s medical committee due to a cardiac issue but after being sidelined for 11 months, he returned to playing at the age of 31 when lining out for Pat Lam’s Barbarians versus Samoa in Brive.
The Baa-Baas lost 14-28 to the Samoans, who are just weeks out from starting their Rugby World Cup campaign with a September 16 clash with Chile in Bordeaux, but Vakatawa was chuffed to get through 55 minutes as a starter in his midfield partnership with Curtis Rona, the former Wallabies centre.
Despite understandably looking a bit off the pace physically following his year out, Vakatawa reportedly showed a couple of nice touches and was given a standing ovation by the Stade Amedee-Domenech when called ashore with the score reading 0-18 with 25 minutes remaining.
Asked how he felt his comeback appearance has gone, Vakatawa told rugbyrama.fr: “Yes, everything went well, thank God. Obviously, we only had a week of preparation while Samoa have been training together for a long time, so it was a bit tough, especially on defence. But overall, I'm happy.”
Vakatawa has previously played for the Barbarians in their June 2022 Twickenham win over England when the invitational side was coached by Fabien Galthie, the France national team boss.
It was Bristol director of rugby Lam who was in charge of the Barbarians on this occasion and he was said to be very satisfied with how Vakatawa’s comeback had gone, adding that he wouldn’t rule out seeing the player again another day.
Having finished up last year with Racing and France, Vakatawa is now a free agent and it will be intriguing to see if he seeks out a professional contract on the back of this return to play with the Barbarians.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
'Damaging' Jordie Barrett move only helps All Blacks- ex-Ireland wing
3
OTD – Declan Kidney takes step up into Test rugby
4
Max Deegan opts to stay at Leinster over Ulster move
5
Latest Comments
It’s not new for nines to be the key playmaker. For the Boks it has been common, with Fourie du Preez and Joost vd Westhuizen being obvious examples. It's also not that recent for nines to be box kicking, covering high balls in the back field, and tackling in the defensive line. For example, Faf de Klerk has been doing all of that for years.
Go to commentsThe hell with this constant regurgitation of what this pretty boy is doing. For all I care he might as well be doing a Jamie Oliver cooking course. Rugby is not a progression toward the NFL, which, given its prominence in your reporting, you appear to regard as the ultimate contact sport. It has virtually nothing to do with rugby, and forever may that remain the case. I know that if I don’t like it I don’t have to read it, but I’m sick of seeing this dishwater-dull nonsense.
Go to comments