Still suffering from migraines after his last concussion, the third line in Paris announced to Midi Olympique that “his head and his body said stop».
A legend of Stade Français bows out. Antoine Burban, 35 years old in July, announced in the columns of Midi Olympique that he was hanging up his crampons. A page of Parisian history will turn on Sunday evening in Jean-Bouin when the public will greet the third line, in civilian clothes. Because “The Burbe“, trained at the PUC, it is sixteen seasons of loyalty to the lightning jersey, 257 matches played (including 195 as a holder) and a record in Paris: champion of France in 2007 and 2015, a Challenge Cup in 2017.
The end was near, we knew it. But Antoine Burban, at the end of the contract on June 30, hesitated to extend a final season. “Throughout the first half of the season, I wanted to continue for another year. I felt good, I was not too bothered by the physical glitches…The trend until March 26. The day he decided, he confides to Midi Olympique. “It was just before the game against UBB. We were on an internship in Saint-Tropez. I had back pain that was hard to bear. I took that as a message from my body. And then, in this match against Bordeaux, I took a K.-O. on the first action. Fifteen seconds later, I felt a rush of juice all over my body. I wasn’t off, but really not well. All this confirmed my choice.»
“I still have pretty strong migraines. During the first weeks, I had memory problems like I had never had. »
Antoine Burban
Especially since he still feels the aftermath of this concussion. “I still have pretty strong migraines. During the first weeks, I had memory problems like I had never had. To the point that I still couldn’t remember what I had done the night before. I sometimes had difficulty reconstructing the thread of my day. I remembered almost everything, but not in chronological order. Even today, I sometimes have trouble organizing my days. But it’s coming back, little by little. I’m not worried because I’m in good hands.»
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But the obvious prevailed. “My body and my head said stop. I would have liked to end my career differently, that’s obvious. But it’s like that…“He will not dispute a 258e and last meeting with Stade Français against Brive on Sunday of the 26e and final day of the Top 14 regular season.”Unfortunately, I will not be in the field. I hope that this last match against Brive will be a great celebration with a packed Jean-Bouin stadium. It’s not going to be easy. My parents, my wife, my children will be there. Many of my friends will also be there. There are bound to be a lot of emotions.A farewell worthy of his legend.