It was the transfer of the summer to a French stadium which wanted a recruitment “with a little less bling-bling”, according to its sports director Gonzalo Quesada. Morgan Parra, 33, 71 caps and two French championship titles with Clermont, is the new leader of a Parisian club that lacked it. And, for his very first official match in his new colors, the international scrum half faces… Clermont, this Saturday (5 p.m.) for the first day of the Top 14.
A necessarily special shock for Parra who spent thirteen seasons in Auvergne. Two days before the match, his new teammates and his coach came back to the integration of this great name in French rugby. Another Parisian rookie, the third line from Pau Giovanni Habel-Kuffner first had a thought for his scrum half when talking about Saturday’s match. “Playing his first game against his old team… It’s going to be a big afternoon for him,” said the Samoan. I’m happy to be behind him for this particular moment. »
His coach also recognizes that this first match will be special for Parra. “Like us, he would have preferred this match to come a little later,” Quesada breathes. But hey, maybe it’s also good to do it now, like that, it’s done. »
“He did the whole preseason like the 20-year-olds”
The Argentinian sporting director is in any case delighted with the contribution of Morgan Parra from this preseason. “Morgan I adore him,” says Quesada. We have a very close relationship, we’ve known each other since he was 18, we know each other by heart. I’m glad he’s coming, he really has a lot of experience. I’m super surprised, in a good way, how hungry he is. I would have thought it logical that he had a slightly adapted workload, but he did the whole preseason as hard as the 20-year-olds. Morgan breathes something interesting. »
Center three-quarter Alex Arrate confirms. “Morgan is a very great player, with a very great career. It’s great what he brings us on a daily basis. He has a lot of experience, you can even feel it in training. His voice carries a lot, we want to be behind him. The Parra effect will be one to watch from the first match on Saturday at Jean-Bouin.