Par Maxime Guy
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Facundo Isa is today one of the key players in the squad of Toulon. The Argentinian third line (29 years old; 42 caps) was Christian Califano’s guest on the show Because Toulon. He took the opportunity to mention his departure from the RCT in 2014 (before his comeback in 2017), performing with his idol Sergio Parissebut also the privileged moment lived with the legend of football Diego Maradona who set fire to the Pumas locker room during the 2015 World Cup.
“With Fernández Lobbe and Armitage, it was hard to find a place”
Indisputable holder in the third line, the Toulonnais Facundo Isa took time before winning in the Var. It must be said that during his first visit to La Rade in 2013-2014, there was a very good third row. Chris Masoe, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe or Stephen Armitage were present. A difficulty for Facundo Isa, then just 19 years old.
There were some nice people in the third row. It was hard to get a starting spot with Fernández Lobbe and Armitage. I needed to have more rhythm of play. Then the Pumas did not select players who played abroad. This had a huge impact on my departure from Toulon in 2014.
Facundo Isa only played 10 short minutes during the 5e Top 14 day against Castres. A low playing time, but a Toulon experience which was beneficial to him around many stars: “Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Jonny Wilkinson helped me after training. They trained me. It brought me a lot for the rest of my career, ”explains the person who left Toulon to return to Argentina…
His fiery meeting with Diego Maradona
Facundo Isa made the decision to leave the Var to return to the country and he took it well, since the third line was retained by Argentina to play the 2015 World Cup, England and Wales. A competition during which Facundo Isa was marked by an unforgettable visit to the Pumas locker room, after the victory against Tonga (45-16).
Indeed, the ex-legend of Argentine and world football Diego Maradona had visited the Argentinian rugby players in the locker room of Leicester. An unforgettable memory for Facundo Isa: “Maradona was a fervent supporter of Pumas. We were lucky to have him in the locker room and to dance with him. It’s an unforgettable moment. That was too cool ! “, remembers the third line Toulon.
“When I was young, I watched Parisse compilations on YouTube”
After participating in the 2015 World Cup with Argentina and playing a season with the Jaguares in Super Rugby, Facundo Isa finally decided to return to France, signing for Lyon. The third line played 7 games with LOU, before being tracked by… his former club, Toulon. From the 2017-2018 season, the Argentinian was back in the Red and Black jersey where he chained the big performances which quickly propelled him as an indisputable holder of the RCT.
During the 2019-2020 season, his personal dream even came true, namely to play in the same jersey as his lifelong idol, the Italian Sergio Parisse.
I always wanted to do the same as Sergio. When I saw that he was going to sign in Toulon, I was shocked. He is a player that I admire. I even watched compilations (highlights) of him on YouTube when I was young.
Today, Facundo Isa is more fulfilled than ever in Toulon, where he is one of the spearheads and where he intends to realize one of his most precious dreams: “winning the Top 14 with the RCT!” “. Quite a challenge!
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