Injured at the end of last season, Romain Lonca (31) will make his return to competition tomorrow evening in Montauban. Expected in a manager and distributor profile, the former UBB fullback, at the end of his contract with the BO, wants to find rhythm and take full advantage of the matches that are coming, before thinking about the follow-up he wishes to give to his career.
Romain Lonca is back. After a 2022-2023 season marked by two pneumothoraxes, then a major dislocation of the shoulder upon his return, in April, in the first action of the match, the rear of the BOPB will finally return to the field, Thursday evening, in Montaubanwhere he will be the last defense of the Basque team. “Last season was complicated for me,” he admits. Now, I hope that everything is behind us and that we will be able to have fun. During this time, I had my first daughter born. It takes a lot of time, and it’s just a joy. This helps put things into perspective. Afterwards, it’s been a while since I played, I’m happy to be back with the team and the group.”
Pendant son absence, the BO (6th) alternated the good and the less good. The Basques, after a third of the championship, are in balance (5 wins, 5 losses), but the former UBB player wants to believe in a rise in power from his partners. “Our offseason was hectic, so the team is rebuilding,” he believes. We have a lot of new players, there have been changes within the club. It’s happening little by little, it takes time. I hope everything will settle down over the coming months.”
Lonca the manager and distributor
Today, Lonca no longer has the legs of his 20 years, but he has a certain experience that makes him valuable in managing hot moments. Joe Jonas (22 years old) and Gervais Cordin (24) have a different profile, more focused on attack, even if they know how to separate things. “Gervais and Joe were very good, he judges. They also manage to judge good and bad balls and sort them. They do it instinctively. The competition is there, they are young, hungry for rugby. We, the oldest, try to be good at the fundamentals to reassure everyone a little. This is the task we have in the team.” However, young and old move forward hand in hand at the BO. “We are old in the legs and young in the head. Everyone discusses, exchanges. There is no clan”continues the Hendayais.
With his versatility (he can occupy all positions, behind, from 10 to 15), Lonca could, like Jonas, leave his usual number fifteen at times to come and insert himself in the line, at the start or during the match. “I have a versatile profile, I can be in distribution, make passes,” he recalls. It’s a good compromise and it’s good for everyone. In training, we rotate, we work in different positions. I was often in the center in Bordeaux. I’ve always enjoyed playing at multiple locations and that won’t change now.”
Stop or still?
For his eleventh season in contact with a professional group, Lonca assures us: the desire remains intact, even if the pain is sometimes more pronounced the day after matches. “Injuries put a stop to things,” he regrets. After the lung injury, it was hard to come back. The arrival of my daughter takes a big place in my daily life. I try to enjoy the matches as much as possible. I thought I would tell you that with age, I was more detached, but in the end, no. I am still as involved, I remain competitive, demanding and sometimes I put pressure on myself.”
At the same time as he sees many of his ex-partners leaving the field for good, Lonca is surprised by the professionalism of the young guard, which is showing up. “She is daring, not afraid to take the plunge, likes to take charge, he greets. These young people evolve quickly, get the hang of things quickly and maintain their passion and enthusiasm. It has to continue like this. Rugby is becoming more and more professional and young people are, very early on, precise enough to take care of their bodies. This will be beneficial for them in the years to come.”
If he knows that the end of his career is approaching, at the same time as the years go by, the fullback, whose contract ends next June with the BOPB, has not yet decided on the question of his future . “We haven’t discussed it with the club yet and I’m thinking about it in my head.”
Does he feel ready to move on again, if the body follows? “I won’t be against continuing, depending on my performance, my age and the timing, but to date I haven’t made my decision. We’ll really see how I feel and if I’m okay physically”ends number fifteen.
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