Par
Clement Mazella
Published on
For two months, Louis Penverne was at a standstill. A serious facial injurywhich required an operation and the installation of two plates (one under the eye, the other above the arch). During his convalescence, the left pillar of La Rochelle, aged 22, asked questions about his future. Finally, about that of a rugby player. But on his post-career. Such an unpredictable aftermath, which could happen at any time. Louis Penverne then made the radical decision to resume your studieswho once started an engineering school, then joined university, before stopping. Proof that it is very hard to reconcile the two, and that it requires motivation and organization.
A facial fracture
Louis Penverne’s return to the field is imminent. More than two months after this tackle that went wrong. “My head hit that of my teammate Thomas Lavault,” remembers the La Rochelle pillar. The exams are relentless: orbital floor fracture. “The bone was all crumbled,” specifies the U20 world champion.
Despite the installation of two plates, the surgeon assured him that he will have “no after-effects”, and that he will be able to resume without difficulty. At the end of November, the 22-year-old was training intensively, but without contact. A final appointment with the surgeon at the beginning of December authorized him to play again. An express recovery, Penverne initially thinking of returning to service in January.
Resume studies
During his convalescence, this former judo practitioner was at a really good level – “I was ranked 5e Young France. Today, it helps me on points of contact, tackling and falls” – asked a lot of questions. On his future. Because he knows that a career only lasts so long. And that it can stop at any time, the big blow being unpredictable.
“During my injury, I saw that I did absolutely nothing besides rugby, apart from playing console or padel in the summer. I told myself that I had to go back to school,” admits toAt the time of Rugby Louis Penverne. “I also need something very solid on the side if anything happens to me during my career.”
Pushed by his parents
Louis Penverne had undertaken studies. First, pushed by his parents. “It wasn’t necessarily my biggest favorite, my parents encouraged me to do it. I was a good student, but I waited more until 4:30 p.m. to go play rugby than to be in class,” admits the person concerned, with a little smile.
When he arrived in La Rochelle, in the summer of 2021, he had started a engineering school. “For two months, it was hell to reconcile the two,” admits Louis, thus showing how difficult it was to carry out studies and training at the same time as an athlete in a training center.
Penverne continues: “I went away to university, missed a lot of weeks due to calls with France U20, and didn’t have the motivation to catch up on everything on my own. I went to IUT, but that too was complicated to manage with the training with the pros nearby.”
Un bachelor business
This facial injury, which led to the first operation of his life, served as the trigger. “I told myself that if I never threw myself into something, I would never want to go back to school again.”
Louis Penverne therefore took the steps to apply for Neoma for a bachelor business. The school has created links with the professional rugby players’ union (Burglary), which makes things easier. In fact, the timetables and the curriculum are arranged.
Every Monday, and every other Tuesday, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Louis Penverne will take his classes, via video. “It will be spread over a year, without holidays. I tell myself that it could be good,” said, satisfied, the pillar of La Rochelle. “On Monday, we are OFF. I might be burned out on Tuesday after practice, but it’s manageable. I am committed, so I will be diligent.”
As Hopefuls, all players are obliged to study and go to school. The club training center covers the cost. A professional player finances his training, unless this is negotiated in his contract. The situation is therefore completely different…
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