Photo: S. Mantey/L'Équipe - Interview: Maxime Raulin / L'Équipe
Having kept a low profile in the media since the start of the season, the international fly-half spoke to L'Équipe ahead of his return to the French national team after an eighteen-month absence.
Last week, Romain Ntamack was on leave. On Thursday December 19, before heading off to the Toulouse University Hospital to spend some time with sick children, the Stade Toulousain fly-half (25) had lunch with two members of SD Management, the company that is helping him manage his career.
Smiling and relaxed, the French international (37 caps) also willingly took part in the photo session, during which the weather was capricious, with sunny spells and showers. For over an hour, the young father expressed his impatience to be back with the French team, but also his thirst for trophies, without forgetting to mention his status and the high expectations in his position.
"I'll be like a kid coming up to Marcoussis".
"Let's start with a no-pressure riddle. If someone says 495, what comes to mind?
The number of days since my last match for the French national team.
Exactly. It was August 12, 2023, against Scotland. Does that sound like a long time ago?
Yes, it's getting to be a long time (he smiles). Very long indeed. I had set this year's November tour as my objective for the start of the season. Getting injured a fortnight before the gathering was a blow to the back of my head (he injured his right calf on October 12 against Clermont). It was a real setback. I was feeling really good. I couldn't wait to get back to Les Bleus. Watching them on television again was a real burden.
"Out of sight, out of mind"...
(He cuts in.) I stayed close to the French team. I've kept in touch with the players, many of whom are from Toulouse, of course, but also with certain members of the staff, who check in with me regularly. I wanted to stay close to them. But when you're not physically there, things are different. That's why I've set the next Tournament as my main objective.
Smiling and relaxed, the French international (37 caps) also willingly took part in the photo session, during which the weather was capricious, with sunny spells and showers. For over an hour, the young father expressed his impatience to be back with the French team, but also his thirst for trophies, without forgetting to mention his status and the high expectations in his position.