The examinations taken this Tuesday morning therefore confirmed the fears concerning Charles Ollivon (31 years old, 46 caps) who suffers from a ruptured cruciate ligament. An injury which is already putting an end to his Top 14 season, but also to that with the French XV while Fabien Galthié’s first list for the 2025 6 Nations Tournament is expected at the start of next week, probably January 15.
It happened on a support, in the middle of a magnificent action driven by an inspiration from Baptiste Serin, author of a gem of a little low kick in the sixth minute of Toulon-Racing, last Saturday. We were already talking about the test of the year to describe the first of the six registered by RC Toulon against Racing, ultimately defeated 36-24 at Mayol. Coming perfectly to the support of this action, Charles Ollivon receives the chistera of his scrum half before serving him again in his fall. Serin then alerts his winger Tuicuvu who is responsible for concluding this attack. It is only at this moment that we notice that Ollivon, who collapsed mid-run, does not get up. Supported by a member of the Toulon medical staff, the great Charles leaves the pitch, looking worried.
Already a rupture of the cruciate ligament of the left knee in 2021
This is obviously a very hard blow for the former captain of the Blues. Because he is no longer young, because he has already paid a heavy price for injuries in his career. In June 2021, Ollivon had already suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in his knee, but it was the left. And we’re not even talking about the fears of a premature end to his career, at the age of twenty-five, born from this left shoulder which caused him incessant torment. In August 2017, a fracture of his left shoulder blade kept him away from the field for almost a year. Barely had he left this long tunnel when he injured his left shoulder in training in September 2018.
In 2013, he had a stop placed in his left shoulder. Since his professional debut at Aviron Bayonnais, Ollivon has subjected his body and mind to the long processes of convalescence, strengthening and reathletics. How much battery does he have left to start again? “I’m going to have surgery soon”he announced on Instagram. “Now I am 200% behind the team before I can join next season. »
The blow is all the harder as Ollivon had just given a boost to his career after a difficult post-2023 World Cup season. Not selected by Fabien Galthié for the start of the last autumn tour against Japan (52-12), replacing against the All Blacks (30-29), he finished on a good note against Argentina (37- 23), at position number 8. From now on, he knows only too well the path that awaits him. And the strength of character it will take for him to come back, again.
