Goodbye Captain Farley!

Andrew have you decided to return to Australia at the end of the season?

" Yes. It's one of the hardest decisions I've had in my career. I asked myself this question last year when we came down. Our season was catastrophic, I also felt responsible for this failure, but I told myself that I could not leave the FCG in these conditions. I could not leave the club that brought me so much at the bottom of the hole. Of course we are no longer in Top14 and maybe we will not be there next year, but I know that the Club is today in a much better situation than it was a year ago . I feel that I have not betrayed him.

I really insist, it's a real decision for my family. I have been a professional rugby player for 15 years and I have been Rugby Operations Manager for 4 years, it's a very special life. A professional sports life. Of course it's existent, dynamic, we have matches every weekend, we have our adrenaline rush, but it's also very difficult for our families. I have 3 children of 7, 5 and 3 years that I did not see much grow. I made a decision with my wife for the next 3 or 5 years. I will take a job in the real world and spend more time with them. "

You will not work in a club in Australia?

"I had the opportunity to join a professional club in Australia, but I refused that job. As I tell you, I really need to spend time with my family. "

What memories will you bring with you?

"Obviously the title of champion in 2012 and the rise in Top14. I remember everything from this day. From this match against LaRochelle. Every time I enter the changing room of the Stade des Alpes I see these pictures, I see myself at 19 hours still cleats in the locker room with 2 centimeters of beer and champagne on the ground, it is a memory that I will to have for life. I also have in mind our first match at the Stade des Alpes against Toulouse. A sold-out match that you win with the heart. A match that we win in front of the typical team of Toulouse. It was shown that day that Grenoble existed. I also remember the trip to Russia, courses in Argentina and Ireland, it's really great memories of Grenoble. "

Many fans remember your speech in the locker room at the half-time of this match against Toulouse and your famous We will win this pioutain  of match (with the accent). 

" Yes I know. And it's not really me to talk like that ... I really thought the door was closed. "

What does Grenoble now symbolize for you?

" That's a very good question. Of course it's my favorite city in France, sincerely. I think the mountains will really miss me. These mountains around Grenoble I see them as a protection, a kind of security that surrounds us. But my wife and I know that we will come back here with our children to show them in a few years the places where they grew up. "

Your two daughters and your son are born here, they will be forever small Grenoble?

"Yes, my two daughters and my son are from Grenoble, born at Belledonne Hospital and that will always remain. But I will come back regularly to see the matches. "

What can we wish you for the future?

"What I call the" real world "is not too difficult for me and the rugby, cloakroom, teammates and friends I have in this sport do not miss me too much. I really want to thank Eric Pilaud, who at the end of my career hired me in his international company for 2 years. It was a great training for me. You know when we are rugby players, we really wonder if the things we learned and put in place during our career will work in the professional world. Eric showed me that yes, all the attitudes, the values ​​that we learn while playing this sport, serve in the rest of our career. I also want to thank the always adorable Grenoble fans with me always behind the team by 40 degrees in the summer or under the snow in the winter. And lastly because they were the most important for me, I want to thank and say goodbye to all my teammates on the field for years when I played and all my office colleagues since I stopped my career. Thank you all, and see you soon !!! "

We rarely have the opportunity to pass personal messages on a site that is that of a club, but all the people who work at the FCG just wanted to get a little message to Andrew "You were a pioutain of captain mister farley and you are a friend! " Thank you. You are always here at home.