Last weekend, no less than thirteen of the heartbroken French Rugby World Cup squad returned to Top 14 action.

Cyril Baille, Uini Atonio, Paul Boudehent, Pierre Bourgarit, François Cros, Jonathan Danty, Anthony Hastoy, Thibaud Flament, Matthieu Jalibert, Anthony Jelonch, Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud and Antoine Dupont were “back on the horse” and attempting to extinguish those bitter memories of October 15.

Many squad members had already returned to club duties namely Peato Mauvaka, Dorian Aldegheri, Melvyn Jaminet with Toulouse; Baptiste Couilloud and Romain Taofifenua at Lyon; Sekou Macalou with Stade Francais, Arthur Vincent, Bastien Chalureau and Paul Willemse in Montpellier; Maxime Lucu, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Yoram Moefana and Sipili Falatea at Bordeaux, Charles Ollivon, Gabin Villière and Jean-Baptiste Gros in Toulon; and finally Cameron Woki and Gaël Fickou at Racing 92.

La Rochelle’s Uini Atonio admitted that he needed a real break “I spent three weeks where I completely cut with rugby. I spent time with my family, since we lived four months together with France to prepare for the World Cup. So, frankly, I was happy to return to the club. And even more so in view of the energy there was when all the internationals arrived earlier this week. I don’t even know if I watched any for three weeks, and as a result I am physically and mentally regenerated. I am ready to resume the race. And laugh with the guys. ”

“After three weeks of vacation, I feel very good,” Anthony Jelonch revealed “We had a tough first week after the defeat against South Africa, but we have to move on. I hadn’t had a break for a very long time, and by the third day of vacation, I was bored at home. But I didn’t necessarily want to get back playing quickly, it did me good for my head and body to enjoy several days of rest. ”

Not everyone is back, Julien Marchand, who played a total of just 12 minutes at RWC 2023, is still injured, and Grégory Alldritt, is resting until the new year, not surprisingly after the battering his body took throughout 2023.

The Top 14 is now back in full swing until the final in Marseille on Friday 28 June interrupted only by European competitions and the Guinness Six Nations for those who have now returned from national service it is going to be a long old haul.