XIII rugby (elite 2). A last lap for Aaron Wood with Pamiers wolves

Very beginning at an end. His own, he would have liked it victorious for his team, the wolves of Pamiers XIII, beaten in the quarterfinals Elite 2, Sunday in Carpentras. Injured, he only played the last three games in his head, from the stands, a modest spectator among the public of supporters. Aaron Wood is now officially “retired from the 13th”. Back on the journey of a good man.
On the clock, Aaron Wood has 21 years of high level rugby. He has celebrated his 41th birthday recently. Exceptional longevity in this physical sport that requires speed, cardio and commitment. A sport that sometimes chews bodies. Mid-long hair, cap on the head, abundant beard stung with gray hair, it imposes by its waist, its arms, the powerful trunk of its torso where the ball he carries shelters the lust of others. In its path, we turn around because all the lovers of the 13th century recognize it. “It’s Aaron Wood, the Franco-Australian”. On a match sheet, the opposing team is looking for its name. Its presence confirms a high intensity rugby. He practiced it under the colors of Limoux, Avignon, Toulouse XIII, then Trèbes at XV, and, finally, by wetting the jersey of the Pamiers wolves for the past two seasons. He even made among the 20 group of the French team in 1996. Memories, he inevitably in abundance. And that his last “match” was in Carpentras is a sign. Carpentras, it is the Avignon-Carpentras Derbys who come in memory of Aaron. “2000 people in the gallery, it screams everywhere, it’s like fire, and sometimes it bumps a little,” he admits. From the end of the match, the opponent becomes “a friend” becomes again. It is also, with Rugby XIII, his favorite word. “Les Copains” with, in his Australian mouth, an ounce of noon accent.

“It’s the body that says no”

In Pamiers, he could have had figuration, bringing only his experience. But Aaron Wood is a “warrior”, on the ground, he gave all his talent as an organizer of the game. “It is the Peter Pan syndrome,” he jokes. I am 16 years old in my head. So I play all the balloons. It’s the body that says no, the turn is over, it’s good. ” Several times champion of France, winner of the cup, he retains from his career a symbol image. The one he poses with Evarosis, his daughter, Aurélie, his farmer’s wife, and the cup conquered last year by the wolves, in National 1.
In retirement, but not back. Aaron Wood “remains at the club, in Pamiers. I like the presidents’ project, the atmosphere, the guys. The project is, one day, going up in super 13 ”.