Rumours emerge of Sergio Parisse’s crazy career u-turn after latest exploits
Toulon and former Italy No8 Sergio Parisse has just a matter of days left of his illustrious career before he hangs up his boots once and for all at the age of 39.
Should Toulon reach the Top 14 final, which they are capable of doing, the Italian only has seven matches left of his career, including the Challenge Cup final later this month against Glasgow Warriors.
But even after his 142-cap international career and a legendary club career with Stade Francais particularly, Parisse is still finding ways to amaze everyone. Take Sunday’s Challenge Cup semi-final clash against Benetton at the Stade Mayol as an example.
The No8 played a key part to the opening score of the match inside the first ten minutes, assisting Duncan Paia’aua’s try. Now that might not come as too much of a surprise, until you find out that he assisted it with a perfectly weighted grubber kick. This was just the latest instalment in the list of legendary pieces of play Parisse has produced during his career.
Take a look at his assist:
Ever since then, a rumour has emerged that Parisse is planning on making a retirement u-turn and trying his hand at fly-half for one final year of his career. Admittedly, those rumours were started by, and are likely to end at, Rugby Onslaught, but it is nevertheless an interesting thought as to whether Parisse could have cut it as a back. He has never been shy of kicking the ball during his career, and has better hands than some backs out there. He has spent plenty of his career standing in the wider channels of the field anyway, so maybe he would not have been too out of place if he had a No12 on his back instead of a No8 in another life.
