Sergio Parisse is still freakishly good at his age
Despite being 39 in just a matter of days, former Italy captain Sergio Parisse is still going strong with Toulon in the Top 14 as he entered what could be the final year of his career.
After it looked as though he was heading towards retirement at the end of last season, the 142-cap international made a U-turn at the end of last season, and extended his time in the south of France by another year. He started last week against Bayonne at the Stade Mayol in the opening round of the Top 14 and he certainly did not look like one of the oldest players in a league.
For one of the most skilful players to ever don a No8 jersey, it was always likely that he was going to be able to play for a long time as skill like that will never fade.
RugbyCoach8 recently shared a highlights reel of his game against Bayonne, and there are some flashes that are undoubtedly ‘Parisse-esque’. In 1:13 of the video, there is a moment where he catches the ball over his head while tracking back before passing the ball 15 metres. Take a look at the video:
The dream may be gone for a final swan song in an Italy shirt for Parisse, which he has unfortunately been robbed of. He was set to play his final game at the 2019 Rugby World Cup against the All Blacks in the final game of the pool stages. However, Typhoon Hagibis put an end to that hope. He was then expected to play against England in the final round of the 2020 Six Nations, but the Covid-19 outbreak quashed those hopes. Now it looks as though he won’t get that game after all, but he is still mightily impressive for Toulon. Toulon will need him this weekend as well, as they travel to the Stade Ernest-Wallon on Sunday to face Toulouse.
