Matthieu Jalibert, Digi Mart USA News: Matthieu Jalibert recently received the Oscar d’Or from Midi Olympique, and he said the honor is always pleasant. He stressed, however, that rugby is first and foremost a team sport and that the award recognizes collective work, sacrifices and consistent performances with Bordeaux-Bègles (UBB) and the French national team.
Jalibert described last season as particularly successful on both the individual and collective levels. He said the Six Nations Championship marked a turning point, allowing him to play freely and express his full potential for France without the mental restraint he had sometimes felt since his debut.
Discussing UBB’s season, Jalibert acknowledged that inconsistency in the regular season cost the club dearly, including home losses it should not have suffered. He called the Top 14 the most demanding championship in the world and said that missing the playoffs was a real waste for a club of UBB’s standing.
Jalibert also said he believes winning the Top 14 is harder than winning the European Champions Cup, because the domestic league demands consistency over 26 rounds before knockout play. He said the Bouclier de Brennus remains the club’s ultimate goal, while acknowledging the strength of Stade Toulousain.
Asked about his development, Jalibert credited experience and maturity for his strategic growth as a fly-half. He said he has learned to balance his natural attacking instincts with tactical control, time management and the role of directing teammates.
Jalibert also addressed his years of public scrutiny, describing the pressure of early fame and social media. He said he is now “finally at peace with himself” and focuses on what he can control: his performances, training and enjoyment of the sport.
He called public fame a “price of glory” that brings admiration alongside jealousy and criticism.
On his rivalry with Romain Ntamack, Jalibert said the comparison began when the two were young players in France’s youth teams. He argued that fans should appreciate having two elite fly-halves in the same country, noting that the France team had searched for a No. 10 for more than a decade.
Jalibert said he is frustrated to be sidelined by a recurring injury and to watch the France squad play well from the outside. He said his priority is to support his teammates and return to the group as soon as possible.
Finally, Jalibert shared concern about the rising number of injuries among French internationals, which he attributed to heavy match schedules. He said players and several coaches have warned for months or years that calendars are overloaded and that players are not “machines.” He said he fully agrees and called on governing bodies to make courageous decisions to protect player health.
Asked whether he could return before the end of the Championnat des Nations, he said only time and medical progress would tell.
