Facundo Isa's last dances with Toulon

Every day brings Facundo Isa closer to the end of his adventure at Toulon. Because in the best-case scenario, the Argentinian knows he has "only" four games left to proudly wear the lily-of-the-valley jersey. The inevitable end of a romance that began in 2013, when the youngster from Santiago del Estero was only 19 years old. Then interrupted from 2014 to 2017, as homesickness struck, the flanker asked to return to Argentina.

Before finally resuming in 2017. Since then, 155 matches and eight seasons have passed, and Facu has, charge after charge, become the ultimate darling of the Var public. Who have become attached to the player capable of knocking over a bus, but above all to the man. Sincere, smiling, generous, sensitive, and endearing in so many ways.

Nevertheless, in July, Facundo Isa will officially leave the harbor. This will create a mixture of emotions in the Puma's heart: on one hand, sadness that his Var story is coming to an end, but on the other, a fierce desire to leave through the biggest of doors.

"For the past few months, it's been a bit strange for me. I haven't yet realized that I'm going to leave. That's how it is. I don't want to put pressure on myself, but rather continue to play for the team and do my best until the end," confided the flanker yesterday, who will join Pau next season. "I don't want to keep saying to myself, 'This might be the last time I do this, the last time I do that.' Above all, I want to try to do my best for Toulon, for this team."

Make the pleasure last

Having returned to near his best form since the start of the season, Facundo Isa knows that RCT's short-term future depends largely on his ability to lead the way for his teammates. "I expect him to be consistent. In his effort, in attack, in defense," Pierre Mignoni explained of his tank. "Facu is an extraordinary man when he's able to push us forward. But I want him to repeat his tasks. Not for him to do it for ten minutes and then slow down for the next twenty. He's capable of doing it."

With less than a month to go before his time with the Red and Blacks comes to an end, the Argentine international (31 years old, 49 caps) wants to carry Toulon on his broad shoulders for a little longer. Before a (most likely) tearful farewell.

"We want to take advantage of him."

"Facu knows it, I know it and we all know it... But this is not the time to think about that. Yes, Facundo, I have a special relationship with him, but we have 23 days left [until the Top 14 final] , recalled the RCT manager. So I don't want to get too emotional, because I want his departure to be in 23 days [22 now] . I want to enjoy him as long as possible. And not just me. We all want to enjoy him." So it is a "Facu" on a mission who is preparing to bite into the final stretch of an adventure that he will have loved so much. Not always linear, but during which the highs will undoubtedly have made us forget the lows.

"It's a difficult time for all the players. For those who are leaving, but also for those who are staying, because we realize that we are coming to the end of an adventure, that there are guys we like, with whom we have experienced great things, who are going to leave," concluded Gabin Villière. "We want to offer them the best possible ending." Before their paths separate, the remaining and departing players are therefore keen to bring Toulon back to the top. A quest that will take place in Bayonne, where Facundo Isa will once again have the opportunity to prove that his blood is more red and black than ever.