“I didn’t want to come back to the pro world”
Away from the field for 26 weeks following racist remarks to meet a player from Nevers, Ludovic Radosavljevic returned to the field almost a year later. The scrum half, triple champion of France, now becomes federal 3, with Avignon-Le Pontet, his hometown. Interview conducted for Rugby Magazine and Le Quotidien du Sport.
You are currently playing in Federal 3 with Avignon Le Pontet, have you had any other offers in Top 14 or Pro D2?
Concrete proposals… no, to be honest. But interests, yes, many clubs have probed me. Afterwards, I had no particular desire to return to this level after a year without playing. I didn’t feel the particular desire or the passion to come back. I also had proposals that were a little lower in National, in Federal 1, but I didn’t particularly want to move. I had returned to Aix-en Provence because it is my home, it was out of the question for me to move again to play in the Federal or the National.
Was it obvious for you to come back to Avignon?
I’m from Avignon so for me it was the logical next step. I had always said that, whatever happens, I will finish my career there, it happened a little earlier than expected, but that’s good, I play in my club with my friends.
Ludovic Radosavljevic leaves from afar
How do you judge the level of the Federal 3?
It’s a different sport (sic), it’s really about running with friends, having fun, having a good time.
How did the opponents welcome you?
The first match was in Sète, who was at the time trained by Alexandre Ruiz (former professional referee, currently on the staff of the MHR, Editor’s note) and it went very, very badly. I was insulted the whole match, I was taken to task. At the end there was a fight where I was hit from behind. Afterwards, the matches that followed went very well and I hope that is confirmed like that. There are no reasons.
You were triple French Top 14 champion, can you go back there one day or have you given up on the idea?
Frankly, I have no illusions, I don’t want to create false hopes. I know very well that no team would want to recruit me. No team is going to want to approach a story like mine.
What relationship do you have on the pitch with your brother Thibault?
We’re almost every day together so it’s great. Afterwards, I know that my family has also suffered from this situation.
“I have nothing to prove to anyone”
How do you view your career?
I’m very proud of the career I’ve had. The only downside is this case, the image I have is not what I am, it’s even poles apart from what I am. I challenge you to find someone I played with who will tell you that I was not a good person or that I was someone racist or whatever. But in truth I have nothing to prove to anyone.
Have you thought about quitting rugby?
Of course ! I had already been a little disappointed because I quickly understood that in professional rugby, we players were just pawns and chips.
Financially speaking, can you make a living from rugby?
At the Avignon club, there is no remuneration. I had business on the side, I had started to prepare my post-career so I got into it, with a little advance.
Comment has your opponent Christian Ambadiang reacted since the incident?
I didn’t say anything to him on the pitch… it happened in the hallway on his way back to the locker room and as I was saying he didn’t hear the words it was his captain who was the reporter.
Proposed by Olivier Rivaud