With the men’s Rugby World Cup qualification about to kick off in Europe, Francisco Fernandes is set to play his final few games for Portugal, as the 39-year-old prop has publicly revealed he is retiring at the end of the current season.
Two decades after playing his first game as a senior player for US Tyrosse, the prop will finally retire, but not before trying to break Joël Koffi’s record for the most games played in the Pro D2.
The Frenchman played a total of 329 Pro D2 games throughout his career with AS Béziers-Hérault and Carcassonne, with Francisco ‘Chico’ Fernandes trailing behind by nine games. As the Pro D2 has already reached its halfway point, Béziers-Hérault will have 13 games to play before the playoffs, making it possible for their loosehead prop to claim the record.
Born in Portugal but raised in France, Fernandes was one of the first players from the Portuguese-French community to make the Portuguese national team, earning his first cap at the age of 22. After a couple of years away from the Test scene, Fernandes was brought back in by Patrice Lagisquet, retaking his starting role and helping the Lobos qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
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Fernandes started in three games of the Lobos’ campaign and was pivotal in his side’s victory over Fiji with a try-saving tackle before being subbed off to a roaring applause from the crowd.
He then missed the 2024 Men’s Rugby Europe Championship before returning for the July tour to Africa, where he won his 50th cap for Portugal.
With five months before his final hurrah, Fernandes will join the Portuguese camp next week to help his country qualify for a third Rugby World Cup.
The prop is about to obtain his coaching license, having already started to make his transition to become part of the AS Béziers-Hérault staff.
RugbyPass were able to talk with Fernandes recently, and when questioned about how he felt at this moment, he said: “I am very happy with the career I’ve had in the Pro D2!
“I would’ve never thought I would have the pleasure to play for so long and the icing on the cake is/will remain the World Cup hosted in France. It was a unique experience to play for the country of my birth in front of my family, friends and supporters.”
As for his future, he added: “I would love to help AS Béziers-Hérault qualify from the Pro D2… Regarding the coaching gig, I have already started my career as an Espoir coach, and I am about to complete my coach diploma in Toulouse. I will be permitted to coach top senior sides starting next summer.”
