Rabah Slimani’s departure from Clermont after seven seasons was an unexpected move that surprised many when he announced it on Instagram on June 29. The 34-year-old French international tighthead prop, who has 57 caps for France, still has plenty to offer in rugby. Notably, he became the first French player to join Leinster, the Irish province that has lost the Champions Cup final three times to French clubs, La Rochelle and Toulouse. Slimani resumed training in Dublin in late July, a week later than Clermont. The two teams are scheduled to face off in a Champions Cup group match on December 14, 2024, in Dublin.
Since his announcement, Slimani had not discussed the details of his unexpected transfer until an interview with RugbyPass. In the exclusive interview on the BastaShow on RugbyPass TV, Slimani revealed his motivations and the events leading up to the move. He explained that the transfer happened very quickly and was not planned. He had a coaching contract with Clermont for the upcoming season, signed with the former coach Jono Gibbes. Slimani had prepared for his transition into a coaching role, set to replace Davit Zirakashvili, a former Clermont prop turned scrum consultant.
However, when Christophe Urios replaced Gibbes in January 2023, things changed. Urios was pleased with Slimani’s performance and encouraged him to reconsider retirement, citing his youth and lack of injuries. This renewed Slimani’s enthusiasm for playing. Urios suggested he take the holidays and pre-season to decide, but after expressing his willingness to continue playing, Slimani waited a whole season without updates. This uncertainty eventually led to his unexpected transfer to Leinster.
