At 32 years old and even though he was forced to retire last season due to a new concussion which no longer allowed him to practice as a professional rugby player (the French Rugby Federation had withdrawn his license) , Sébastien Vahaamahina has not yet turned the page on his former club, Clermont.
According to Rugbyrama, the ex-international (46 selections) would have decided to sue his club before the industrial tribunal even if he had “received traditional redundancy compensation”, specifies the website. The native of Nouméa would demand new compensation after ending his career on the recommendation of Clermont doctors. The club did not wish to comment on the information.
In an interview with L’Equipe in May 2023, Sébastien Vahaamahina made serious accusations against his former colors, believing that the leaders of the Jaunards had not respected their commitments. The former player also felt that he had not received enough support from his employer in the months following his last concussion, in December 2022.
“Simply that they recognize their responsibilities and honor their contractual commitments. Five months have passed and they could have made me a decent and clear proposal to properly end my story with the club. If they haven’t done it, it’s because they don’t want to do it. The club continues to buy time and hope that I give up. I thought I deserved more respect. I am disappointed and hurt,” bitterly explained the former Blue, whose contract ended at the end of the 2025 season.
“I played nine years in Clermont. Nine years of unwavering commitment to ASM and, today, I am ashamed for my club while my dismissal for incapacity is underway. I have a lot of trouble setting foot in the stadium. I told the leaders that they had ruined everything, as if they had erased everything. They had and must protect us. Players have duties, but also rights. They are in a hurry to finish with me. This is all unfair. They don’t assume. We are like cars to them. And when we’re screwed, we go to the scrapheap,” added Vahaamahina, who is not the only player who passed through Clermont to point the finger at ASM. Jamie Cudmore and international third row Alexandre Lapandry had filed a complaint for “endangering life.”