You have been cleared by the French rugby federation. Does it come as a surprise to you ?

I am not surprised. We knew we had done nothing wrong. We knew that was going to be the answer. I guess the process has been a little bit disappointing, how it’s been dragged out through the media. It’s been tough because there’s been confidential information being leaked. It’s disappointing to have to try and defend yourself when you’ve done nothing wrong. You know, I hold my integrity and the game rugby’s integrity in the highest regard. Obviously, I respect the authorities that help keep the game clean. I would never do anything intentionnally to put the game into disrepute. It’s nice to get the decision and be able to move on and do what I love, and that’s play rugby.

Do you understand that people are surprised that three rugby players can play a final having in their body a substance that is on the banned list ?

When you have an injury, you take procedures to cure that injury, within the antidoping regulations, of course. Obviously, the reason for me taking, which I explained to the medical hearing that we had, was that I played the semi-final against Clermont. The next day I had inflammation in my knee. I had the injection. I rested for two days. And then after that rest I was fit to play and I played. And I can’t see a problem with that because that’s all within the regulations. When you have an injury, you get your injury cured.

There’s so much that you do throughout the season to try prevent injuries. I work extremely hard in the gym, doing my prehab, rehab, recovery, options like creotherapy which we have here at the club, massage, strecthing, hot, cold baths, swimming, things that prevent injuries... Obviously you can’t control that and you know, you have an injury, you want to cure that.

Regarding this knee inflammation that you suffered during the game against Clermont, have you tried other treatments before this corticosteroid injection ?

Have I tried… Well, yes, obviously these things to help reduce inflammation like icing and things… But you know, when there’s something available to use that’s not outside the antidoping regulations, then I think it would be silly not to use that. I trust Sylvain and how he looks after my body. You put a lot of faith in the doctor’s decision. You trust him and go with that.

Was it on your proposal or his ?

It’s his proposal and like I’ve said, you put a lot of trust in the doctor. I feel confidence in the way that he looks after the players, including myself.

During last season, did you have other injections in your knee for your pain ?

Yes. It was my second time of the season that I had injection in my knee. First one was early 2016, during the regular season. [Racing 92 would later correct that it was a mesotherapy treatment, thus not including any corticosteroids]

Are you willing to publish your medical file on this particular story, so that people are convinced that you made the right decision for the integrity of the game and your health ?

Well, that’s exactly what we did with the French rugby commission. We showed my medical case and the reasoning for having the injection. They read through this and were perfectly happy with it. I have nothing to hide, so I am OK with publishing my medical file to prove that nothing wrong was done. I’d kind of need to talk with my doctor because he was the one that shared the case and then the reasoning for this option. But why would a person, why would you show your medical things to someone that doesn’t have a medical background.

Have you had an injection during the World Cup 2015 or coming to the World Cup with the All Blacks ?

Yes, I had an injection after the injury, during the World Cup. I had an injury in the quarter finals and the next day I had an inflammation in the right knee as well. So that’s when I first injured it.

Are you willing to publish your medical file on this particular story, so that people are convinced that you made the right decision for the integrity of the game and your health ?

Well that’s exactly what we did with the French rugby commission. We showed my medical case and the reasoning for having the injection. They read through this and were perfectly happy with it. That gives you confidence that the procedure that you went through, you know they had doctors there that agreed with the process that we went through. I’d kind of need to talk with my doctor because he knows that he was the one that shared the case and then the reasoning for this option. . I can’t see why do it again for the public. I don’t have any problem with it, but why would you show your medical things to someone that doesn’t have a medical background ?

When did you have your first injection ?

I have no idea. I’m guessing. I was injury free for the first seven years of my career. Probably not that long ago.

Do you know how many corticosteroid injections you had all over your career ?

No. I’ve had a few. When you have an injury, you want to cure the injury. It’s as simple as that.

Do you think you could have played the final without this injection ?

I haven’t even thought about it. It was just a little bit of inflammation in my knee. Obviously that helped with the inflammation and with rest afterwards, which I was forced to have after the injection.

Do you think these injections can put your health at rish, at long term ?

As a player you put a huge amount of trust in the medical team and the antidoping organization. I guess the timing is important part as well. You don’t want to let your team down, you want to play. That’s what I love to do. As a player you want to be playing.

I knew I had an off season, just around the corner, so I had one month break. My knee is feeling good now. I was able to do my prehab, a lot of rehab, build up the strength of the knee again.

Do you understand the debate, the controversy it sparked off in France ?

No, not really. I’m not sure what the debate is. I was a little surprised at the amount of media created. Back home in New Zealand they saw the story, they’ve seen that I hadn’t broken any doping regulations. And after 24 hours there was no longer a story. It seemed to drag on here in France. I don’t really know why because I don’t read the papers or listen to the news so I don’t really know anything about the debate but I was a little surprised how long it’s gone on for compared to back home in New Zealand.

Do you fear the French antidoping agency could appeal this decision ?

I dont know about the French procedures and how it works out. It will be annoying if it happens but who knows...the most important thing is we’ve been cleared and we know that we’ve done nothing wrong.

Apart from the injections, what kind of medicines do you take for the pain, or to improve recovery ? Are there other pain killers you use ?

No. When my body is feeling good then you know the only thing that you take is sort of natural products, your proteine after a gym session. That’s about it. I’m not too big on supplements but the proteine powder after gym sessions is about all I take.

Maybe you could have taken Tramadol or another painkiller just before the game to have the pain shut down for the game, and not have an injecion ?

I don’t know enough about painkillers and all that but the injection helped with the inflamation. Something like a Tramadol just hides the pain.

Do you know of potential risks of corticosteroids ? Did the doctor tell you about any long term implications for your health ?

I know you can’t take them on a weekly basis, there’s a limit maybe to two a season, that’s what I’ve heard. So you know the risk associated with it, as a player. Not the exact detail associated with the medicine, the long term damage and things like that, therefore you put your trust in the doctor that he’s making the right decision.

In cycling they have a different rule regarding injections, which says that after an injection you have to rest eight days before a competition. Do you think it would be a good rule to apply in rugby, would it be safer for the players ?

I don’t know enough about corticosteroids to comment. I don’t know why they have eight and in rugby it’s two or three, I don’t know.

Because they say it’s dangerous and that it could enhance performance, that’s why.

Ah ok. It’s the first time I heard. I don’t know enough about the science of corticosteroids to make an informed decision.

Some doctors consider that even if it’s legal, taking corticosteroids is a form of doping because you should rest when you’re injured.

You just have to put your trust in WADA. That’s exactly what I do. You’re within those regulations, for me you’re not doping.

Do you think there is doping in rugby ?

Humm... I’d like to think not. Obviously there has been some occasions of players I don’t even know that have been tested outside the regulations and have suffered a punishment. But I’d like to think not. I have huge trust that the opponents live within the regulations to make it a fair and clean sport. It’s something I believe very strongly, the integrity of the game and my integrity as well.

Are you worried about your health when you’ll get old, after having played rugby for 14 years ?

It definitely takes a toll on your body, I just have to look at my father. He’s got bad knees, he played the game until he was 40 so he’s walking around with bad knees. When I’m an old man, have sore knees or angles, I’ll have no regrets in chosing a career of rugby, something that has given me so much satisfaction. I’m doing what I love, I think it’s a dream job, but obviously it’s a physical game, it’s a contact sport, seasons are very demanding and it’s always gonna take a toll on your body. Of course it will last as long as I can, but my dad might beat me there, play a bit longer than I might.

Can this story influence the path of your career, and you playing in France ?

No, it’s not gonna change anything. I’ve been really happy with the procedures have put into place, they have been extremely supportive, I trust them 100%. I haven’t even thought about my next contract, my focus is on enjoying my time here and in a year or so, I’ll have to decide what I want for my future. I still enjoy my life here in France, it’s an amazing place to live and it’s an amazing club to be a part of.