Matt Gicquel signs professional contract with French club Valence Romans Drome Rugby Club

After years of slaving away as a chippy, former Maleny Bushranger Matt Gicquel has traded job sites and a tool belt for a professional rugby contract in the south of France.

Former Maleny Bushranger Matt Gicquel with the Tony Shaw Medal for GPS, now he’s embarked on a French rugby adventure.

After years of slaving away as a chippy in Queensland heat, former Maleny Bushranger Matt Gicquel has downed the tools and started a new rugby chapter in the south of France.

Gicquel, 25, has signed a professional contact for Valence Romans Drome Rugby Club in French Rugby Union’s third tier.

The overseas adventure came out of the blue.

Gicquel was signed as a medical replacement on an eight-month full-time deal, one that he wants to be made permanent.

He said au revoir to his Maleny mates and Warana parents Denis and Belinda. His girlfriend Grace was due to head to Europe in February.

Despite a whirlwind past three weeks, Gicquel arrived in Romans, near Lyon on September 27.

Former Maleny Bushranger Matt Gicquel has signed a professional contract in France where he is loving life.

He said he was loving life.

“It’s unreal here. The change in lifestyle is great and it’s nice to just focus on footy and my body,” Gicquel said.

“I was doing 9-10 hour days as a chippy and then going to training. It was pretty tough.

“But here my only focus is rugby. No more waking up sore and having to work.

“So I can really show them what I’m made of.”

Gicquel is one of plenty of internationals in the Valence Romans squad, but the only Australian.

While he has a French passport and can speak the native language thanks to his father, Gicquel’s Australian accent has brought him some stick.

“I’ve only been here a few days and they take the p--s out of me a lot,” Gicquel laughed.

“G’day mate, throw a shrimp on the BBQ. All that stuff.

“They’re a great bunch of boys here, all very close. We all carpool together to training and that. It’s awesome.”

Matt Gicquel charges at the line for GPS Gallopers.

Jokes aside, Gicquel arrived with serious ambitions.

Despite being named Brisbane Premier Grade club GPS Rugby’s best and fairest in 2021, Gicquel was never offered a professional contract in Australia.

Now he says he has a chance to take his game to the next level and in turn help Valence Romans win promotion.

“I’m signed here for eight months, then I have to see what happens,” he said.

“Ideally I want to be here for two years and help us get promotion.

“The competition runs until July, so there’s 30 odd games left.

“I’m just going to enjoy myself.”

Originally published as Matt Gicquel signs professional contract with French club Valence Romans Drome Rugby Club