He chose to say stop. At the age of 29, Pedro Bettencourt, the Portuguese international from Oyonnax, has ended his career as a professional rugby player. The club, which was relegated to Pro D2 at the end of the Top 14 season, made the announcement on Wednesday in a press release. After suffering several concussions, the player underwent a recovery process with the support of his club.
“It was not a simple decision but it was the most obvious one… There is this regret that I could not say goodbye to the pitch and to the club as I would have done,” he explained in the Al Ain press release. “I loved but I kept all these experiences, these feelings and these human encounters throughout my time at Oyonnax. These five years have undoubtedly made me a better man, with this serenity that I know that Oyonnax Rugby is on the right path, with the ambition that the club deserves.”
He notably participated in the last World Cup in France with Portugal (25 caps), including the historic victory over Fiji (24-23). Pedro Bettencourt has been playing for Oyonnax since 2019 after playing for Newcastle Falcons (2018-2019) but also for Clermont (2014-2016) and Carcassonne (Pro D2, 2016-2018).
With Oyonnax, Pedro Bettencourt played 75 matches (7 attempts) and participated in Oyomen's arrival in the Top 14 in 2023. The club was relegated after finishing this season in the first division in last place in the championship.
