In a startling confession, Jerome Bosviel, a seasoned fly-half in France’s Top 14, has come clean about how his gambling addiction drove him to misappropriate funds from his team’s holiday kitty. The Montauban squad had been eyeing a celebratory trip to Ibiza following their surprise Pro D2 championship win last June, only to discover their funds had been depleted by one of their own.
Bosviel, who has been a pivotal figure in Montauban’s lineup, admitted to the theft during the euphoria of their title victory. He has since reimbursed his teammates in full, revealing in a recent interview the depths of his gambling woes that began even before he was entrusted with the team’s savings. “I fell into gambling, poker and PMU,” Bosviel disclosed, expressing the immense shame that accompanied his actions.
"I knew it wasn’t right, but it was stronger than me, always with the idea of paying back what I was taking."
The 35-year-old fly-half explained that his addiction took hold swiftly, compelling him to start dipping into the squad’s funds at the outset of the last season. Bosviel managed to keep a meticulous record of his withdrawals, which he claims made restitution somewhat smoother. Despite his efforts to amend his mistakes, the revelation was a bitter pill for his teammates to swallow.
“On the Monday, there was a meeting with the whole squad. I admitted to them for the first time what I had done,” Bosviel recounted. The admission was a necessary step, though it left many of his teammates reeling and resentful. Nonetheless, Bosviel has worked to mend fences, repaying more than what he had taken, driven by a desire to leave the scandal behind and focus solely on rugby.
This season, Bosviel has appeared in five out of six matches for Montauban in the Top 14, starting four as their No.10. His return to form will be crucial as Montauban aims to establish themselves in the fiercely competitive league following their promotion.
Bosviel’s story is a stark reminder of the personal battles athletes often face, hidden away from the limelight and the roaring crowds.
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In a startling confession, Jerome Bosviel, a seasoned fly-half in France’s Top 14, has come clean about how his gambling addiction drove him to misappropriate funds from his team’s holiday kitty. The Montauban squad had been eyeing a celebratory trip to Ibiza following their surprise Pro D2 championship win last June, only to discover their funds had been depleted by one of their own.
Bosviel, who has been a pivotal figure in Montauban’s lineup, admitted to the theft during the euphoria of their title victory. He has since reimbursed his teammates in full, revealing in a recent interview the depths of his gambling woes that began even before he was entrusted with the team’s savings. “I fell into gambling, poker and PMU,” Bosviel disclosed, expressing the immense shame that accompanied his actions.
"I knew it wasn’t right, but it was stronger than me, always with the idea of paying back what I was taking."
The 35-year-old fly-half explained that his addiction took hold swiftly, compelling him to start dipping into the squad’s funds at the outset of the last season. Bosviel managed to keep a meticulous record of his withdrawals, which he claims made restitution somewhat smoother. Despite his efforts to amend his mistakes, the revelation was a bitter pill for his teammates to swallow.
“On the Monday, there was a meeting with the whole squad. I admitted to them for the first time what I had done,” Bosviel recounted. The admission was a necessary step, though it left many of his teammates reeling and resentful. Nonetheless, Bosviel has worked to mend fences, repaying more than what he had taken, driven by a desire to leave the scandal behind and focus solely on rugby.
This season, Bosviel has appeared in five out of six matches for Montauban in the Top 14, starting four as their No.10. His return to form will be crucial as Montauban aims to establish themselves in the fiercely competitive league following their promotion.
Bosviel’s story is a stark reminder of the personal battles athletes often face, hidden away from the limelight and the roaring crowds.