“They really indulged in the food”

Hugo Boysen still can’t believe it. Mexican restaurant manager Pekin (Leon III) received a visit Friday evening from Dalton Papale, Luke Jacobson and Ethan DeGroot. The three professional rugby players, whose legendary New Zealand team are in the Gaul capital for the World Cup, took advantage of their free places to come and share a meal at his establishment.

A pleasant surprise

“They arrived around eight in the evening, without a reservation. Since they were wearing hats, I couldn’t recognize them right away,” admits the restaurant owner. But his eye as an oval ball enthusiast could not fail him. “Their impressive size still alerted me, and I quickly realized that their faces were familiar to me. I went to warn my team, made up of Mexicans who don’t follow rugby, that they were facing the soccer equivalent of Brazil.

An “unexpected” surprise for this adopted Leon, who had been involved in this sport for many years, during his childhood, as a pillar. This moment was remarkably immortalized in a photo posted on the restaurant’s social media networks.

Huge meal

Homemade nachos, guacamole, chorizo, vegetable quesadillas…or even octopus, shrimp, fish and beef tacos were served in abundance. The All Black’s meal is delicious. “It was fun to watch, they really indulged in the food and ate about ten people between the three of them,” he says with amusement. The institution’s address would have been recommended to rugby players through the security agent at the hotel they were staying at.

“It’s not the first time rugby players have come to eat here. We’ve had some LOU players in the past, but we’ve also had former OLs like Sidney Govou, Memphis Depay and Jean-Michel Aulas. We obviously have a special relationship with the world of sport. »

Will it happen again in October?

Paying attention as they left the table, the 34-year-old took a few minutes from working in the kitchen to go meet them. “They told me it was great and that they had a great evening,” he says happily. As the French rugby team prepares to take on New Zealand at the start of the World Championship, on Friday 8 September, the former Institut Paul Bocuse student took the opportunity to entertain his guests. “I wished them good luck in the match, but they came back to me and asked me if I really meant it. In the end, I just asked them to treat us on the pitch.”

The rest of this story could be quite beautiful for those who settled in Lyon in 2007 from the capital. “Before I left, they told me ‘See you in a month’*. If they can come back with the whole team by the end of the competition, that would be great. We will welcome them with pleasure.”

*I’ll see you in a month