The 35-year-old said: “I knew it wasn’t right, but it was stronger than me”

He was once one of the brightest stars of rugby, known for brute strength, an untamed work rate, and electrifying moments on the pitch. But now, off the field, the story taking shape is far darker: allegations that he stole money from his own teammates to feed a spiralling gambling addiction.

According to multiple sources close to the squad, the player in question—until recently a senior member of his club—has been quietly taking cash from shared funds, communal lockers, and even direct transfers from teammates. The amounts are said to run into thousands of dollars over months, perhaps years, accumulating through small, furtive acts—until a deeper pattern emerged.

It first came to light when several teammates began noticing money missing from their lockers or cash envelopes stored in changing rooms. At first dismissed as simple forgetfulness or misplacement, a pattern emerged: the missing sums always seemed to be smallish amounts, and the timing matched when the suspected player would be when others were out or distracted—training sessions, meetings, or behind-the scenes downtime.

One player reportedly confronted the star after suspecting discrepancies in the team’s shared travel fund; others claimed that envelopes contributed for meals or team events seemed lighter than they should be. But what really raised alarm bells was the discovery of gambling debts—overdue bills, bounced cheques, frantic phone calls—suggesting that the missing cash wasn’t just about personal greed, but about a deeper compulsion.

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Montauban’s French fly-half Jérôme Bosviel (2nd L) (Image: Getty Images)

A top French rugby star has revealed how a gambling addiction drove him to steal money from his own team-mates to fund his habit.

Veteran fly-half Jérôme Bosviel, who now plays for Montauban, confessed to taking cash from a squad fund that had been set aside to pay for an end-of-season holiday to Ibiza. The money was meant to celebrate the club’s shock Pro D2 title win last June, but it later emerged Bosviel had been secretly siphoning funds throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

The 35-year-old has since repaid what he owed and opened up about the depths of his addiction in a candid interview with Rugbyrama.

“I fell into gambling, poker and PMU [the French state-controlled betting system],” he said.

“I hid it from everyone close to me. I felt ashamed. I’m the eldest in my family and a father — I didn’t want to talk about it. When I came to rugby, I didn’t think about it, but once I was outside, I locked myself away in it.”

Bosviel explained that his gambling habit had already taken hold before he was given control of the squad’s collective savings fund.

Team management was alerted, and whispers in the corridors grew louder. Sources reveal that behind closed doors, the club launched a quiet investigation. CCTV footage from communal areas—gym changing rooms, lockers, shared offices—was reviewed. Travel-expense ledgers and cash-handling logs were cross-checked. What some thought might be coincidence or petty theft began to look systematic.

As the evidence piled up, the player reportedly admitted to stealing from teammates to fuel his gambling. According to insiders, scenes of confession were painful: apologies, tears, attempts to make restitution. “I just couldn’t stop,” he is alleged to have said. “I’m sorry I betrayed all of you.” He recognized that what had started as occasional desperation had become a destructive force—not just in his finances, but in the trust within the squad.

Teammates are said to be deeply hurt. For a team, especially in elite rugby, camaraderie and trust are foundational. Sharing gear, sharing goals, sharing burdens—when one person violates that, it fractures more than just bank balances. Some say locker-room conversations have turned icy; others report that the trust in shared resources, travel allowances, communal gear or even small tips is now under strain.

From a club perspective, there is also reputational damage. The image of their star being embroiled in theft undermines fan support, sponsorship deals, and public trust. Internally, there’s pressure to treat the matter firmly—but also with compassion. Because sources reveal that the player did not hide only the acts, but also a long-buried addiction. Gambling, for some time, was a secret shame. Sources say he had racked up large losses, hidden debts, possibly borrowed money, or used credit in illicit ways to cover gambling shortfalls. What began as a way to “fix a loss” spiraled into repeated harmful behavior.

Legal consequences may follow. Depending on the jurisdiction, theft is a criminal matter; restitution may be demanded; the player’s contract may be terminated or suspended. The governing union and the club’s integrity unit are reportedly reviewing the case. The player may also be required to undergo counseling, possibly treatment for problem gambling, and may be arrested or charged if the evidence supports it.

For the teammates who lost money—some lost hundreds, others more—the emotional toll is high. Some feel betrayed; others feel complicit in having overlooked signs. There are regrets over not speaking up earlier, over dismissing odd comments or mismatched expense ledgers. The atmosphere around the team, sources say, has been tense, with some players considering leaving or demanding changes in oversight of shared funds. Some have called for audits, better transparency, and stricter controls over cash handling—especially in clubs where cash is used rather than bank transfers.

In the wider rugby community, similar stories have surfaced in recent years, though few as specific or dramatic. The issue of gambling addiction among professional athletes is not new: pressure, financial resources, time off the pitch, travel, physical stress, isolation—all can contribute to vulnerability. Several bodies—players’ unions, club boards, sports psychologists—are now increasingly alert to the risks. But turning awareness into prevention remains a challenge.

Some say this scandal may serve as a wake-up call. Clubs may push for tighter regulations on gambling, more education on addiction, better financial transparency among players, and more robust channels for teammates to report concerns without fear of backlash. Fans, too, are likely to demand that someone be held accountable—both the player and the system that let this happen.

The player’s future is uncertain. Public apology? Possibly. Loss of contract? Quite likely. But many argue that the path to redemption involves more than punishment: genuine effort at rehabilitation, restitution to teammates, open acknowledgment of the harm caused. Some suggest that if he seeks help, speaks openly about addiction, and commits to change, there could be a chance to rebuild trust.

One thing is certain: the ripple effects will be felt. Beyond the individual, this forces a re-examination of how professional rugby handles off-field behavior, addiction, money, and the hidden struggles that some athletes endure. Trust, once broken, is hard to rebuild—but if this case leads to real structural changes, perhaps something positive can emerge from what many consider a shocking betrayal.

The sporting world watches now, both in judgment and in hope: judgment for the wrongdoing; hope that this exposure will lead to better protections, deeper understanding, and ultimately, change—not just for this star, but for all those who may be suffering in silence.

Once in charge of the account, he began dipping into it to feed his addiction. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.

“I wrote down everything I took in a notebook so I could replenish the account,” he admitted.

“I swear I wanted to pay it all back, to the last cent. I knew it wasn’t right, but it was stronger than me.”

After Montauban sealed promotion to the Top 14, Bosviel came clean to his team-mates during a post-season meeting.

“On the Monday, there was a meeting with the whole squad,” he said.

“I admitted to them for the first time what I had done. It was obviously a shock, but it was necessary.

“Some people were and still are angry with me. I know I disappointed them. I’ve repaid more than what I borrowed — now I only want to play rugby.”

The confession came as the club was still celebrating one of the biggest moments in its history, making the revelation all the more difficult for his team-mates to hear.

Bosviel, who previously represented clubs including Oyonnax and Bourg-en-Bresse, has started four of Montauban’s opening six matches in the Top 14 this season.