Rugby: a native of Saint-Lô, Joris Lezat makes the heyday of Rouen in Pro D2
Through Editorial staff La Presse de la Manche
Published on
updated 25 Nov 21 at 19:40
His beginnings in Saint-Lô
“Rugby is in my genes. My whole family plays rugby, especially my father, who is now president of RC Saint-Lô, and my big brother. I started at the age of 5, and I did all my training in Saint-Lô, until I was 18. I did half a season with seniors before leaving for Ireland. The club represents a lot of things, that’s where I learned to play, where I was trained. And today, I still keep an eye on what he’s doing. I was still there a fortnight ago for the match against Vire. I still have a lot of friends there ”.
Son path
“I went to Ireland (to Dublin, to the Bective Rangers club, editor’s note) because I wanted to discover something else in rugby, and because I had a professional opportunity. The club had a Federal level 2. It lasted a year and a half. I was a kid, I was 18, all alone in a country I didn’t know, but it did me a lot of good. I came back to France, to Rennes (at the REC) for studies while wanting to keep my rugby level. After three years, I signed at Le Havre, also in Federal 2. After a full first season, I was only able to make four matches in the second season because of the Covid ”.
His arrival in Rouen
“The Rouen and Le Havre clubs are very close, there are regular exchanges of hopeful players. It is my coach Luc Cozens, a former Rouen, who spoke about me at the club, because he felt that I had potential. I did three or four tests with them, and it turned out to be conclusive since Rouen made me sign my first professional contract in May, for a season. It is a moment that I will never forget ”.
The professional world
“My background is not common, but I always had in the back of my mind the desire to become professional. I had done younger tests with big clubs (Clermont, Racing, LOU) but they had not been conclusive. When I arrived in Le Havre, I had already devoted an entire year to rugby. But it is true that I did not expect to evolve in Pro D2 after a four-game season of Federal 2! I take what there is to take ”.
The Pro D2
“So far, I have played three games, including one as a starter (October 29 in Montauban). And I will be starting again at Aurillac (tomorrow). I am happy with this record. I didn’t set specific goals for myself, just to progress and play as many matches as possible. I had a few physical problems at the start of the season, but now it’s good. We needed time to reassure the staff, now the confidence is there and the feedback is good, but we must not stop there ”.
Her goals
“Personally, I would like to sign a new contract with Rouen, for one or two years, that’s all that matters to me. Afterwards, as a competitor, we always aim higher, but before that I have to manage to become a holder in Pro D2, which is not the case for the moment. At the collective level, in the vice with Rouen the maintenance. Our position is favorable (8e) but the middle of the table is tight. The objectives can change if we keep our level ”.
Wire Profile
“I started as a winger, then I went between scrum half and opening half. I am a ball player, fairly fast, I like to seize opportunities, play against attacks. I also think I am a good defender. “
Gabin Villiere
“With Gabin, we played four years together, him in 9, me in 10, with the Saint-Lô-Vire agreement among young people. We both had atypical journeys, he chose to go directly to Rouen when I went to Ireland. He persisted and he was right given what is happening to him now (winger for Toulon and the XV of France). We are still in contact, I sent him a message before the game against the All Blacks, he was excited like a chip. If I had been told 10 years ago that he would play against the Blacks… It’s wonderful for him. “
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