USAP is ninth in the Top 14 after the first third. President François Rivière took stock for France Bleu Roussillon on the situation of the USAP, both sporting and financial. After more than ten years at the club, François Rivière is surely living his finest hours with the Catalan club : “I had said that I would slow down after I turned sixty but finally on my birthday I said to myself that there is such a road map, that the USAP has such a need for investment in financial means but also in ambitions and energy that it is important to devote oneself to it. I also have a meeting this week with the Minister of Sports to present the USAP and everything we do..”
In 100% USAP, the president and the general manager took stock of the hot issues of the moment: injuries, the arrival of one or two additional players, recruitment for next season and the start of work at the center. 'training.
Injuries: hard blows for Lucas Dubois and Jacobus Van Tonder
The USAP has been overwhelmed by wounded for several weeks. The latest bad news concerns Lucas Dubois, the winger, who was supposed to be absent for six weeks and who ultimately will have to have an operation and will not return for four months. The third row Jacobus Van Tonder was injured at the beginning of October during the match against Clermont and was expected to be absent for 3 to 4 months, it will ultimately be double and he will probably not play again before May. Will the USAP then start looking for a medical joker? Yes, the Catalan club is still looking for a player who matches the profile of Jaco Van Tonder.
“It is likely that the workforce will be reinforced in the coming weeks“, announces François Rivière. The general director, Bruno Rolland explains: “We need to have a profile that we are certain will be able to bring us added value. There are a lot of players on the market, especially foreign ones, but it is more complex to find players who can join the project. We take our time, things can still evolve. We also have third row Max Hicks who will arrive at the end of the week.”
Recruitment: Tristan Tedder very close to a return to the USAP
Things are getting underway regarding recruitment for next season on the Catalan side. Contacts were revealed between the USAP and its former rear Tristan Tedder, today at Racing, and the third row of Clermont Peceli Yato. According to France Bleu Roussillon, USAP is also in advanced contact with Toulon third row Mattéo Le Corvec. Bruno Rolland and François Rivière, without officially confirming, do not deny: “It must be recognized that the names that appear in the press show that you are not too poorly informed, comments François Rivière. But, moreover, we are not the only club to position ourselves each time, there are financial issues too so we are very cautious in relation to any announcement.“The USAP is in any case positioning itself on the transfer market to conquer a majority of Jiff players (players from French training).
The USAP – Toulon match in prime time on Canal Plus
USAP will play its next Top 14 match on November 23 in Toulouse. The schedule for the next match at Aimé-Giral is also known. Against Toulon, USAP will play on Saturday, November 30 at 9 p.m.
François Rivière and Bruno Rolland also discuss in the show on France Bleu Roussillon the start of work on the training center. They started last week. However, the training center will be operational later than planned. The USAP will be able to establish its headquarters at the André Sanac playground in its new facilities next June.
