USAP is already looking ahead to next season. And the first names are starting to circulate.
The 2025-2026 season has already been preparing for several weeks. And the USAP is active on several issues. According to information from our colleagues at Olympic Midday and of RugbyPrimewhich we are able to confirm, Tristan Tedder and Peceli Yato are in the sights of the Catalan club for next season.
There could therefore be the great return of Tristan Tedder (28 ans, 1,80 m, 88 kg)who currently wears the colors of Racing 92. Best player of the 2022-2023 season, the full-back/flyhalf joined Racing last year, where he played 28 matches (18 starts, 174 points, 5 tries). This season, he has not yet played, since he injured his shoulder in a friendly match on August 22. But with the recruitment of Owen Farrell and Sam James, in addition to Antoine Gibert and Max Spring who are well established, the South African is not sure of having a choice place in Stuart Lancaster's typical team . Several clubs have therefore positioned themselves on the Tedder file, including the USAP, for several weeks. The blood and gold club and Tristan Tedder left on good terms, the love story is undoubtedly not over… And contacts would be very advanced.
Peceli Yato (31, 1.96 m, 120 kg) is also one of the targets for next season. Another element who worked with Franck Azéma, in Clermont between 2012 and 2021. But above all a player with a lot of experience. Peceli Yato is 171 professional matches with ASM (108 starts, 58 tries), 22 selections with Fiji, a Brennus in 2017 and a Challenge Cup in 2019. And then, from 4 to 8, the Fijian can absolutely play it all, and it's Jiff! This would certainly be a good pick for the USAP, because it fits the profile of the game plan proposed by Franck Azéma.
A medical joker… or not?
Faced with the numerous injuries in the squad, the USAP decided, a few weeks ago, to take action to strengthen itself and recruit a medical joker. But it's dragging. In the Top 14, clubs do not necessarily want to release players. And in other championships, certain formations are not more flexible. Like for example Newcastle, with Pedro Rubioloversatile 2nd/3rd line, 21 years old. The Catalan leaders fought and negotiated for a long time to obtain the release of the very promising Argentinian (already 17 caps), who was the priority target of the USAP. Especially since the player also wanted to join Perpignan, and his compatriots Jerónimo de la Fuente, Joaquín Oviedo and Ignacio Ruiz. But the Falcons stuck until the end, despite their last place in the Premiership, where there has been no descent since 2020.
Suddenly, at USAP, time has passed. And, for the moment, recruiting a medical joker is no longer necessarily a priority. The current squad has managed to hold on in recent matches. And Marvin Orie, Mathieu Tanguy and Patrick Sobela will return for the next block, when New Zealander Max Hicks, who sticks to this 2nd/3rd line profile, will strengthen the squad from next week. Franck Azéma and the Catalan leaders always remain on the lookout, but there is no longer any urgency in this position. Nor behind, where Alivereti Duguivalu, Ali Crossdale and Jefferson-Lee Joseph should be able to play by the end of the month, and where Apisai Naqalevu will be back at the start of December.
