Since the start of the championship, Jefferson-Lee Joseph has shown himself to his advantage with his rugby skills. Very lively offensively, the 22-year-old winger also shines in defense thanks to the experience acquired in rugby 7. To the delight of USAP.
Of the Olympic champions to have played in the Top 14 since the start of the season, there are only three. Among them, the one with the most playing time is Jefferson-Lee Joseph. And guess what? He plays for USAP. Arriving in mid-August in Perpignan, after celebrating his Olympic title, the 22-year-old winger quickly got everyone in agreement. In just three weeks of training with his new group, he found a place in the 23 for the opening of the championship in Bayonne. A choice that was surprising at first. But which finally became logical, by analyzing the player’s performance over the past 1 month. After four matches played – including two starts at Castres and against Clermont – Jefferson-Lee Joseph is the Catalan to have beaten the most defenders (11) and to have gained the most meters with the ball in hand (145). A walking danger, this player with rare measurements for a winger: 1.92 m, 90 kg. But that’s what makes it strong today.
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Defense, its appetite
Because Jefferson-Lee Joseph, after playing nine Pro D2 matches with Agen during the 2022-2023 season, made the decision to devote himself to rugby 7s. A revelation. In 80 matches with the France 7 team, he scored 32 tries. Of which perhaps the most beautiful, at least the most important, in the final of the Olympic Games against Fiji (28-7). With the Blues, he was forged, built, and above all developed to reach high standards. And seeing him perform in the Top 14 is no surprise for Jérôme Daret, the former coach of France 7. “I know that he has all the resources to be able to exist in Perpignan in an interesting way. He is a boy who is well trained. That is to say, he listens a lot, he is in research, in “Analyzes and he applies it. He has some room for improvement, but he knows how to do everything.”details the man who is now the new general manager of men’s rugby sevens.
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Indeed, being able to arrive in a new collective and find a place in such a short time can only confirm this kind of statement. But how did the player know how to put himself in condition to quickly switch from 7 to XV? “My teammates quickly gave me confidence. I’m really in very good conditions to be able to perform. I was quickly integrated here. In addition, I knew certain players like Jean-Pascal Barraque, Théo Forner and Tavite Veredamu, and it was a plus for me to be able to dive directly into rugby unionexplains the Guadeloupean. Afterwards, in the shift, you just need time to adapt and good communication. And then also have the right to make mistakes.”
Mistakes, for the moment, number 14 does not make many. Beyond his undeniable qualities of speed, hooking and evasion, “Jeff” Joseph also shines defensively. And that’s very interesting for a winger. He is the three-quarter who has tackled the most since the start of the season (24 tackles) ahead of captain Jerónimo de la Fuente (20). Statistics which are far from trivial. “It’s the job of rugby sevens which means that today, he is very strong in defense. He is capable of chaining defensive tasks. Tackle, scratch, get up, cross, be in pursuit, catch up It’s his DNA. He excels at that.approves Jérôme Daret.
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“It’s not over” assures David Marty
All this hard work done at 7 starts to pay off on the XV. Which therefore allows this young 22-year-old player, still on an Espoirs-Pro contract, to find a place in the sun in Perpignan. A place where rugby excites the crowds and where the fervor lives up to the expectations of all new players who sign with the USAP. “It was just incredible. I was looking forward to this momentadmitted the person after his first match at Aimé-Giral last Saturday. To experience it from the inside, it’s even more than I imagined. However, in terms of emotions, I think I reached the pinnacle this summer. But it’s really close. And then, every time I’m in the street, I always have this fervor. It’s just incredible and indescribable to be able to play Aimé-Giral.”
And as David Marty promises: “It’s not over” for this player who “has enormous physical capabilities”. In any case, he should continue to bring happiness to the USAP over the coming years, since Jefferson-Lee Joseph is committed until 2028.
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