At Aviron Bayonnais, in the hearts of all supporters, there is only one number 10 and it is Camille Lopez. Since the start of the season however, as in a family which has just had a second child, this unconditional love is now shared. Very humbly, Joris Segonds, also fly half, conquers the Basque fans.
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We will meet at the beginning of the afternoon at the Aviron Bayonnais performance center. Joris Seconds is one of those players I can’t wait to meet. I like his game, his cheek sometimes. On a human level, he seems to exude these famous Rugby values, which have often been abused in recent times. In front of the camera, the Aveyron native speaks with complete sincerity.
Joris Segonds with an open heart, interviewed by Patricia Perin, Rugby Magazine on France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
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© Patricia Perin
France 3 : Joris, you very quickly agreed last year for a transfer to Aviron Bayonnais, why this choice when you had several proposals?
Joris Segond : I really wanted to change. The Parisian side weighed on me. I am a boy from Aveyron, from the countryside (smile). Here, this natural, friendly side, this fervor of the supporters, is something that I wanted to taste. All the matches I played at Jean Dauger against Bayonne, I found it incredible and it’s a team that plays good rugby, I didn’t hesitate for long.
France 3 : You signed for five years with Rowing, it’s quite a commitment…
Joris Segond : It proves that I really want to settle down for the long term. I’m not the type of player who signs for one year and then leaves. I stayed five years in Paris, before five years in Aurillac. For me, it’s important to stay in a club and to fight until the end with and for this club, it’s important yes.
France 3 : Doesn’t the competition for the fly-half position with Camille Lopez bother you?
Joris Segond : No, not at all on the contrary, I really like the player. When I was younger, I was a fan of Stade Toulousain so I whistled at him a few times when he played with Clermont, but I always admired the way he played (smile). It’s great for me to learn.
France3: Camille Lopez, is this an example for you?
Joris Segond : Yes clearly, he pulls me up. Camille is someone who has incredible experience of high level, international matches. Humanly, he is unanimous. Everyone says Camille is a good person, he immediately integrated me into the team. We had several meals outside of rugby and sometimes we can even play together when I play back, it’s really very nice. I even hope that it will extend for another year…
France 3 : So you are one day versatile, you even played pillar?
Joris Segond : Ah yes (smile) I played pillar in my training club for a very long time because when I was little, I was the biggest, a bit of a bumpkin even. At that age, you don’t really have a job. I was bad as a prop, I didn’t know how to push in the scrum, in the rucks, I was a mess. In fact, I was already playing on the foot, like a 10 but with the number 1 on the back. (laugh)
France 3 : Like Camille Lopez, you are one of the rare Top14 players to attempt drops, is that a gesture that pleases you?
Joris Segond : When I saw him attempt them and succeed, I said to myself, that’s smart. It’s the kind of free points when you’re in the middle and you don’t get a penalty. Afterwards, you have to feel it, when you have the whole defense coming on you, you are not safe from beautiful “sausages” (smile) but when you feel it it’s three easy points and it’s a nice gesture.
France 3 : What are your goals with Rowing?
Joris Segond : The Top 6, qualification for the final stages of the Top 14. This is the wish of President Philippe Tayeb, the coaches and all of us, the players, but it is so close that we have to stay focused until the end.
France3: This Challenge Cup, this year, are you going to play it to the fullest?
Joris Segond : Yes of course, this year we have a larger squad, we can rotate, we can test different combinations in the Challenge Cup. If it works in the European Cup, it will be a plus in the Top 14.
Full interview with Joris Segonds Rugby Magazine Saturday 12:30 p.m. on France3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
