INTERVIEW. Pro D2: “SU Agen will always have an important place in my heart”, assures Julien Hériteau, center of FC Grenoble

Author of a good start to the championship, the former Lot-et-Garonnais will however be absent for the reception of the SUA this Friday at 9 p.m.

You joined Grenoble in the off-season. Why this choice?

It was decided at the end of the season. For various reasons, I could not stay in Clermont. Grenoble showed its interest and we moved forward very quickly. I liked the project, I signed on for three years. There are great things to do.

How did your adaptation go?

GOOD. I discovered a new, fairly young group who were left with a big disappointment of having failed in the Pro D2 final and in the “access match” last season. We had a good preparation, even if it was short due to having finished the championship late. In any case, I was very well integrated into the team.

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You left Agen in 2019 for Toulon before joining Clermont. What do you remember from this experience at the highest level?

Lots of positives. I stayed in Agen for almost ten years since the Cadets. I lived my best years there, but you only realize that afterwards. When I left, we remained in the Top 14. It was a beautiful thing. The departure to Toulon allowed me to see and aim for something else. There was a lot of waiting, the level of requirements was not the same. I don’t regret anything.

“We know the value of this Agen team”

Grenoble is off to a very good start to the season so far with two away victories already. How do you rate it?

We started well, yes, notably with these great victories in Nevers and Béziers. Unfortunately, we experienced some setbacks away from home like in Aurillac and Biarritz where, in terms of content, we exploded. However, the results remain positive since we are undefeated at home. It hasn’t always been easy because we’ve had some complicated times. We’re going to say that we’re a bit in “diesel” mode at home. But for the moment we can rely on this invincibility.

Did the 30-25 defeat against Montauban last Friday leave you with any regrets?

Yes, it’s a disappointment. Montauban was strong, but afterwards if we had shown what we were capable of we could have put them in more difficulty. This remains a point, however we could have done better.

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You receive Agen this Friday. How do you approach this match knowing that you will go to Oyonnax the following weekend?

This is an important meeting. We know the value of this Agen team. For our part, we rest a little too much on our laurels at home. The Agenais showed against Colomiers that they could offer play even in difficult conditions. They played a lot. Watch out for the trap match! We have prepared well this week, we will have to be as serious as possible.

​​”The championship is becoming more and more complicated”

On a personal level, what does the SUA mean to you?

Although I left, I continued to follow them and watch their matches on television. It’s my first professional club, I created a lot of friendships there. It’s very important to me. The SUA will always have an important place in my heart.

Let’s return to Grenoble. You mentioned earlier the frustration of last year at having failed in the final. This time, the objective is to move up to the Top 14?

We already want to make it to the final stages, that’s the first step. Then, once you’re there, anything is possible. But the championship is becoming more and more complicated. The current Pro D2 no longer has anything to do with the one I knew at the time in Agen. It has evolved a lot. Many teams will fight for the Top 6.

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Exactly, which training has made the best impression on you so far?

It’s difficult because it’s very homogeneous. All teams have their strengths. However, I would say Soyaux-Angoulême which offers good play and which is dangerous. They have already lost at home, but away from home they are formidable.