Julien Farnoux, the full-back for FC Grenoble, has only played for two professional clubs in his career: Perpignan and Grenoble, who will face off in the access-match final on Saturday, June 3rd at 9pm. He will need to put aside many emotions in order to prepare for the final.
Sometimes, history can hold a few surprises. Julien Farnoux, the full-back for FC Grenoble, will be the last line of defense for the Isérois on Saturday, June 3rd at the Stade des Alpes during the access-match against Perpignan. He has only played for two professional clubs: USAP and FCG. It’s quite a twist of fate for « Juju, » as Farnoux is nicknamed by his former Catalan teammates. « I could have done without this kind of twist of fate, another opponent besides Perpignan would have been better for me, » he says. Farnoux was there for both of Perpignan’s returns to Top 14 (2018 and 2021) and was the starting full-back during the final they won… against Grenoble, in Toulouse, in 2018 (38-13). « I would have preferred to face USAP in a different context, at Aimé-Giral in Top 14, for example. » That won’t be happening next season! One of the two teams, the loser of the access-match, will play in Pro D2, while the other will play in the elite of French rugby.
Farnoux and Perpignan have eight seasons of history together. He’s experienced everything on the shores of the Mediterranean: the thrill of discovering the professional world, the electric atmosphere of Aimé-Giral, the successes in Pro D2, and the tough times of the 2018-19 Top 14 season. He was a long-time starter at full-back, but lost playing time during the 2021-22 season, the season of Perpignan’s second return to the top flight. He had only started three games when Grenoble came calling. « I had signed for two seasons with Grenoble, until 2024, to replace Ange Capuozzo, who was leaving for Toulouse, » he says. « But when Jonathan Bousquet (also a former USAP full-back) injured his adductors in February 2022, he was forced to end his career. The Grenoble management asked me if I could join them earlier than planned, as a medical joker. USAP did not oppose my departure and I arrived in Grenoble in March 2022. It allowed me to save time for my integration, to get to know the club and my new teammates better. It was important for me because it was the first time I changed clubs in the pros… »
« Grenoble, a young and attacking team »
In Grenoble, Julien Farnoux found playing time, confidence, and became the leader of the backs, he who had always been considered « the young one. » « It’s the first time I’ve been part of the ‘old guys’, » he jokes. Grenoble made the bet to relaunch with its young players from the academy. It’s a close-knit group, a young and attacking team. This season, for example, we fought everywhere, on all fields. It gave us a lot of confidence, especially after the postponed match in Aurillac (January 27th, frozen pitch). We had to play eleven matches in a row! And the team developed a strong mentality. »
Second in the regular season, far behind the unbeatable Oyonnax, the Grenoblois eliminated Mont-de-Marsan at the Stade des Alpes in the semi-finals, before facing Oyonnax in the final in Toulouse. The match was tight and tense. « We didn’t really enjoy ourselves on the field, » admits Farnoux. « But we had decided on a strategy. And we held our own. We had faced them just before, at home, where we had countered them well (a 24-28 loss in Grenoble on March 24th) despite playing thirty minutes with fourteen men. Our indiscipline cost us dearly. At the end of the match, we felt the doubt creeping into their minds… » So last Saturday in the Pro D2 final, the Grenoblois played their chances until the end, but let the Oyomen validate their ticket to Top 14. « Of course, we were a little disappointed and frustrated… »
On a personal level, Julien Farnoux will try to push aside all memories related to USAP. « I’m going to focus on myself during preparation, » he says. « No matter the jersey, I’m entering the field to help my team win. We know that Perpignan, who did everything to secure twelfth place in the regular season, will come to us with the ambition to keep its place in Top 14. There will inevitably be disappointed players at the final whistle. » He’ll wait for the final whistle before reuniting with his friends, Tom Ecochard, godfather to his second daughter, Alan Brazo, and the others. Hoping he’ll have made their lives difficult on the field.
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