Le Figaro. During this holiday season, what can we wish you for the New Year?
Swan Rebbadj:
Titles!
With Toulon or the XV of France?
First Toulon.
The XV of France if possible.
After having honored your first selection (
November 28, against Italy
), you are part of the list of 37 unveiled Monday by Fabien Galthié.
The goal, now, is to settle in blue?
When you are a high level athlete of course.
But that's not my responsibility.
All I can do is perform well in a club.
The XV of France, was it an objective or a surprise?
It was really a big surprise.
I did not expect it at all because I had not had an individual interview with the staff of the XV of France.
When I received the phone call from Karim Ghezal (
assistant coach in charge of the tricolor button, Editor's note
), I did not believe it ... The France team seemed inaccessible to me and I did not think I was in the radars.
"
Bernard Laporte's prediction made me want to work even more, to prove that he was right
"
You have an atypical background. You did not go through a Hope pole for example. Is it more complicated to get noticed?
It's a little more complicated, yes.
But when you are given a chance and you do everything, you work hard, to grab it… You just have to be ready on the big day to take your chance.
Bernard Laporte, you noticed very early on. In 2015, then coach of RCT, he predicted that you would be international. How did you experience it?
(
Embarrassed
) I was a little surprised already, I didn't expect it.
It was a source of pride, but nothing more.
I took it normally (
laughs
)… Well, that made me happy.
And it made me want to work even more, to prove that he was right.
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Do you think, as the saying goes, of the 2023 World Cup while shaving in the morning?
No, I'm not taking the lead.
I don't say to myself "in 2023 there is the World Cup, you have to be there".
I'm trying to make good matches with Toulon and we'll see.
I live day to day and I take what I am given.
Your 2nd-3rd line versatility, is it an asset or a handicap?
As long as I'm playing, nothing bothers me (
laughs
).
It gives me other cards, I see it more as an asset.
I play where I am asked to play.
"
Changing my lifestyle has really changed my life
"
We have the impression that for a year, a year and a half, you have taken a step forward, that you are much more constant in your performances…
We will say yes… In fact, I will rather say that I have evolved.
I became aware of certain things.
Which ones?
The importance of preparation, my lifestyle, my diet.
I reduced my meat consumption, I regulated my sleep… It really changed my life!
Without this change in diet and lifestyle, I'm not sure I could have reached this level ...
What triggered this click?
I was already paying attention to myself.
But I inquired even more, I tried to apply the things that seemed relevant to me.
I try a lot of things, and I see if it suits me or not.
It took me years to figure out how my body worked, but I finally think I've found the right balance.
And I feel so much better.
Have you evolved in leadership as well?
No, I don't think so.
There are enough leaders in Toulon so that I don't need to speak (
smile
).
I don't feel like a leader.
At least part of the team?
No more.
There is enough experience in the team that I do not feel invested with any mission.
One of your strengths is the touch…
(
It comes alive
) I really appreciate it, yes.
The touch allows me to express my qualities so I work a lot in this sector.
And work pays off (
smile
).
The aggressiveness in the fight too.
(
Laughs
) I don't know if I'm really aggressive… I'm trying to be.
"
Toulon has the ambition to be champion this season
"
What is your analysis of Toulon's mid-season performance?
We're in the Top 6 so we're going to say we're fine.
But I think we can really do better.
And I think we will do better in the second part of the season.
In any case, we will do everything to ...
Where does the RCT need to improve?
We left too many points on the way.
We could have done better.
We have to work on our away matches, that's really what we're lacking this season.
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You were talking about winning titles with the RCT. From this season?
(
Surprised
) Of course.
Like any Top 14 team, we have the ambition to be champion.
Otherwise, we wouldn't play.
Many teams prefer to hide this ambition…
For me, it just makes sense to play to win.
A month later, have you digested the episode of the match lost on the green carpet in Llanelli for refusing to play in the absence of guarantees on the health of the opposing squad?
We lived it badly.
The European Cup is a goal.
Losing a game like that is really disappointing.
But we really made the right decision by not playing this match at Llanelli…
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