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The son of Haitian parents, Jordan Joseph is to make his debut for Racing 92 on Friday. The France u20 No8 has been named to start against the Argentina XV in the Rugby Summer Cup in Tbilisi, Georgia.
The 18-year-old was a star performer for France at the year’s Junior World Championship. He would be crowned a champion as France won the title on home soil. Joseph not only played well but he defied age in that he was playing ahead of his time given that it was the World Rugby u20 tournament.
In debuting for Racing 92 Joseph will write a new piece of history for rugby in the Americas. As the son of Haitian parents he becomes the country’s first professional rugby player.
The most high-profile player with connection to Haiti is Contantin Henriquez. A versatile rugby player, The Haitian-born Henriquez played as both a forward and a back doing so at no 8, wing and center. He was the first known coloured athlete to compete in the Olympic Games and also the first to win gold, doing so in Rugby at the 1900 Olympics in Paris.
Curiously he played his club rugby for Racing 92 rivals, Stade Français. While doing so for the Parisians he won the national French club championship in 1897, 1898 and 1901.
Now in 2018 Joseph, a Parisian, will end the long wait of a player with Haitian connections playing at the elite level. Joseph does so as a highly promising player for the future, a realistic prospect to even play for France at a Rugby World Cup.
Prior to joining Racing 92 Joseph played for another Parisian club – RC Massy. The Pro D2 club has produced some significant players over the years. Among them are current French internationals Mathieu Bastareaud, and Yacouba Camara.
