Jonathan Wisniewski
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Wisniewski is a French
rugby union
fly-half, currently playing for the Top 14 team Racing Métro.
. In 2000, he left for Castres
, but only stayed for one year, joining the Toulouse
youth academy in 2001 at age 16. He stayed there for four years, even making one appearance for the senior team during the 2004–05 season. He signed his first professional contract for Aix-en-Provence
, who were unfortunately relegated from Pro D2
to Fédérale 1
at the end of the season, forcing Wisniewski to leave. He signed for Castres, but the arrival of New-Zealander Cameron McIntyre moved him to third-choice fly-half, and he was asked to leave during the winter break by his president. Wisniewski joined Colomiers
in January, when the club was already doomed to relegation, but the six months spent there turned out to be a very positive personal experience for him, and his form caught the eye of ambitious Racing Métro manager Pierre Berbizier
, who signed him the following summer. He overtook All-Black legend Andrew Mehrtens
as first-choice fly-half in his first season for the club, and has remained first choice since, despite the arrival of such big names as François Steyn
and Juan Martín Hernández
. He was an integral part of Racing's first
Heineken Cup
campaign, that unfortunately ended in the group stage, behind Leinster
and Clermont
, but in front of Saracens
.
during the 2010 Churchill Cup
.
In 2009, he turned down Nick Mallett
's offer to play for the Italian national team
. He was subsequently called up by Marc Lièvremont
as a replacement for the injured François Trinh-Duc
for the French national team
in the 2010 autumn internationals
. Unfortunately, he injured himself a few days later as well and was himself replaced by David Skrela
. He did not feature in the 30-man squad announced by Lièvremont for the 2011 Six Nations Championship
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
fly-half, currently playing for the Top 14 team Racing Métro.
Club career
Wisniewski started playing rugby at a youth level for GaillacUA Gaillac
Union Athlétique Gaillac is a French rugby union club currently competing in the Fédérale 3 league, the third level of the French amateur league system, after having been forcibly relegated from the second level of the French professional league due to serious financial problems...
. In 2000, he left for Castres
Castres Olympique
Castres Olympique is a French rugby union club located in the Midi-Pyrénées city of Castres and currently competing in the top level of the French league system.Founded in 1898, the club took its current name in 1906...
, but only stayed for one year, joining the Toulouse
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
youth academy in 2001 at age 16. He stayed there for four years, even making one appearance for the senior team during the 2004–05 season. He signed his first professional contract for Aix-en-Provence
Pays d'Aix RC
Pays d'Aix RC is a French rugby union club currently playing in Pro D2, the second tier of the country's professional system. They arrived in Pro D2 for the 2009–10 season after earning promotion from the top amateur league, Fédérale 1....
, who were unfortunately relegated from Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second level of domestic club rugby union in France, below the first division, Top 14. The competition was introduced in 2000. There is relegation and promotion between both the Top 14 and Fédérale 1, the third-level competition...
to Fédérale 1
Fédérale 1
Le championnat de France de première division fédérale, a.k.a. Fédérale 1, is a French rugby union club competition, the highest level of amateur rugby. The competition has been organised by the Fédération Française de Rugby since 2000, when it replaced the B2 Group...
at the end of the season, forcing Wisniewski to leave. He signed for Castres, but the arrival of New-Zealander Cameron McIntyre moved him to third-choice fly-half, and he was asked to leave during the winter break by his president. Wisniewski joined Colomiers
US Colomiers
US Colomiers is a French rugby union club currently competing in Fédérale 1, the third level of the French rugby pyramid. They had been relegated from Pro D2 after finishing last in the 2006-07 season, but earned promotion from Fédérale 1 at the first opportunity in 2007-08, and survived a...
in January, when the club was already doomed to relegation, but the six months spent there turned out to be a very positive personal experience for him, and his form caught the eye of ambitious Racing Métro manager Pierre Berbizier
Pierre Berbizier
Pierre Berbizier is a French former rugby union footballer, and currently head coach of Top 14 side Racing Métro. His usual position was at scrum-half. He played 56 times for France.-Biography:Berbizier was born in Saint-Gaudens...
, who signed him the following summer. He overtook All-Black legend Andrew Mehrtens
Andrew Mehrtens
Andrew Philip Mehrtens MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, currently playing in France for Béziers, a club in the third-level Fédérale 1 league...
as first-choice fly-half in his first season for the club, and has remained first choice since, despite the arrival of such big names as François Steyn
François Steyn
Francois Steyn is a South African rugby union player, who plays for the South African national team; and Racing Métro 92 in Paris. He was a member of the South African team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup...
and Juan Martín Hernández
Juan Martín Hernández
Juan Martín Hernández is an Argentine rugby union player. A mainstay of the Argentina national team, he currently plays for the Paris club Racing Métro in the French Top 14 competition. His 2010 move to Racing brought him back to the city where he had begun his professional career in 2003 with...
. He was an integral part of Racing's first
2010–11 Heineken Cup
The 2010–11 Heineken Cup was the 16th season of the Heineken Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from the top six nations in European rugby...
Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
campaign, that unfortunately ended in the group stage, behind Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
and Clermont
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club...
, but in front of Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
.
International career
Wisniewski has been capped twice with the French under-21 national team (Italy in 2005 and Wales in 2006), and has also played with the France A teamFrance A national rugby union team
The France A national rugby union team, known previously as France XV national rugby union team and France B national rugby union team, are the second national rugby union team behind the French national side.-History:...
during the 2010 Churchill Cup
2010 Churchill Cup
The 2010 Churchill Cup, the eighth edition of an annual international rugby union tournament, was taking place in the Denver and New York City metropolitan areas...
.
In 2009, he turned down Nick Mallett
Nick Mallett
Nicholas Vivian Howard Mallett is a former South African rugby union player who was until recently the head coach of the Italian national team, previously replacing Pierre Berbizier on 3 October 2007...
's offer to play for the Italian national team
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
. He was subsequently called up by Marc Lièvremont
Marc Lièvremont
Marc Lièvremont is a former rugby union footballer and was the head coach of the French national rugby union team. He played as a back-row forward for France, gaining 25 caps from 1995 to 1999, and was selected in France's 1999 Rugby World Cup squad...
as a replacement for the injured François Trinh-Duc
François Trinh-Duc
François Trinh-Duc is a French rugby union player for Montpellier Hérault RC in France's top division of rugby union, the Top 14. Trinh-Duc's regular position is at fly-half or outside centre.-Biography:...
for the French national team
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
in the 2010 autumn internationals
2010 end of year rugby tests
The 2010 end of year rugby tests, also known as the Autumn internationals in the northern hemisphere, will see Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and tour the northern hemisphere. Test matches will also be arranged involving the various Pacific island teams and other non-Tier 1...
. Unfortunately, he injured himself a few days later as well and was himself replaced by David Skrela
David Skrela
David Skrela is a French rugby union footballer. He plays for the French national side and for ASM Clermont Auvergne as a fly-half or centre. He is renowned for his tackles and his kick....
. He did not feature in the 30-man squad announced by Lièvremont for the 2011 Six Nations Championship
2011 Six Nations Championship
The 2011 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2011 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 12th series of the Six Nations Championship. The annual northern hemisphere rugby union championship was contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy,...
.