TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE chief executive Cedric Garcia has charted Mathieu Jussaume’s rise to become a Super League Dream Team member.
Jussaume was the first ever Toulouse representative in the Super League Dream Team, with his performances and try-scoring exploits – the second-rower touched down 16 times in 24 games – earning him a place in the prestigious line-up.
The 27-year-old will also be part of the France squad for the World Cup, along with seven other representatives from Olympique: Benjamin Laguerre, César Rougé, Thomas Lacans, Lambert Belmas, Tiaki Chan, Louis Grossemy, and Roméo Tropis.
The rise of Jussaume has been highly significant for Rugby League in France, with the backrower now having made 140 appearances for Toulouse since bursting through the Academy in 2019.
And Garcia, who himself has been at Olympique for 17 years holding various roles along the way, remembers the path Jussaume took to where he is now.
“Mathieu started playing Rugby League as a kid in a community club just outside Toulouse,” Garcia told League Express.
“He then switched to rugby union, signing for Stade Toulousain and winning the under-16 French national title alongside current French international Romain Ntamack.
“Mathieu would then return to league and join the Toulouse Olympique Academy before debuting in 2019 for us in the Championship.
“Few people know this, but Mathieu started out as a centre for a few seasons before he switched to the backrow in 2025.
“He was one of our standout performers in the Championship winning campaign last year and he’s gone from strength to strength ever since that.
“I am proud that he will represent France at the World Cup in Australia because he is a great person and a great player.”
