The U20 Rugby World Championship begins on June 29 in South Africa, where Les Bleus will try to keep their world crown. Discover the five French players to follow during the competition.
Barnabé Massa (Hooker, ex-Grenoble, future Clermont)
The young hooker is already familiar with the international level. After two appearances in the year of the Bleuets’ coronation last year, Barnabé Massa had played two matches this season in the last Six Nations Tournament. Above all, he shone with Grenoble – finalist of Pro D2 then beaten in the play-off for accession to the Top 14 by Montpellier – this year. With the Isère club, he played thirty matches. Unshakeable. Massa has gained momentum as the season has progressed. Sometimes clumsy with his throws, he has progressed, gained confidence and scored nine tries. A lively hooker, the 20-year-old player is above all a poison in the rucks. Logically, he has caught the eye of the recruiters of certain Top 14 clubs and will play at Clermont next season.
Mathis Castro-Ferreira (Third row, Toulouse)
He was promoted to captain during the last U20 Six Nations Tournament. And had a great season with Stade Toulousain. However, in the middle of an XXL third-row composed of Cros, Willis, Roumat and Jelonch, Mathis Castro-Ferreira took advantage of the doubles to show his face. Then logically continued and impressed above all with his incessant activity, his power and his maturity. With only 15 league matches, nine of which as a starter, the flanker scored… nine tries. The Toulouse player will be one of the leaders of this French team, he who was also crowned last year with the young tricolors.
Thierry Breton / Panoramic
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Léo Carbonneau (Scrum half, Brive)
Within a disappointing Brive team this season in Pro D2, Léo Carbonneau was able to do well. Very playful, sometimes too much, he often brought dynamism and already has the charisma of a great “9”, combative , lively and cunning. Son of Philippe, former international of the XV of France (32 caps), the scrum half was for a long time the replacement for Baptiste Jauneau in the under-20s. But he now has the keys to the truck and must also assert himself as a leader.
Thierry Breton / Thierry Breton / Panoramic
Hugo Reus (Flyhalf, La Rochelle)
Hugo Reus will have the difficult task of leading the game, scoring goals and, what’s more, leading his team. The Stade Rochelais flyhalf will be the captain of the Bleuets for the World Championship, he who was also crowned with the tricolors last year. Excellent among young people, he however struggled to establish himself at club level when a place was up for grabs at the opening. But he is young and has time. A reliable scorer, Reus still needs to improve in his distribution of the game and his animation. But the boy has the shoulders. It’s up to him to prove it.
Hoani Bosmorin (Winger, La Rochelle)
His size (1m84, 85 kg) and his long blond hair are reminiscent of former international Gabriel Lacroix, who also played for the French XV and La Rochelle, who had to end his career due to a serious injury. The fiery Rochelais has only appeared four times this season with the maritime club. But at 19, the winger has the future ahead of him. A fast and skilled player under high balls, he should be a constant threat to his opponents. If the Bleuets play hard as they do every year, Bosmorin should be an outstanding finisher.
