Six Nations 2025: ‘French rugby’s Belle Epoque is only just beginning’
A cloud is lacking a punch in their clear blue sky, but given where French rugby is, you now wonder how long they will wait. Prediction: Not long at all.
The French club has won three of the past four Champions Leagues and three of the past four Champions Leagues. If this trend continues within a few months, it will be the most surprising thing in rugby globally.
Defending champion Toulouse has beaten Ulster 61-21, Exeter 64-21 and Leicester 80-12. Impressive contender Bordeaux scored 69 points on Exeter and the Sharks scored 66 points. They are a pair of behemoths.
England is improving, Ireland is back, but France is booming. On Friday, they won the six countries under the age of 20 for the first time since 2018.
Although still a kid, 18 of the 23 who beat Scotland played for their clubs in 18 seasons. Toulouse, Bordeaux, Toulon, La Rochelle – All the largest French guns gave the game time when they were young. They started early here.
Their underage system has seen them win three of the last four junior high World Cups, where they were beaten in another final. One of the scariest things for everyone else is age recognition.
Theo Attissogbe – three tries in his two games in the championship – is only 20. Bielle-Biarrey, Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou, all involved on Saturday, are 21. Nolann le Garrec, who was Maxime Lucu’s dependence, is 22. Leo Barre, not in the squad for the denouement but scorer of two tries in his one game, is also 22.
There are other potential superstars waiting on their wings – Marko Gazzotti, the brilliant loop for Bordeaux’s 20-year-old back row; Emilien Gailleton, the 21-year-old outstanding center from PAU; Nicolas DePoortere, already a big figure in BORDEAUX BACKLINE at 22.
The list is not endless, but sometimes it feels.
You feel overwhelming as they yell, shout and parade the trophys around the French neighborhood, the beauty game in rugby boots has only just begun.
