There are weeks like this where everything comes together. This is surely what the young Léo Carbonneau and Tom Raffy, from the 2004 generation, think. After signing their first Espoir contract this week, they are going to Italy to play their first minutes in international competition.
The two young players were called up by the manager of the France team under-18 Cédric Laborde to play preparatory matches at the Six Nations Festival. They will also both start this Saturday against Italy, a match which will take place at 3 p.m. at the Léonardo Garili stadium in Plaisance. Léo Carbonneau the scrum-half and Tom Raffy the fly-half will thus form a 100% Brive hinge.
Their selection was praised by Sébastien Bonnet, director of the CA Brive training center: “Tom and Leo work hard for this with their comrades” he explains. “This type of selection is always very rewarding in building a career for a young player, their experience will benefit the progression of the Crabos group.”
Future Hopes of Brivist Training
It will surely also benefit the Espoirs group next season, since Léo Carbonneau and Tom Raffy signed their Espoir contract with the CAB this week, along with three other young players (Loan Lavergne, Mathis Ferte and David Geneste). Arrived in 2016 at the training center, they were vice-champions of France with the Cadets-Gauderman team. “Our goal is to offer them a rugby work and study environment that meets the requirements of the high level.” emphasizes Sébastien Bonnet.
This means that Léo Carbonneau and Tom Raffy will miss, on the other hand, the match of their friends and comrades of the Crabos this Saturday, proposed as a curtain raiser and on the field of honor against Provence Rugby at 2:30 p.m. to support them before the meeting, and vice versa.