Called, at least, for the internship of the XV of France in Monaco, from July 2 to 14, Emilien Gailleton, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Thomas Laclayat and Paul Boudehent have not yet counted any selection so far.
Novices who are not so many. This is how we could qualify Emilien Gailleton, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Thomas Laclayat or Paul Boudehent. Members of the list of 42 players unveiled on June 21 by Fabien Galthié to prepare for the World Cup, the four players are the only elected players to have never worn the blue jersey, despite several presences in the extended groups. However, they already accumulate, each in their own way, a great experience of the high level. Present in Monaco, since Sunday July 2 and until the 14, they now have two months to convince the management of the XV of France to include them in the 33 who will be at the World Cup, which begins on September 8.
Emilien Gailleton, the phenomenon
Landed from Agen during the 2022 off-season, Emilien Gailleton more than confirmed the hopes placed in him with Pau. At just 19 years old, the one who is usually captain of the U20s of the France team, has overcome all the obstacles of integration into the Top 14 with flying colors. Best director in the championship (14 tries) and capable of playing center or winger, he fully contributed to maintaining his team. Finishing qualities that impress his teammates, like Thibault Daubagna, scrum half from Pau: “He has this ability to be in support, to finish the actions, to be in the right place to score. It’s a big strong point.“
Above all, he was very consistent, not missing a match from the second day, to end the season with 24 Top 14 matches on the clock, including 18 starts. The fruit of a “brilliant ability to acclimatize immediately to the step above” according to his coach Sébastien Piqueronies, who emphasizes “that each time he is offered a step to climb, a step, he does it with great ease“.
And his performances did not go unnoticed, since Fabien Galthié called him up several times in 2023. And if he extended until 2026 with Pau, it is also a sign of the confidence he inspires. “VShe is a very humble person, but also terribly ambitious. He tries, each time he is in a new environment, to find the resources to radiate there“, even testifies his trainer to the Section. Aware of the fierce competition for his position, the latter thinks that he has “the weapons to convince Fabien Galthié“.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey, confirmation, one year after the revelation
Revealed during his first pro tenure last year – he had scored a hat-trick in the European Cup – Louis Bielle-Biarrey seized his chance perfectly this season. He thus validated the choice of Union Bordeaux-Bègles to fully integrate him into the first team, with 19 starts in 21 Top 14 matches, but also 5 tries, confirming that he was a hell of a finisher.
In South West in May [article payant], Frédéric Charrier, his coach at UBB, confirmed that his player seemed to have turned a corner. “It is constantly progressing on each outing. He’s a young player who has a lot of speed, who has a sense of timing, of the game..” A set of qualities that make him a top player, in a team that reached the semi-finals of the Top 14 for the third consecutive season.
Able to evolve both on the wing and at the back, he shows a certain versatility, with a staff who appreciate these profiles. If he starts from afar, as the other candidates for the two positions are numerous and present certainties at the highest international level, he will logically have a chance to show himself during the preparation. “He is very fast, he can cover full-back and winger positions. He has a profile that can please the coach a lot“, harangues his coach.
Thomas Laclayat, pure strength but not only
Thomas Laclayat, who will play for Racing from next season, is a special case. A Pro D2 player, he has been regularly called up by Fabien Galthié since the Japan tour in the summer of 2022. Shining with Oyonnax this season and crowned champion, the right pillar has caused his vis-à-vis an ordeal throughout some exercice. Very strong in closed scrum, as evidenced by his coach, former international, Vincent Debaty, “vsis a pillar who is very strong on the bases, on the scrum (…) who does not seek to cheat, but really to win his duel with the first line in front“he also showed a certain flair to finish in the opposing in-goal, with his 12 tries in the league this season.
A rare total for a pillar, which proves that it is not one-dimensional. His trial in the Pro D2 semi-finals last year is certainly the best example of a player who fits into the modernity of rugby. “He is an intelligent player, who knows how to optimize his efforts, who understands rugby well and who above all learns quickly. It’s something that makes the difference at the highest level“, notes Vincent Debaty once again.
Physical skills and effort management that Thomas Laclayat has not always had. Endowed with a nice speed, “he must be 1m78 or 80 and 122 kilos, but he goes at more than 30 km/h“ according to Vincent Debaty, he had to understand the importance of physical work. A notion also assimilated to contact with the Blues: “The France team allowed him to realize the level of the other pillars on the physical level.” As a result, he has played 24 games this season, for 21 starts. A whole set of progressions that make his trainer say he “will continue to progress and evolve anywhere“.
Paul Boudehent, the versatile
Despite very strong competition in his third line wing position, Paul Boudehent has been a regular at rallies in Marcoussis since January 2022. And his performance in the club, where he has fully imposed himself, justifies such regularity, he who took on a new dimension this season. Already well established in the maritime group last year, he confirmed that he had to be counted on within the La Rochelle pack. With 25 games, including 15 as a starter, he once again kept up the pace of a season that stretched until June.
Already double European champion at 23, Paul Boudehent has also shown that he is not afraid of big challenges. Substitute in the semi-finals of the European Cup this season, but brought into play earlier than expected (18th minute), he simply finished as his team’s best tackler. In good third row, he also repeated this performance in the semi-finals of Top 14 against Bordeaux, in the shoes of a holder this time.
With his 1.93 m and 107 kilos, Paul Boudehent has a colossal physique, which he couples with a striking speed, very useful in the end. Impressive physical qualities, as pointed out Roman Carmignani, coach of the La Rochelle forwards, before the Top 14 final.He is one of the players who goes the fastest and runs the longest, who has the best stats in muscu“Long hampered by injuries, the third row”used it to build“, still according to Romain Carmignani, for today “pay attention to what he eats, to all the invisible part“.