2023-09-27 11:11:05
Aged 20, the Union Bordeaux Bègles winger scored points within the French XV by scoring, for his first World Cup, three tries in two matches. The one who was one of the surprises among the players selected by Fabien Galthié for the World Cup is gaining strength and can succeed in establishing himself as an essential starter for the Blues. Portrait.
Published on: 09/27/2023 – 1:11 p.m.
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At the age of 20, French winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey (known as LBB) has seen life rosy – or rather blue – since the start of the Rugby World Cup.
In two matches with the France team – both as a starter – the Union Bordeaux Bègles (UBB) player scored three tries: one against Uruguay and two against Namibia.
Against Uruguay, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 1.85 m and 85 kg, was the youngest French international to play a World Cup match.
Brilliant against Namibia
Against Namibia, LBB distinguished itself with brilliant actions. Among them: a “decisive” pass caviar addressed to Jonathan Danty, allowing him to register, at 30, for a try for his first World Cup match.
Another image – still during the match against the Namibian “Welwitschias” –, a crazy race by Louis Bielle-Biarrey throughout the opposing half of the field, which sees his Namibian opponent unable to catch up, and which ends with yet another try for the Blues, the second of the match for LBB.
His speed is one of his strong points. Confiding in Actu Rugby at the end of July – before the list of 33 players selected for the World Cup was officially revealed – the French XV forwards coach, William Servat, declared: “When we see Louis peak at 35 km/h, it marks the spirits. He has a huge appetite.”
In the list of 42 then 33
In total, in five selections with the XV of France, Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored four tries. On August 5, as part of the preparation matches for the World Cup, he scored his first try in selection against Scotlandeven if France ultimately lost (21-25).
Trained at RC Seyssins, in Isère where he was born, he studied in Grenoble before arriving in 2021 at Union Bordeaux-Bègles (UBB). He also played for two years in the French XV under 20 (U20).
He was one of the surprises on the list of 33 players selected by Fabien Galthié for the World Cup organized in France. “We have often asked ourselves the question: do we take it from the U20s on Wednesday or do we leave it (…)? We can never close the door to the outbreak”, indicated the French coach. Louis Bielle-Biarrey was already part of the list of 42 players selected to prepare for the competition.
If he had played with the under-20s, he would have been crowned world champion in South Africa, after the Bleuets’ victory against Ireland on July 14. But the man we recognize on the field thanks to his favorite red helmet can now hope to lift the Webb Ellis trophy with “the big guys”.
In an interview given to Midi Olympique at the end of August, Maxime Lucu, his club and national teammate, speaks of him as “someone amazing”. Saying he knows him “more than well”, he confides: “When I see the performances he accomplishes at UBB and with the XV of France, so easily and quickly, it proves his talent.”
“I want to complete my studies”
With UBB, Louis Bielle-Biarrey has also gained momentum. The world recalls that he distinguished himself, in his second professional match, with a hat-trick in the Champions Cup (European Cup) against the Welsh Scarlets. And for this first season at Bordeaux Bègles, he reached the semi-finals of the Top 14 in 2022.
But like almost all 20-year-olds, Louis Bielle-Biarrey doesn’t just have rugby. He is also a student. A double life not easy to manage. His participation in the World Cup caused him to miss exams as part of the diploma he was preparing in IUT, in business management and administration.
“I had (university) catch-up sessions at the start of the year, I couldn’t go. For studies, it’s more and more complicated to do both but I’m going to hang on”, a- he declared, although it may take him longer than the other students in his class. “I want to complete my studies. Personally, it does me good not to think about rugby all the time. I have to do it intelligently so that I stay good at rugby and so that studies don’t take up too much of my time either. Ultimately, I would like to finish the training that I started,” added the Girondin.
In the meantime, it’s time for the show. After three consecutive victories, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and his teammates must take advantage of the few days of rest they have before facing Italy on October 6 in Lyon.
With AFP
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