Best crop of French youngsters I've seen

[Cumbrian Mackem]

2 hours ago, Adelaide Tiger said:

Some want England to play France annually, but at the moment England would probably put 50 on France and after 1 or 2 years we put it to bed because as a sport we are embarrassed at the lop sided nature rather than sticking with it and in 5-10 years France may close the gap.

Or some people say let’s not play France as it is too one-sided.  So how do France become competitive if they are not tested.

So here is my suggestion why can’t we have the England Knights v France as a stand alone fixture in France.

This will enable fringe England players the opportunity to experience international exposure, give Wane the opportunity to see how players react to the international environment and for France to initially be a little bit more competitive.

I do not see England Knights playing France as demeaning to France.  I see it more as the Australian Prime Minister XIII that has played the PNG Prime Ministers XIII annually since 2005 and that has led to vast improvements to PNG.

So I will sit in the corner with my  tin hat on waiting for criticism.

Play France in France annually at a time when England wouldnt get their Aussie based players released from the NRL.

Maybe also have the French u21’s play England u19’s annually as well.

[barnyia]

2 hours ago, Cumbrian Mackem said:

Play France in France annually at a time when England wouldnt get their Aussie based players released from the NRL.

Maybe also have the French u21’s play England u19’s annually as well.

The academy v france 19s are usually very close games. 

U23s v england u21s? 

Fabre has had a crucuate ligament repair jobby. 

[barnyia]

8 hours ago, The Daddy said:

I defined young as 23 and under but I need to give shout outs to some very good players who are only just above that age but have bright futures.

Jordan Dezaria (prop, loose forward) - An uncompromising forward, rugged and not easy to put down, he's got good go forward. Only just started getting into the Catalan match day squad

Vincent Albert (centre) - Very big for a centre, he's a unit this guy. I've been impressed with his performances in the French league. A lot of potential but I feel he needs to be in a full time environment to get to the next level. I'd love to see Vincent give SL a go

Sophien Bitigri (full back) - Looked in good form for Carcassonne this year. Big and quick and capable of much more, but like Albert he needs to be in a full time environment to flourish 

I'm sure I've just read this somewhere else! 

Impressive french the daddy! 

[The Daddy]

3 hours ago, barnyia said:

I'm sure I've just read this somewhere else! 

Impressive french the daddy! 

Got a bit of help from my mate Google Translate 

[The Daddy]

3 hours ago, barnyia said:

The academy v france 19s are usually very close games. 

U23s v england u21s? 

Fabre has had a crucuate ligament repair jobby. 

I forgot about Baptiste Fabre 

[Kirmonds pouch]

On 30/05/2021 at 01:06, The Daddy said:

This currently has to be the best crop of youngsters in France coming through in SL, Championship and the French competition for a long time. This looks very exciting for France Rugby League. Even Trent Robinson has said that France has a good number of players coming through.

My prediction is that you won't see most of these players featuring for France in this World Cup but in the 2025 World Cup that France could be hosting

See my list below for the players I've seen playing this year that are aged 23 and under, apologies to anyone I missed:

Arthur Morgue - (half back)  Genuine freak of nature, we've seen how dangerous he is running the ball, what we'll start to see when he plays more at half back is his flair and technical ability 

Cesar Rouge (half back) -  Another freak, an athletic, quick and powerful player which is rare for a french half back. if it wasn't for the pandemic he'd be signed to the Melbourne Storm. In only his first season playing in the local French league he's made it to the French World Cup train on squad.

Paul Seguier (prop, back row) - He's mostly been playing prop this season but I think his best position is in the back row, skillful player

Lambert Belmas (prop) - Only a matter of time before he gets a run in the Catalan first team, a rangy decent sized prop which the french have been short of for some time

Hugo Salabio (prop) - I like the way this kid plays, bags of ability. He plays like an enforcer and France have lacked this type of player at prop

Mathieu Cozza (prop) - Already in the Catalan first team squad and now in the France World Cup train on squad. A big chunky prop and difficult to stop 

Jayson Goffin (second row) - Big strong running back rower, rugged and raw he has a lot of development in him but you can already see his potential 

Romain Franco (wing) - Quick, athletic, strong and looks built for the modern game mainly plays on the wing but he's played some games at full back also. I can see him getting promoted to the Catalan first team squad

Jordan Flovie (wing) - Very quick, good all round game. Played a few games at Toulouse recently and I was impressed

Alrix Da Costa (hooker) - Seems like he's been around for ages, already experienced for his age and playing regularly in the SL

Florien Valihen (prop) - Decent sized prop and very quick for a prop his size and a good offload 

Joe Chan (second row) - Already in the Dragons first team squad and made his debut a couple of weeks ago, he has scary pace for a forward

Tiaki Chan (second row) - Every bit as talented as his older brother, highly rated at the Dragons

Corentin Le Cam (second row) - Freakishly tall, I think he's around 6'7 foot, he's been scoring tries for fun in the French local comp. Just a matter of time before he gets a run in the Dragons first team

Mathieu Laguerre (Centre) - Already making an impact in the SL, tall, rangy, quick and skillful. He's got some upper body strength too. Could be in France's first team in the World Cup

Justin Sangare (prop) - Been developing gradually at Toulouse, playing in the Championship. He's playing more and more minutes in the first team. He can be a tough man to put down when he gets going

Lucas Albert (half back) - Already played many SL games but still only 22 so it seems like he's been around for ages, I thought he was one of if not the best players in the French comp

Mathieu Jussaume (centre) - Been impressed with this guy recently in the Championship, he looks lightning quick and has an ability to break out of tackles. He could line up in the French team alongside LaGuerre in the World Cup

Benjamin LaGuerre (full back, wing) Actually Benjamin has played a number of positions but his best position is probably full back, tall, rangy and quick 

Etienne Depeyre (wing) Having a good season in the French league, he's scored some good tries. HE looks to have blistering speed

Hugo Pezet (centre, wing) Highly rated at Toulouse and came through their centre of excellence, just a matter of time before he gets game time in the full time Toulouse team

Maxime Jobe (centre) - Very impressed with this kid, got all the ingredients to be a top draw centre. France rugby league are very lucky to have him and I wouldn't be surprised if union clubs tried to poach him

Louis Carre (centre) - Typical modern day centre, athletic and well rounded

Corentin Rey (full back, wing) - Big, quick, still very young, had a good season. I'd love to see him sign up with the Dragons or Toulouse

Well that’s an impressive list, problem is we’ve heard it all before. People fantasise about French RL in a way that I find tragic.

let’s revisit this thread in five years, I’d bet my house that your list will be much much shorter.

[Cumbrian Mackem]

10 minutes ago, Kirmonds pouch said:

Well that’s an impressive list, problem is we’ve heard it all before. People fantasise about French RL in a way that I find tragic.

let’s revisit this thread in five years, I’d bet my house that your list will be much much shorter.

And I’d bet that it would be much larger, especially if Toulouse win promotion.

The problem is exposing these players to super league 1st team action be it with the dragons, Toulouse or the English based sides.

[The Daddy]

1 hour ago, Kirmonds pouch said:

Well that’s an impressive list, problem is we’ve heard it all before. People fantasise about French RL in a way that I find tragic.

let’s revisit this thread in five years, I’d bet my house that your list will be much much shorter.

I suppose every thread has to have at least one negative whinging post 

[audois]

12 hours ago, The Frying Scotsman said:

Recovering from a knee operation.

I was wondering where he had got to. The teenage Albi half back went with the Dragons Cesar Rouge to the Melbourne Storm formation programme early last year.

[Cumbrian Mackem]

7 minutes ago, audois said:

I was wondering where he had got to. The teenage Albi half back went with the Dragons Cesar Rouge to the Melbourne Storm formation programme early last year.

Doesn’t the storm have a French guy working in their youth setup looking to recruit youngsters from France and New Caledonia?

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

8 hours ago, Cumbrian Mackem said:

Play France in France annually at a time when England wouldnt get their Aussie based players released from the NRL.

Maybe also have the French u21’s play England u19’s annually as well.

We should have the following fixtures on an annual basis every year, it would benefit both sides International sides. If we are going to play England v Exiles they should be on a standalone rep weekend with Wales v Ireland and Scotland v Jamaica too.

France v England Knights

France U20’s v England U19’s

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

2 hours ago, Kirmonds pouch said:

Well that’s an impressive list, problem is we’ve heard it all before. People fantasise about French RL in a way that I find tragic.

let’s revisit this thread in five years, I’d bet my house that your list will be much much shorter.

It’s no fantasy, France produce plenty of Super League and Championship players. Not as many as England, Australia or New Zealand, but they are producing players year in year out. 

[audois]

Present players in the Dragons Super League group include Yaha, De Costa and Seguire who were from the first U19s Acadamy group which played across the Channel. Their last Academy group though included Mourgue and Le Cam. It was costing €600,000 a season so the club had to look for ways elsewhere.

Le Cam along with Cozza and Joe Chan and with Laguerre, who arrived originally from the Salon Pole Espoir - the four designated 'Apprentices' for 2021.

The Dragons are presently scouting around for new talent for 2021/2022/2023. The Director of Formation is Bruno Castany and has team of a dozen including coaches/trainers, medicals/physios.

Infrastructures include 3 pitches, 3 Stadiums and weights/wrestling facilities.

See here.

 

[Cumbrian Mackem]

12 minutes ago, audois said:

Present players in the Dragons Super League group include Yaha, De Costa and Seguire who were from the first U19s Acadamy group which played across the Channel. Their last Academy group though included Mourgue and Le Cam. It was costing €600,000 a season so the club had to look for ways elsewhere.

Le Cam along with Cozza and Joe Chan and with Laguerre, who arrived originally from the Salon Pole Espoir - the four designated 'Apprentices' for 2021.

The Dragons are presently scouting around for new talent for 2021/2022/2023. The Director of Formation is Bruno Castany and has team of a dozen including coaches/trainers, medicals/physios.

Infrastructures include 3 pitches, 3 Stadiums and weights/wrestling facilities.

See here.

 

The high cost of running the dragons academy which competed against their English counterparts is a shame because the dragons were not only competing but regularly turning over some of the better teams.

[barnyia]

29 minutes ago, audois said:

Present players in the Dragons Super League group include Yaha, De Costa and Seguire who were from the first U19s Acadamy group which played across the Channel. Their last Academy group though included Mourgue and Le Cam. It was costing €600,000 a season so the club had to look for ways elsewhere.

Le Cam along with Cozza and Joe Chan and with Laguerre, who arrived originally from the Salon Pole Espoir - the four designated 'Apprentices' for 2021.

The Dragons are presently scouting around for new talent for 2021/2022/2023. The Director of Formation is Bruno Castany and has team of a dozen including coaches/trainers, medicals/physios.

Infrastructures include 3 pitches, 3 Stadiums and weights/wrestling facilities.

See here.

 

Yes this is for 15 to 18 year olds to study for the bac and train. Probably be used by the other teams as well. 

[Kirmonds pouch]

7 hours ago, The Daddy said:

I suppose every thread has to have at least one negative whinging post 

I suppose there are always people like you who can’t abide having their overblown opinions challenged.

I think you’re wrong, learn to accept the world doesn’t revolve around you.

[The Daddy]

23 hours ago, Cumbrian Mackem said:

Doesn’t the storm have a French guy working in their youth setup looking to recruit youngsters from France and New Caledonia?

They do but I can't remember his name 

[Cumbrian Mackem]

2 minutes ago, The Daddy said:

They do but I can't remember his name 

The fabulously named Laurent Garnier who you could imagine being the founder or CEO of a fancy French cosmetics company with a name like that.

[audois]

Garnier coached Carcassonne a few years back. From Perpignan oringinally I think. He was the connection to getting Rouge and Fabre over to Melbourne Storm.

[binosh]

That’s great news that English RL has funded the improvement of the french youngsters whilst the English youth system falls apart.

[barnyia]

I think he coached palau after carcassonne let him go. 

[Cumbrian Mackem]

1 hour ago, audois said:

Garnier coached Carcassonne a few years back. From Perpignan oringinally I think. He was the connection to getting Rouge and Fabre over to Melbourne Storm.

Did he go directly to Melbourne or was he already in Australia?

[Cumbrian Mackem]

17 minutes ago, binosh said:

That’s great news that English RL has funded the improvement of the french youngsters whilst the English youth system falls apart.

I highly doubt any English money was spent on French junior RL but if you can prove otherwise let’s see it?

[barnyia]

He was over there coaching a under 16s team before he came back to coach carcassonne. It didn't go too well and i heard he was a bit too australian in his way of playing for france. Lots of one up rugby around the play the ball. He went back after coaching palau and he has something to do with the pacific xiii as well i believe. 

[Cumbrian Mackem]

3 minutes ago, barnyia said:

He was over there coaching a under 16s team before he came back to coach carcassonne. It didn't go too well and i heard he was a bit too australian in his way of playing for france. Lots of one up rugby around the play the ball. He went back after coaching palau and he has something to do with the pacific xiii as well i believe. 

I read that too. Some sort of development officer working with the French Pacific team.