Where are the Blueberries world champions of 2019?

It is onerous to think about that the final version of the World Below-20 Championship occurred in 2019, however the wait will finish by the tip of June when the most effective junior gamers on the earth will collect in South Africa for high-level conferences in Stellenbosch, Paarl and Cape City, from June 24.

Eire will journey as present Six Nations champions, however that is the France who will arrive because the reigning world champion, on condition that the cup continues to be hers after her June 2019 snatch victory over Australia within the ultimate.

The benefit modified at least seven occasions in Rosario earlier than the French fly-half Louis Carbonel find yourself kicking what turned out to be the profitable penalty with quarter-hour to go on the Hippodrome stadium.

The 24-23 victory noticed France turn into the third nation to win back-to-back U20 titles, following within the footsteps of New Zealand, who received 4 titles in a row from 2008-2011, and England , which held the highest spot in 2013 and once more in 2014.

Carbonel had already starred for France of their 2018 ultimate victory over England and his 14 factors off the tee within the decisive match in Argentina have been instrumental in getting the higher of an Australian aspect who scored the second quickest attempt within the historical past of the U20 Championship, Mark Nawaqanitawase flattening after simply 49 seconds.

The confinement restrictions brought on by the pandemic prevented the group of this World Championship in 2020, 2021 and 2022, however it can hopefully be again. And it isn’t uninteresting to see the progress of the world champion French workforce within the meantime.

Six of the members of the beginning XV for the 2019 ultimate and a alternative have continued their careers in worldwide rugby, half a dozen with France and one other with Portugal. What’s extra, the 27 members of the workforce who took half on this marketing campaign are all taking part in professionally 4 years later, most of them within the Prime 14. Here is what they’ve turn into…

15. Matthis Lebel (additionally world champion in 2018)

Matthis Lebel already had seven picks in Top 14 with Toulouse on the time of this younger match. Since then, he has appropriated the jersey of quantity 11 and performed a vital function within the double championship – Heineken Champions Cup in 2021. He has not advanced in the identical method with France. Solely 5 picks, his most up-to-date tenure courting again to November 2021.

14. Vincent Pinto

One other participant who was already making his method into the Prime 14 earlier than this championship, Pau having began him, however his progress has been restricted. Final season, for instance, he solely began twice within the league. Within the meantime, he has engaged with the Portugal and is seeking to be chosen for the Rugby World Cup. He appeared on the bench within the November 2022 play-off win over america in Dubai.

13. Arthur Vincent (additionally world champion in 2018)

One other participant who was already taking part in within the first workforce when he led the U20s to the Below-20 World Championship. He’s nonetheless at Montpellier, however a ruptured knee ligament at the beginning of the 2021/22 season has hampered him significantly, particularly as he has made the issue worse on his return. Earlier than these setbacks, he had turn into one of many necessary gamers for Fabien Galthié, holder in ten of his 14 picks. He has not been forgotten since he was named this week within the group of 26 gamers of the French workforce for the two-day coaching course in Marcoussis.

12. Julien Delbouis

He was a daily at Stade Français earlier than the youth match and continues to be with the capital membership. He began in 13 of his 20 Prime 14 appearances throughout the marketing campaign which ended final weekend. He was not referred to as up for testing however was named within the coaching group to organize for the Match of Six Nations 2023. It has lifted his spirits as he has had his justifiable share of significant accidents, beginning with a bicep drawback in December 2019 after which cruciate ligament failures in his knee in February and August 2021.

11. Donovan Taofifanua

Little in sight in Clermont on his return from Argentina, he received in 2020 at Racing within the Prime 14. Having turn into a should on the correct wing, he was established no later than throughout the derby received towards Stade Français Saturday June 3, in view of the semi-final of this Friday 9 towards Toulouse. He hasn’t been chosen by the France nationwide workforce, though he entered the coaching squad in 2022/21.

10. Louis Carbonel (additionally world champion in 2018)

He had already established himself as a starter in Toulon earlier than main France to victory within the U20s. He now runs operations at Montpellier since his switch in the summertime of 2022, taking the submit left vacant by the departure of Handre Pollard for Leicester. He took half in 5 Checks in 2020/21 however hasn’t performed for Galthié since.

9. Léo Coly

Mont-de-Marsan in Professional D2 was his gateway to the skilled membership ranks. He continued to play within the second division till he joined Montpellier final summer season, the place he reunited with Carbonel, his under-20 associate.

8. Jordan Joseph (additionally world champion in 2018)

Extremely coveted at Racing, he failed to determine himself as a holder within the Prime 14 till his departure on mortgage for Pau in 2021/22. Stuart Lancaster’s impending arrival at Racing has introduced him again to Paris for the 2023/24 season.

7. Thibault Hamonou

Unable to win in Toulouse and procure a primary begin after the championship, he joined Pau in the summertime of 2021, the place his studying continues to take time. Solely 5 tenures in 2022/23.

6. Matthias Haddad

The younger participant La Rochelle had a gradual development as a result of accidents. Thus, his begin within the 2022 Champions Cup ultimate lasted simply 29 minutes and this season he has been restricted to 4 appearances as a result of knee surgical procedure.

5. Florent Vanverberghe

He had made three appearances with Toulon earlier than this younger match, however a switch to Castres in the summertime of 2020 had the impact of relaunching his profession. As we speak holder in Prime 14, he accompanied France throughout the 2021 tour in Australia, however continues to be not chosen.

4. Killian Geraci (additionally world champion in 2018)

The second line stood out in Grenoble earlier than profitable with the U20s and returned from Argentina to hitch Lyon the place it continues to evolve. The accidents have been quite a few, particularly the cruciate ligaments, however he knew how one can work to be capped 4 occasions with France in 2020/21. He hoped to play once more final November however a warm-up damage price him his place on the bench towards Australia.

3. Alex Burin

The fitting pillar was already current with Agen earlier than his world championship title, however he took a very long time to determine himself afterwards. It was solely final season, in Professional D2, that he grew to become a daily within the quantity 3 shirt, with 14 begins.

2. Theo Lachand

Handed by the hopes of Toulon, he joined Aurillac in the summertime of 2021 to show himself within the first workforce. Participant of the workforce, he began solely 12 of his 31 outings in Professional D2.

1. Jean-Baptiste Gros (additionally world champion in 2018)

He had already made a reputation for himself at Toulon earlier than that 2019 success and continues to enhance there, showing on the bench within the ultimate of the Challenge Cup received final month in Dublin towards Glasgow, after returning in early Could from a damaged forearm suffered final October. This damage was an actual setback, as he was anticipated to interchange Cyril Baille, injured, for the matches of the France workforce in November. He has 21 picks, together with 5 as an alternative within the 5 Grand Slam conferences of 2022.

On the bench

16. Rayne Barka

Did not show himself at Pau, however a Professional D2 mortgage spell at Agen final season inspired him to attempt his luck at Soyaux-Angoulême, with higher luck.

17. That’s, Eglaine

Having come of age at Grenoble in 2021/22, he began fewer video games within the 2022/23 season which ended for the membership in a play-off loss to Perpignan final Saturday.

18. Georgi Beria

The pillar with Georgian roots has slowly constructed his profession on the bench of Clermont.

19. Paul Mallez

One other pillar who needed to bide his time. He performed for Toulouse, the place he made 9 Prime 14 appearances this season, together with seven on the bench.

20. Gauthier Maravat

He discovered the commerce in Agen however the second or third line has signed up for 3 seasons in Castres because the summer season of 2022, changing Loïc Jaquet, additionally a former world champion with the Bleuets (the U21s in 2006) .

21. Mathieu Hirigoyen

He lower his tooth in Professional D2 at Biarritz earlier than becoming a member of Stade Français for 2022/23 after a Prime 14 season. He got here on as an alternative within the play-off towards Racing final weekend.