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Getting to know: France U20s out-half Hugo Reus

247 days ago

France U20s captain Hugo Reus (Photo by Shaun Roy/World Rugby)

Thursday’s second match day at the World Rugby U20 Championship promises another edge-of-seat day of entertainment with plenty of must-see games. Amongst them is the heavyweight meeting of defending world champions France and current Rugby Championship champions New Zealand in Stellenbosch.

Both teams won their opening games last Saturday, the French defeating Spain at DHL Stadium and the Kiwis picking off Wales at Athlone. A standout moment in the victory for France was the incredible out-the-back, no-look pass produced by Hugo Reus in the third minute to create his team’s opening try. Hang it in the Louvre was the general reaction.

Reus was only a late confirmation in the French squad, as it wasn’t until La Rochelle were eliminated from the Top 14 at the semi-final stage that his name was pencilled in to travel out before their opening match.

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The No10 was also named as his country’s captain, and it was after he had descended from a photoshoot on top of the DHL Stadium roof that he set aside a few minutes to rattle through the Getting to Know RugbyPass Q&A interview:

THE BASICS
Born: February 21, 2004;
Joined France age-grade: U18, 2021/22;
Club: La Rochelle;
Height: 6ft;
Weight: 84kg;
Position: Out-half;
Boots: Adidas Predator;
Gumshield: Prochocs;
Headgear: No;
School: Victor Louis.

Oh my word Hugo Reus, what a pass! ?
A memorable opening score at the #WorldRugbyU20s for @FranceRugby ??#FRAvESP pic.twitter.com/4reHDkLTLl
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 29, 2024

RATE YOURSELF (out of 100)
Pace: Have no clue;
Passing: It’s good, it’s my position at fly-half. I don’t know? 80;
Tackling: I don’t tackle much in the game. 60;
Kicking: 90.

THE PAST
My favourite France player of all time is… I would say Freddie Michalak;

Favourite try I have ever scored is… I would say for La Rochelle (doesn’t specify which one);

A rugby memory that makes me smile is… Last year when we were U20s world champions;

The moment I realised I could make it is… I would say last year when I signed my first contract;

One piece of advice I would give to my younger self is… To continue to work hard;

My best subject in school was… PE;

The first player who made me fall in love with rugby is… Jonny Wilkinson;

Growing up, my position was… I played centre and yes, the back, but mainly fly-half;

The coach who has most impacted my game is… I would say Ronan O’Gara.

THE PRESENT
My best attributes on the field are… My kicking, I think;

One thing I’m doing to improve my education is… Yes, I do business school (Excelia);

My favourite current France player is… I would say Antoine Dupont;

My favourite YouTuber is… Yeah, yeah, I would say Squeezie;

My hardest working teammate is… I would say Leo Carbonneau;

My most skilful teammate is… Leo Carbonneau;

My favourite training drill is… To do some kicking;

My favourite music artist is… Now? Bigflo & Oli.

Fixture

World Rugby U20 Championship

France U20

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New Zealand U20

All Stats and Data

THE FUTURE
A player who could go all the way is… I hope some of the players do. I would say Mathis Ferte;

If I could play with anyone, I would like to play with… I would say Antoine Dupont;

I will be happy with my career if I… To go to the big team of French rugby and to win some trophy;

One thing I want to add to my game is… I would say my skill;

If I could play in any other country, I would play in… New Zealand;

One person I want to meet is… I would say Jonny Wilkinson;

One trophy I would love to win is… A World Cup.

Click here to sign up to RugbyPass TV for free live coverage of matches from the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship in countries that don’t have an exclusive local host broadcaster deal

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Comments on RugbyPass

Chris929 16 minutes ago

Carol Isherwood appointed to historic Lions role

I couldnt leave maud muir out, so playing her and bern makes sense-muir has played plenty at LH in the past. Nothing much between callender/kabeya-but callender is often excellent and stands out in a poor wales side. Its not quite all red roses back line-went for bevan at 9 who i think would be excellent behind such a strong pack. Rowland often gets shunted in at centre or even at full back- i still think shes best at 10 and possibly has better all round game than atichison/harrison. being a lions side you dont have to copy england!

4 Go to comments

PR 1 hour ago

France change two for Ireland but stick with 7-1 bench tactic

Yes, and YOU weren’t screwed over by a draw, yet I’ve never seen someone take a loss so personally. You’ve been bleating about this since 2023 for goodness sake - shoe-horning it into any and every conversation. Just let it go. It’s an embarrassingly weak argument that does your team and its (largely pleasant) supporters base no favours at all.

38 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 1 hour ago

The numbers show Super Rugby Pacific just got even tougher

“…….this is the most exciting start to a Super Rugby campaign in recent memory.” That is for sure, Brett.

Back to comment more later. Still dry here in Toowoomba, so out to finish last touches to home defences, before Cyclone Alfred really affects us. Gold Coast with over 200 mm rain in some places. Currently looks like we get rain but not bad winds.

1 Go to comments

Rugby 101 - Ed Pye 1 hour ago

The revitalised Australians are pushing a Super Rugby revival

Super Rugby refs are already starting to slow down - note the amount of times the 2sec call is made at rucks and the slow downs on scrum resets. The refs need to be constantly encouraged to keep things moving

49 Go to comments

Rugby 101 - Ed Pye 1 hour ago

Will Vern Cotter succumb to second season Blues in Auckland?

Not if they dont have home finals and they are already dicing with that. They dont appear to have evolved much from last year

17 Go to comments

RedWarriors 1 hour ago

France change two for Ireland but stick with 7-1 bench tactic

Again we beat SA in Durban with an injury ravaged team. Guys like you have been predicting Irelands downfall for years for the same reasons.

Re the draw: NZ and SA were making plenty of noise about the draw until they squeeked through. SA and NZ don’t ‘rise above’ the draw. They BENEFIT from it!!

Should Scotland #5 seed globally but drawn in a Pool with Ireland and South Africa just have ‘risen above it’? Wow, if only your advice had occurred to them.

Should Japan in 2015 have ‘risen above it’ and beaten Scotland when forced to play them 4 days after beating South Africa?

That old chesnut about Ireland playing too many players in 2023. Ireland showed no fatigue in the RWC. We played the backline a lot early for coordination as Sexton back from ban. For professional sports people, you need to look at extreme fatigue to failure at the end of full intensity matches. They are the pertinent minutes. A backline running shapes for 60 mins against Romania is not a recovery issue. Amateur statisticians adding up minutes and jumping to silly conclusions means little.

I saw South Africa struggle badly with fatigue after the Quarter Final. Against Engalnd, in the final, you needed luck. You didn’t rise above it: you got poxed.

(BTW son. YOU haven’t won a World Cup

Also to note: you are jsut adding to the reputation of SA as having the most thin skinned supporters on the planet. A comment about Ireland dominating SA physcially and you can’t accept it. SA are never domianted! (even when they are))

38 Go to comments

Rugby 101 - Ed Pye 1 hour ago

Will Vern Cotter succumb to second season Blues in Auckland?

I thought that call was way off - the Canes had dominance at that point and the Blues were under huge pressure. Dominance overrules technical infractions because there are so many technical infractions

17 Go to comments

Rugby 101 - Ed Pye 1 hour ago

New Zealand Rugby should avoid a deal with Kalyn Ponga

Teams buying league players have to play them in the right positions…Tuivasa Sheck was absolutely wasted at 12…the only reason he played there is because that’s where the ABs were lightest and where he thought he could make the team. He should have been on the wing where his footwork and speed could have been most effective.

12 Go to comments

BC 1 hour ago

Carol Isherwood appointed to historic Lions role

Agree with much of what you say, depends on format of tour, size of touring party and who is showing the best form in 2027. Your selections are interesting, firstly because you pick Sam Monaghan above Galligan and Ward. I do not disagree with Wafer, especially as in 2027 she will be reaching her peak but I would find room for Kabaya, same applies. An all Red Rose back line is also interesting especially with Rowland at 10. I would not argue with that though many might. How can you leave any of the Red Roses back line out? Will any non-Red Rose meet the standards of the Red Roses, I hope so. Excellent debate, thank you.

4 Go to comments

PR 2 hours ago

France change two for Ireland but stick with 7-1 bench tactic

Oh here we go again - the draw. If Ireland were that good they would rise above the draw. South Africa did. New Zealand did. Ireland, not so much. You seem to think that it matters what happens in the group stages of the WC. The ONLY thing that matters at World Cups is who lifts the cup in the end. That’s it. Do you take any pride in Ireland being ‘the best’ in your group at the World Cup? Does it make up for the hurt of crashing out in the quarters? Do you think it means anything to the All Blacks that they beat the Boks in the pool game in 2019? Of course not. You only care about those things when, like Ireland, you don’t progress past the knock out stages and are looking for silver linings.

Leinster beating an injury-ravaged Stormers means nothing. For starters the best player in the Leinster team was RG Snyman. Also a young Leinster team lost 62-7 to the Bulls a couple of years ago. You don’t know how good youngsters are until they play Test rugby. And that’s the concern for Ireland. They have blooded some youngsters but by-and-large they need to play their best team to get results. We saw it at the World Cup when the game minutes of Ireland players were off the scale.

Meanwhile the Boks had a 85% win record last year chopping and changing using 50 players. This year the wider Bok squad stands at 80. And Rassie will keep experimenting.

As for the Six Nations - I love it. Great comp (even though it only delivered one team in the last four at the last WC). I love the rivalry and the rich history, although winning it is no way near comparable to winning a World Cup. Maybe you need to have won one to understand.

38 Go to comments

Rugby 101 - Ed Pye 2 hours ago

New Zealand's coaching drain weakens the All Blacks

What would you have expected his record to be with the resources he has available? I think 3 wins out of 14 would have been acceptable

17 Go to comments

BA 2 hours ago

New Zealand Rugby should avoid a deal with Kalyn Ponga

Wouldn’t touch him with a barge pole? It would depend on how much the barge pole costs I reckon because he would def deserve at least a sniff

12 Go to comments

Layla Madison 2 hours ago

England explain why Marcus Smith is set for extended full-back role

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3 Go to comments

Chris929 2 hours ago

Carol Isherwood appointed to historic Lions role

TBH we have had very little detail about the womens lions tour-presumably it will be a 3 test series v NZ but will there be warm up games,mid week games ? we dont know. it may be there are no midweek games,so a smaller squad of 30 may go if thats the case. I cant see many travelling fans besides families going-womens rugby is not at that point yet especially with the mens world cup in australia the following month.The hope is the NZ public turn out for the games(black ferns crowds have been poor since the WC). In terms of representation-theres still 2 years to go and a lot can change. Right now england would deserve to dominate a squad but in 2 years ,who knows? but it must be picked on merit only. we have had mens lions teams where 11/12 starters are from 1 country so theres no problem doing it for the womens. My team right now- Muir,Cokayne,Bern,Aldcroft,Monaghan,Wafer,Callender,Matthews, Bevan, Rowland, Dow,Heard, M Jones,Breach,Kildunne

4 Go to comments

Bull Shark 2 hours ago

The revitalised Australians are pushing a Super Rugby revival

I am Delisha, I find my marital affairs in a fluid situation; my husband left me with 2kids I felt like ending it all. I was emotionally down. But all thanks go to Dr herbal. I came across several testimonies about Dr Herbal on guestbook as i was

Where’s Delisha gone?

I think it’s unfair and appalling that the moderators silence Delisha about her “fluid marital situation”!

Fascist censors!

I have decided to come to Rugbypass for all my Herbal and cybersecurity news given the many wonderful posts shared here. And now this!

Delisha, where ever you are, God speed. I hope the fluids in your marriage remain strictly between you and your husband.

49 Go to comments

RedWarriors 3 hours ago

France change two for Ireland but stick with 7-1 bench tactic

With the draw we know the RWC is a lottery cup. Boks were not even the best team in their pool. They won the final by a point against 14 men so second best there too. SA were badly outplayed by France and arguably outplayed by England: 9 down with 10 mins to go, the match out of your hands and England stuffed it.

Well done, you showed grit but you won the lottery cup there. You were second best in your Pool also in 2019 I believe?

Commentators have been predicting Ireland’s demise since 2018 and before. Leinster B team of kids absolutely hammerred the Stormers A team nof SA Internationals. Plenty coming through.

You didn’t seal the wins versus 14 man Scotland or England until late in the match. Ireland let England in for two tries in the last 3 mins. Not good, but they were well beaten unlike versus SA.