Pauline Bourdon-Sansus: 'The older I get, the better I get'

Pauline Bourdon-Sansus, the scrum-half for the French women’s team, came close to being named Player of the Year at the World Rugby Awards in late November. Despite missing out on the title, she was a standout player and a key driving force for the team, starting in eight of Les Bleues’ nine matches in 2024.

“It’s always rewarding for me (to be nominated), but we all know it’s a team effort,” she told RugbyPass in an exclusive interview. “Of course, I was very happy, but I know it’s also thanks to my French teammates and my club.”

The award ultimately went to England’s Ellie Kildunne, who had also been named Player of the Six Nations Tournament a few months earlier.

“I wasn’t expecting to be nominated in the first place— it was a surprise for me. I think England currently dominate women’s rugby, and I felt it was only right for Ellie Kildunne to be recognized,” Bourdon-Sansus said humbly. The France play-maker has made it clear she harbours the ambition to participate in this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup happening in England.

“It’s going to be incredible,” she said enthusiastically, hoping to earn her place in the final squad. “England have done a lot of promotion for it, and a lot of tickets have already been sold. I think it’s going to be an amazing event. What’s more, it’s great that it’s being held in England at a time when England is dominating women’s rugby. It’s good for our sport, and we’re really looking forward to it.”

However, France has not had a standout year, struggling in both the Six Nations in spring and WXV 1 in autumn. Despite that, Bourdon-Sansus remains confident that all is not lost with just seven months to go before the World Cup.

“We worked a lot on our scoring area— in the opposition’s 22- it was a critical point we needed to address,” she reflects, pointing to one of the French team’s weaknesses during the Six Nations Championship. “During the tour in Canada, we made a real effort to improve in this area, and I think we’ve made great strides. There’s still work to be done, but we can see the progress.”

She emphasizes the importance of unity and perseverance: “After the Canada tour, we had a big debrief and we gathered in January to keep working together. We need to stay aligned, committed to our project, and convinced that it will succeed.”

With time running short before the World Cup, Bourdon-Sansus is optimistic about the team’s potential. “There’s not much time left, but we have to keep working and communicating to advance our project. Given the quality of our players, I’m confident we can achieve something special at the World Cup.”

At 29, with 61 caps to her name, Bourdon-Sansus is already regarded as a veteran of the French women’s rugby team. But she approaches the title with humility and humor.

“I’m not that old either,” she laughs. “But I’ve gained a lot of experience… The more experience I gain, the older I get, the better I get. In my position as scrum-half, the more matches I play, the more experience I gather, and the better I master what I can do on the pitch.”

Bourdon-Sansus is keen to use her experience to guide the next generation of French players. “I try as much as I can to support the youngsters coming through to the French team. Our group has undergone a lot of changes with the arrival of new players. You have to support them as much as possible, and I try to fulfill that role.”

She also recognizes the resources and opportunities available to today’s young players, which were less accessible when she was starting out. “The young players coming through have far more resources than we did when we first arrived. They’re going to mature much more quickly. There’s a lot of work being done in the academies, and there’s so much potential coming through. It’s a great sign for the future of the French team.”

This rising talent was on full display during the Elite 1 match between Lyon and Stade Toulousain on December 22nd, where Bourdon-Sansus and her team secured a commanding 41-3 victory in front of 4,000 spectators in the cold at the Stade de Gerland. Thousands more tuned in to watch on Canal+, which broadcasted an Elite 1 Women’s match for only the second time, highlighting the growing interest in women’s rugby.

In France, where the women’s Elite championship rarely garners significant media attention, a new attendance record was set on November 2nd, 2024. A remarkable 12,500 spectators filled the stands for the match between ASM Romagnat and Stade Bordelais, shattering the previous record of 6,397 fans, achieved during the Stade Toulousain v Blagnac clash on March 3rd, 2024.

While Bourdon-Sansus excelled on the pitch in 2024, she also made her mark off it by taking part in impactful communication campaigns, most notably the multi-platform social initiative ‘Celebrating Diversity’. Launched in 2020 by the FFR (French Rugby Federation) and the LNR (National Rugby League), the project highlights inclusivity in rugby.

Bourdon-Sansus appeared in the short film Notre Diversité, Notre Force (Our Diversity, Our Strength), alongside prominent figures like Cyril Baille, Antoine Dupont, Julien Marchand, Charles Ollivon, and Cameron Woki. The film addresses the subject of homosexuality in rugby.

“It was a campaign that was close to my heart—to talk not only about diversity in rugby but also in the world more broadly. I also wanted to reconcile with my own homosexuality,” she explains. “I think it’s important for the general public to understand that in rugby, regardless of height, size, or sexual orientation, everyone is welcome. Taking part in this campaign was meaningful for me.”

Bourdon-Sansus has turned her personal story into a source of daily inspiration through her relationship with Laure Sansus-Bourdon— her wife and coach on the pitch at Stade Toulousain.

“We were competitors on the pitch before we got married,” Bourdon-Sansus says. “Things were going well—we had a pretty healthy competitive relationship. We’d talk about rugby and help each other grow.”

For the past two years, Sansus-Bourdon has been coaching Bourdon-Sansus, blending her own experience as a former player into her leadership role. “She was an incredible player, once crowned the best in the world. I listen to her a lot and draw inspiration from her playing days. She’s been a great support to me, and I’m thrilled she’s now coaching me and my teammates. She brings so much positivity to the team.”

And now, what are Bourdon-Sansus’ hopes for 2025? “To have a good Six Nations Championship, try to achieve something special at the World Cup, and win the French championship with my club. That would make for a great season,” she smiles.