Emilie Boulard

Hailed as one of France's most talented players, Émilie Boulard currently plays as fullback for the France women's rugby union team and Blagnac Rugby Féminin. She made her international debut in 2021 and had a very impressive first year with the squad.

Born on 23 August 1999, Émilie Boulard's career began at RC Chilly-Mazarin when she was 18 years old. She made her first appearance for France only a few years later, when she competed against Wales at the 2021 Women's Six Nations. This was a historic moment as she was the first Chilly-Mazarin player to be selected for the national side.

Boulard also scored her first international tries at the tournament. Her first occurred in France's 53-0 win over Wales —this try earned her the 2021 World Rugby International Rugby Players Women's Try of the Year award. Added to this, she crossed the line for a second time during their victory against Ireland.

One year later, in 2022, Boulard left RC Chilly-Mazarin and signed to Blagnac Rugby Féminin. She was also nominated as the best French international for her performances during 2021-22. In the same year, Boulard contested every match at the Six Nations and she delivered a series of stunning performances at the delayed Rugby World Cup. 

She began by scoring two tries during the pool stage: the first in their opening victory against South Africa (40-5) and the second in their clean sheet against Fiji (44-0). She was also named Player of the Match for France’s quarter-final victory over Italy (39-3). 

If anyone was in doubt of her talent, Boulard proved her worth at the 2023 Six Nations. Here she scored a sensational hat trick against Scotland, steering France to their stunning 55-0 victory. As a result, she was a sure pick for the 2024 tournament; she represented the team in all five of their fixtures. 

With international recognition so early on, we expect to see even greater things as Émilie Boulard’s career progresses.