TOP COACHES AND SPEAKERS

The professional coaches and experts on our high-level rugby courses represent some of the most experienced and knowledgeable coaches and former players in rugby. The supervisors who accompany the professional coaches all hold state diplomas and are specialists in the field for which they are responsible during the course. For the duration of this high-level rugby course, trainees will be coached on a daily basis by experienced and trained professional coaches and educators. Some workshops will be run and/or regulated by professional rugby players (depending on their availability).

JULIEN ORY

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Born in Le Brusc and trained in La Seyne, he began his career with Rugby Club Toulonnais in the third row. He now plays for Stade Français.

ADRIEN SÉGURET

Adrien Séguret, born in Paris on 22 July 1998, plays centre for Castres Olympique, with whom he was runner-up in the French championship. Trained at SC Albi, he began his professional career at LOU rugby before playing for Mont de Marsan and Grenoble.
He was World Champion in 2018 with the French Under-20 team.

FRÉDÉRIC MANGA

Frédéric Manca was born on 23 April 1980 in Albi (Tarn), and played at full-back and fly-half for SC Albi and then Section Paloise. He also coached Section from 2014 to 2020.

SOFIANE GUITOUNE

Sofiane Guitoune, born on 27 March 1989 in Algiers, is a French international who plays as a winger or centre for Stade Toulousain. Trained at Agen, he has played for Albi, Perpignan and UBB.
Winner of the French Championship in 2019, 2021 and 2023 with Toulouse, he has 22 caps for the French national team.

GABRIEL LACROIX

French international Gabriel Lacroix was born on 19 October 1993 in Toulouse, and has played wing for Stade Toulusain, Auch, Albi and Stade Rochelais.

ALEXI BALÈS

Alexi Balès was born on 30 May 1990 in Fumel (Lot-et-Garonne). He played as a scrum-half. He played for SU Agen, Stade Rochelais and Stade Toulousain, with whom he was French champion in 2021.

RODRIGO CAPÓ ORTEGA

Born on 8 December 1980 in Montevideo in Uruguay, Rodrigo Capó Ortega played as a flanker or a lock forward. He was selected for Uruguay, and in particular wore the Castres Olympique jersey from 2002 to 2020 where he was captain. Rodrigo was champion of France twice, in 2013 and 2018. With more than 450 matches over an 18 year period, he is an emblematic figure of C.O., and became their ambassador at the end of his playing career. In 2021 he became the forwards coach at C.O.

LIONEL BEAUXIS

Born on 24 October 1985 in Tarbes, Lionel played at fly half and full-back. He wore the jersey of several major French clubs: La Section Paloise, Stade Français, Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux Bègles, LOU, Oyonnax Rugby, and AS Béziers. He also played for France between 2007 and 2012, and returned once more for the 2018 Six Nations tournament. Lionel is renowned for his excellent kicking. Lionel was French Champion in 2007 with Stade Français and in 2012 with Stade Toulousain. He was French Champion in 2007 with Stade Français and in 2012 with Stade Toulousain, and has 24 caps for France.
He now coaches the U23s at LOU Rugby.

PHILIPPE SELLA

Philippe was born in Tonneins. He is a legendary figure of French rugby, an international player who played as a centre. Fast, physical and skilful, an expert tackler, considered to be the best centre in the world for almost a decade, in particular he was the first player in the history of world rugby to be capped 111 times. He is the 2nd most capped player in the history of French rugby. After playing for more than 16 years at SU Agen, in 1996 he headed for England where he played for Saracens for 2 seasons and won the English club Cup in 1998.

CHRISTIAN CALIFANO

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Born in Toulon, Christian is a former French international rugby union player who played as a prop forward. The clubs he played for during his career include Stade Toulousain, the Blues (he was the first French player to compete in the Super 12), SU Agen and Gloucester RFC. In November 2004 he was selected to play for the French Barbarians against Australia. In 2017 he was appointed Development Director of Provence Rugby. Then, in December 2017 he was appointed forwards coach for the Under 18 French B team. Rugby consultant for Eurosport since 2014 and for TF1 in 2011 and 2015 (World Cups).

MARC DE ROUGEMONT

Born in Aubagne, he played for France, and at RC Toulon and CA Bègles Bordeaux where he played as hooker and prop forward. He was selected for France 13 times and won the Grand Slam in 1997 as well as the title of French Champion in 1993 with the RCT.

BAPTISTE SERIN

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Scrum-half born at La Teste-de-Buch, learned his rugby at the Parentis-en-Born club. After playing for Union Bègles Bordeaux for 10 years at youth and pro level, he now plays for Racing Club Toulonnais. An international player, he has 44 caps for the French national team and remains a world reference in his position.

LOUIS CARBONEL

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Born and trained in Toulon, the fly-half is a two-time Under-20 world champion and has been capped 5 times by the French national team.
He currently plays for Montpellier HR.

NANS DUCUING

Born in Bazus-Aure and learnt his rugby at CO Saint-Lary-Soulan. He started his professional playing career at Perpignan,. He has played four times for France, and today plays at full-back or on the wing for Union Bègles Bordeaux.

BENJAMIN BOYET

Born in Vienne, he played as fly half during the Grand Bourgoin period, and at Aviron Bayonnais. An international player, he won a Six Nations tournament.

PHILIPPE GALLART

He trained in Pézenas but was born in Béziers, where he played prop throughout his career. He won 18 caps for France between 1990 and 1995 and played in four Six Nations tournaments. He went on to coach at Béziers and Agde.

TEDDY THOMAS

A winger international born in Biarritz, he spent 9 years with his parent club B.O before joining Racing 92, with whom he won the French Championship in 2016. He has played for Stade Rochelais since 2022 and has 28 caps for the French national team.

CÉDRIC SOULETTE

Born and trained in Béziers, he began his career there before joining Stade Toulousain in 1999. He finished his career at Clermont in 2005. He played for the French national team from 1997 to 1999 in the prop position. He was French champion with Toulouse in 2001 and won the European Cup in 2003. He has 13 caps for the French national team, winning the Grand Slam in 1998 and reaching the final of the World Cup in 1999.

BENJAMIN LAPEYRE

Born in Castres, he started his career in 2007 as a full-back with Castres Olympique. He then joined SC Albi where he became the kicker. He participated in SC Albi’s rise to the Top 14. From 2010 he joined RC Toulon for 2 years, where he deputized for Johnny Wilkinson as kicker. In June 2011, he participated in the French Barbarians’ tour of Argentina. Benjamin then played for several clubs, including Racing Métro 92, Stade Rochelais, CA Brive, AS Béziers and Castres Olympique. Today is on the staff of the Roumanian national team.

PEIO DOSPITAL

Pierre Dospital stage rugby AIRUGBY

A monument of Basque rugby and a native of Itxassou, he is one of the greatest prop forwards of French rugby. He spent his entire career with Aviron Bayonnais, of which he was president, and was a finalist in the French championship in 1982. He has 27 caps for the French national team and won the Tournament in 1981 (Grand Slam) and 1983.

EDDY LABARTHE

Eddy Labarthe stage rugby AIR

Trained with Boucau and Aviron Bayonnais, he has 72 Rugby Sevens caps and won the Plate in Hong Kong. He holds the record for scoring tries for Aix en Provence, a club where he spent his entire career as a winger.

THIERRY LOUVET

Born in Toulon, “L’Indien” is an RCT legend.
Third row, he was Champion of France in 1987, 1992 and finalist in 1989.
He became coach alongside Aubin Hueber from 2004 to 2006 and was Pro D2 champion in 2005.

GÉRALD MERCERON

Born in Cognac, fly half and French international 32 times, he played in particular at RC Toulon, Clermont and Stade Rochelais. Two-times vice-champion of France, he won a European Shield trophy with the ASM and a Grand Slam with France.

VINCENT CLERC

Born in Isère, he played as a winger at Grenoble, Stade Toulousain and RC Toulon. Highest scorer in the championship with 101 tries, he has won three Brennus shields and three European Cups. He has played for France 67 times, was vice-world champion and won three Six Nations Tournaments, including two Grand Slams,

PHILIPPE BENETTON

Born in Cahors, he played as a flanker at Agen. He played for France 59 times, was champion of France and won the Six Nations Tournament three times, including one Grand Slam. He has also coached Racing Metro 92, Béziers and Perpignan.

MATHIEU BASTAREAUD

Born in Créteil, he learned his rugby at RC Massy and Stade Français. He spent 8 seasons at Rugby Club Toulonnais where he won three European cups and a French championship. He won the Six Nations Tournament in 2010 and participated in the 2015 World Cup with France. He has been selected to play for France 47 times. As from 2019 he was repositioned as a number 8 and continued his career at LOU and Rugby United New York. He then moved on to play for LOU and is now ending his career at RC Toulon where today he is the Team Manager.

DELON ARMITAGE

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Born in Trinidad-and-Tobago, Delon started playing rugby aged 8 at Richmond before moving to France, where he played for Racing Rugby Club de Nice and also played for the France Under 16s. He then joined London Irish in England, where he remained from 2002 to 2012, before moving to Rugby Club Toulonnais until 2016. From 2016 to 2019 he continued his career at LOU. Delon plays as a full-back or winger. In addition he has been selected 26 times to play for England, and he participated in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

GURTHRÖ STEENKAMP

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Prop forward who played for South Africa 53 times. He has played for the Bulls, Stade Toulousain and Stade Français. Winner of the Currie Cup and three Super Rugby cups, and champion of France in 2012. World Champion in 2007, today he is the scrum coach at Stade Rochelais and double winner of the Champions Cup.

SÉBASTIEN TILLOUS-BORDE

Sébastien Tillous-Borde-Stage-rugby-airugby

Fly half, born at Oloron-Sainte-Marie. He began his career at Biarritz Olympique and then played for Castres and RC Toulon with whom he won the Top 14 in 2014 and three Champion Cups. At the end of his playing career he became the backs coach at RCT, and is now Manager of Rouen Normandie Rugby. An international, he has 19 caps for the French national team.

FRANÇOIS TRINH-DUC

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Born in Montpellier, he has been selected to play for France 66 times. He learnt his rugby at Pic Saint-Loup and then moved to MHR where he became vice-champion of France and won the Challenge Cup. He was again a finalist in the French championship with Toulon. He went on to play for Racing and ended his career with UBB in 2022. Winner of the Grand Slam in 2010 and finalist in the 2011 World Cup.

BENOIT BABY

Born in Lavelanet, learnt his rugby in Toulouse, and participated in winning the “Brennus shield” (French championship). In 2007 he joined ASM Clermont Auvergne. In February 2011 he signed with Biarritz. He can play in four different positions: fly half, winger, centre and full-back. In 2020, he took charge of the Biarritz Olympique training centre. He is a member of the staff of the U18s and now the U20s of the French national team.

GEOFFREY PALIS

A native of Albi, where he began his career, he has played full-back or wing for Castres since 2013. A French international with 2 caps for France, he was French champion in 2018.

BRIAN LIEBENBERG

Born in South Africa and naturalised French, he has played as a fly half and centre for Grenoble and the Stade Français. He is a three-time champion of France, has played for France 13 times and won the Grand Slam in 2004.

DAVID SMITH

This winger of New Zealand and Samoan origin has played for the Blues, the Hurricanes, the Rugby Club Toulonnais, Castres and Narbonne. He has been French Champion twice and three times European champion.

PATRICK FURET

Lock forward born in Corsica. He played for Perpignan, Castres and La Section Paloise. A line-out specialist, he has coached at Dax and Castres.

MARC DAL MASO

Born in the Landes area, he played as hooker for Agen, Mont de Marsan, Colomiers, Pau and Perpignan. With 33 international caps, he participated in two Grand Slams and was vice-world champion with France in 1999. Assistant coach for Japan, Toulon and CA Brive. Today he is a scrum consultant for US Dax.

XAVIER GARBAJOSA

Born in Toulouse, he played as full-back, centre or winger at Stade Toulousain and Aviron Bayonnais. Triple French champion and twice European champion, he won two Grand Slams with France, for whom he played 32 times.

Vice-world champion, after his playing career ended he became the coach at La Rochelle and then Montpellier as well as LOU Rugby with whom he finished third in the championship and best attack in 2023.

SÉBASTIEN BRUNO

Born in Nîmes where he started his career as a rugby union player. He then played for France, and continued to play as a hooker for AS Béziers, Sale Sharks and RC Toulon. In 2006, he was part of the Sale Sharks team that won the Premiership title after a memorable game against Leicester. In 2015, he became the forwards coach at LOU. In 2015 he became the forwards coach during the World Cup. In 2020 he was called up again by the FFR to train the French Under 20s forwards.

AUBIN HUEBER

Scrum half and originally from Tarbes. He played in Toulon from 1991 to 2000 then coached from 2003 to 2006 alongside Thierry Louvet and from 2008 to 2011 alongside Tana Umaga and Philippe Saint-André. French Champion in 1992 and winner of the 6 Nations Tournament in 1993, he was also semi-finalist in the World Cup in 1995. Double world champion in the under 20s in 2018 and 2019 as forwards coach. He has 23 caps for France. In 2020 he was again called up by the FFR to train the French U18s backs. Today he is the manager of FC Grenoble Rugby.

Jacques Delmas

Born in Montpellier, he spent his playing career as a hooker with RC Narbonne. Now a coach, he has coached Biarritz, Grenoble, Stade Français, Perpignan and Toulon, notably in charge of the forwards. He is triple French champion and double European champion. He is now in charge of the forwards at Provence Rugby.