Agen (AFP)

Naturally promised to the XV of England, the new winger with the dreadlocks of Agen Gabriel Ibitoye, released this summer by Harlequins in financial difficulty, will find Saturday (3:15 p.m.) Clermont, land where he revealed himself last season.

Gabriel Ibitoye was born twice.

The first, on March 5, 1998 in Lambeth in the suburbs of London, raised in the middle of a family of five children by his only mother, of Nigerian origin.

The second, on November 16, 2019, when his fantastic ride on the lawn of the Michelin stadium in Clermont in the European Cup marked the spirits before looping on social networks.

Ten minutes from time, the score of this match was already sealed (victory of ASM 53-21) when this winger, cut like a pitbull (1.78 m, 95 kg), bit into the lawn to deposit nine Auvergne defenders over 55 meters before offering the test to his center James Lang.

Special slalom, royal slalom, the ball held in one hand, like a Fijian, his signature which makes him a player as unpredictable as he is elusive: "I use my speed and my agility to get in and out of any space, ”he confirms.

If he broke last season with 10 tries in 22 matches (19 starts) in all competitions with the "Quins", Ibitoye is already no stranger across the Channel.

After two U20 World Cups and 11 tries in 17 selections, he is even presented as the future star of English rugby at his post.

At the same time, when we cover 908 meters with the ball in hand in the Premiership, when we beat 61 defenders, hard not to attract the eye of coach Eddie Jones, who regularly invited him to training with the XV de la Rose .

- Caucaunibuca & Thierry Henry -

By joining the SUA for two years, the fastest this summer to pay the 30,000 euros in compensation claimed by the Harlequins strongly impacted by the pandemic, Ibitoye knows that he will have to wait before integrating him definitively.

But that doesn't bother him.

"Eddie Jones knows I'm in Agen. We spoke just before the English championship ends, we stay in touch and he watches everything," he reassured himself.

And what has he seen so far?

That his young protégé has not lost his offensive rhythm on the banks of the Garonne.

Three tries registered in two ends of matches in preparation, then a double and a decisive pass against Castres in opening of the Top 14. Or how to put in the pocket the public of Armandie, who sees in him the new Rupeni Caucaunibuca.

"Caucaunibuca is a legend", recognizes Ibitoye.

"If I could perform as well, I would have done my job. But I want to tell the supporters + try to be patient, I am still young +. But let them not doubt, I will give the best" .

The best, "Gabsy the magnificent" as he is nicknamed in Agen, picks it up everywhere but especially in football.

Initiated in his youth to cricket and field hockey before devoting himself to rugby at 16, it is, according to him, from his brief romance with the round ball that he kept his devastating support and his burst of speed. that wreak havoc, with a very low center of gravity.

"Football brought me agility. Having to look around, quickly assess the situation. You have to know who to pass the ball to before even receiving it", admits this Arsenal fan, whose absolute idol, Thierry Henry, is displayed in the background on his phone.

© 2020 AFP