At the age of 20, French winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey (known as LBB) has seen life in pink – or rather blue – since the beginning of the Rugby World Cup.

In two matches with the France team – both as a starter – the Union Bordeaux Bègles (UBB) player scored three tries: one against Uruguay and two against Namibia.

Against Uruguay, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 1.85 m and 85 kg, was the youngest French international to play a World Cup match.

Brilliant against Namibia

Against Namibia, LBB distinguished itself with luminous actions. Among them: a "decisive" pass caviar addressed to Jonathan Danty, allowing him to score, at the age of 30, a try for his first World Cup match.

#RWC2023 | 🇫🇷⚡🇳🇦 CAVIAR BY LOUIS BIELLE-BIARREY FOR JONATHAN DANTY !

What a start to the match of the Blues (12-0) 🤩

👉 Follow the live: https://t.co/YR3Ohswb0P#UnisPourUnRêve #FRAvNAM #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/mNte56nwOs

— francetvsport (@francetvsport) September 21, 2023

Another image – still during the match against the Namibian "Welwitschias" – a crazy race by Louis Bielle-Biarrey throughout the opposing half of the field, which sees the Namibian back unable to catch him, and which ends with yet another try for the Blues, the second of the match for LBB.

🚀⚡️ It went through the whole field like a rocket!
Already 3 tries in this #RWC2023 for Louis Bielle-Biarrey!#UnisPourUnRêve #FRAvNAM #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/JDWbFov0x8

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) September 22, 2023

His speed is one of his strong points. Speaking to Actu Rugby at the end of July – before the list of 33 players selected for the World Cup was officially disclosed – the coach of the forwards of the XV of France, William Servat, said: "When you see Louis make a peak at 35 km / h, it marks the spirits. He has a huge appetite."

In the list of 42 then 33

In total, in five caps with the XV of France, Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored four tries. On August 5, as part of the preparation matches for the World Cup, he scored his first try against Scotland, even if the France had finally lost (21-25).

Trained at RC Seyssins, in the Isère where he was born, he studied in Grenoble before arriving in 2021 at the Union Bordeaux-Bègles (UBB). He also played for two years in the U20 France XV.

He was one of the surprises on the list of 33 players selected by Fabien Galthié for the World Cup organized in France. "We have often asked ourselves the question: do we take him to the U20s on Wednesday or do we leave him (...)? We can never close the door to hatching, "said the French coach. Louis Bielle-Biarrey was already part of the list of 42 players selected to prepare for the competition.

If he had played with the under-20s, he would have been crowned world champion in South Africa, after the Blueberries' victory against Ireland on July 14. But the one who is recognized on the field thanks to his fetish red helmet can now hope to lift the Webb Ellis trophy with "the greats".

In an interview with Midi Olympique at the end of August, Maxime Lucu, his teammate in club and selection, speaks of him as "someone amazing". Saying he knows him "more than well", he confides: "When I see the performances he performs at UBB and with the XV of France, so easily and quickly, it proves his talent."

"I want to finish my studies"

With UBB, Louis Bielle-Biarrey has also grown in power. Le Monde recalls that he distinguished himself, in his second professional match, with a hat-trick in the Champions Cup (European Cup) against the Welsh Scarlets. And for this first season at Bordeaux Bègles, he reached the semi-finals of the Top 14 in 2022.

But like almost all 20-year-olds, Louis Bielle-Biarrey does not only have rugby. He is also a student. A double life not easy to manage. His participation in the World Cup makes him miss exams as part of the diploma he is preparing in IUT, business management and administration.

"I had (university) catch-up sessions at the beginning of the year, I couldn't go. For studies, it's more and more complicated to do both but I'm going to hang on," he said, although it may take him longer than the other students in his class. "I want to finish my studies. Personally, it makes me feel good not to think about rugby all the time. You have to do it smartly so that I stay good at rugby and that studies don't take me too long either. Eventually, I would like to finish the training I started," added the Girondin.

In the meantime, it's time for the show. After three consecutive victories, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and his teammates must take advantage of the few days of rest they have before facing Italy on October 6 in Lyon.

With AFP

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