Blue skies for France U20, the national under-20 side. For almost ten years now it has been a natural pathway, inspiring and aspiring (Le Garrec, Bamba, Vincent, Gailleton…), and it holds the gems who benefit from the JIFF system (players who have come through French development pathways), which gives them game time in Nationale, Pro D2 and Top 14.

The DTN legacy: from Skréla to Retière

Driven by the successive DTN, the French federation’s national technical directorate, and mainly by Jean-Claude Skréla and then Didier Retière, French player development managed to break through at the highest world level after years in the wilderness: 2006, under-21 world champions with the likes of Médard, Sempéré, Tillous-Borde, Ouedraogo, Beauxis, Mermoz…

The Piqueronies era: the historic double

It was under the impetus of Sébastien Piqueronies, currently head coach of Section Paloise, that history was to repeat itself. The Cantal-born coach went through every federal level with the young France sides, U17, U19 and U20. Under the guidance of the former head of Stade Toulousain’s academy, the under-20s were crowned world champions twice in a row: 2018, 2019.

State of play: excellence as the standard

And today? The level is brushing up against excellence, with a 2025 U20 Six Nations title to defend, a warm-up match won against the Baby Boks and a dream start against Ireland, brushed aside in Perpignan by a resounding 50-21, 8 tries to 3.

The French map of performance

Where these champions-in-waiting come from looks like the French map of performance in Top 14 and Pro D2: Clermont, Bayonne, Toulouse, Racing, La Rochelle, UBB, Montpellier, Toulon, Stade Français, Brive, Grenoble, Oyonnax, Aix and also Agen and Vannes.

The Arms Park challenge: Cardiff in the sights

To take on the Welsh at the Arms Park and its artificial pitch in the very heart of Cardiff (the ground sits next door to the Principality Stadium where Fabien Galthié’s France play on Sunday), Cédric Laborde, the France U20 head coach, has rotated the side that beat Ireland, bringing in Vannes’ Kouo at full-back and putting together an all-Clermont second row (Veschambre and Michaux).

Careful, though: the Wales under-20s are not in the same state of suffering as their elders. And they know they represent a lifeline for a dragon short of breath. Over to France U20 to be rock solid!