Bouju, 18, extends with La Rochelle until 2030

At the club since 2015, Valentin Bouju has become La Rochelle’s first-choice scrum-half while Nolann Le Garrec has been injured.

“I have always played for this club”

Trained as a fly-half before moving to scrum-half, and capped at Under-18 level, Bouju has come through every stage of the La Rochelle academy. “I have always played for this club, so it is an honour for me to continue the adventure here. I hope it goes on for a long time,” he said in the club statement.

His first Top 14 start came in round two on 12 September, in the 20-21 win at Toulon. Since then he has been named in eight squads and played seven games, five as a starter: four in the Top 14 and one in the Champions Cup, against the Lions (31-14). He scored his first Top 14 try at Lyon on 10 October (16-28) and has nine points in all, with two conversions.

Four starts in a row

Bouju has started La Rochelle’s last four games while Nolann Le Garrec, who has not played since 3 October, has been sidelined by a string of injuries. The international suffered a hamstring relapse with France and is out for another five weeks, so the youngster should keep his place against Bayonne on Sunday to close round nine.