YOG: Les Bleuets strike gold in Dakar

Crowned champions in 2014 in Nanjing then beaten in the 2018 final in Buenos Aires, France reclaim Youth Olympic gold.

A dominant run

Sébastien Calvet’s Bleuets dominated the whole tournament. In the pool stage, they beat Japan (48-0), Uganda (58-0) and Argentina, runners-up in the two previous editions (24-7), before crushing Canada in the semi-final (58-0).

A nail-biting final

Simon Laharrague opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, converting his own try. Darnell Delport replied for South Africa, then Doryan Petitgent and Laharrague again stretched the lead to 21-5 at half-time. South Africa, unbeaten until then, closed to within two points thanks to a brace from Jake Dave late on (21-19). Gaspard Laharrague sealed victory with the match’s last try.

Injured in the arm, Nathanaël Senga-Kouo had to give way to Jonas Fradet in the second half. Argentina complete the podium after their win over Canada (36-5).

A gamble on the best players

This summer, the French under-18s were comfortably beaten by the young Springboks, but Sébastien Calvet had then left out his best players to prepare for these Games, Rugbyrama notes. This is the French delegation’s first gold medal in Dakar.