Belgium take on France U20s
Seven European test teams will be in action this weekend. As well as the Six Nations, the continent’s ninth ranked team – Belgium – will be in action on Saturday, against France U20 (2pm kick-off, Marcoussis).
Published by John Birch, February 6th, 2015
3 minute read
Support from their players has ensured that, unlike most other second tier women’s rugby nations in Europe, Belgium have maintained their XVs programme and as a result have seen significant improvements in recent years, culminating in their finishing as runners up in last year’s European Trophy, losing only 12-3 to the Netherlands in final.
One factor in Belgium’s recent improvement has been the appearance of their players in the French Top 8. Two, Margaux Lalli and Nele Pien, who play with Lille are included in the squad - curiously more than France selected from the current league leaders for their Six Nations squad. However, there are two “Lillois” in the French U20 team – identical twins Marine and Romane Menager.
Last year Belgium beat Scotland’s U20s 51-0, but France will be a significantly tougher test for “Les Lionnes” - it is several year’s since France’s age group team have lost a match. Overall France U20 will field 12 players from Top 8 clubs.
This will be the first of two games for Belgium - next week they travel to Lille to play their annual game against the French Army.
Belgium:Ilham Bahri (Gent), Sarah Basa (Soignies), Lotte Beckers (Dendermonde), Cécile Blondiau (Soignies), Amandine Briquet (Soignies), Cathy De Geyter (Boitsfort), Carmen De Donder (Dendermonde), Systke D’Haeseleir (Caen), Laura Fortemps (Coq Mosan), Margaux Lalli (Lille MRCV), Lauranne Lecloux (Boitsfort), Stéphane Lepage (Boitsfort), Valérie Letange (Boitsfort), Jeanne Marquegnies (Frameries), Nele Michem (Dendermonde), Emilie Musch (Boitsfort), Nele Pien (Lille MRCV), Gaëlle Portier (Coq Mosan), Mélissa Schneider (Coq Mosan), Virginie Sibret (La Hulpe), Héloise Stévins (Boitsfort), Margaux Stévins (Boitsfort), Silke Van Damme (Dendermonde) Réserves : Delphine Rossignol (Boitsfort), Laura Rowies (Boitsfort).
France U20:AMEDEE Montserrat (Blagnac Saint-Orens), ANNERY Julie (AC Bobigny 93), BOURDON Pauline (AS Bayonnaise), DESHAYES Annaelle (Ovalie Caennnaise), FAURE Cindy (USA Perpignan), GINCOURT Ophélie (Ovalie Caennnaise), GONZALES Amaya (AS Bayonnaise), GROS Emeline (Rugby Sassenage Isère), HERMET Gaëlle (Stade toulousain), LABORIE Laurie (Stade toulousain), MATHIEU Emilie (Rugby Sassenage Isère), MENAGER Marine (Lille MRCV), MENAGER Romane (Lille MRCV), NEISSEN Carla (Blagnac Saint-Orens), OKEMBA Grace Séraphine (Stade Rennais Rugby), PEGOT Prune (Stade toulousain), RAMIREZ Lori (AC Bobigny 93), ROUBINET Emma (Stade Bordelais ASPTT), SOCHAT Agathe (Stade Bordelais ASPTT), TCHOUTA NKWAMI Michelle (Stade Rennais Rugby), TRAORE Maylis (Stade toulousain), VERGNAUD Justine (Stade Rennais Rugby), VITAL Margaux (Lyon OU)