Pierre Bourgarit was selected in the XV of France as a hooker to participate in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Here is everything you need to know about this player from Stade Rochelais.
He is one of the four links in a golden generation straight out of the Gers and whose rise is just as dazzling as that of his three friends. Like Antoine Dupont, Anthony Jelonch and Grégory Alldritt, Pierre Bourgarit will also play in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. One more Gersois in the ranks, also trained in Auch, who has experienced a lightning ascent in the professional world. Going from hooker of a third division reserve team to substitute during a New Zealand – France in less than a year (2017-2018), the current player from La Rochelle has made his place at the highest level. level, he who is promised a role of “hairdresser” during the competition.
Who is Pierre Bourgarit?
Pierre Bourgarit was born on September 12, 1997 in Gimont (Gers). He is 1m84 tall and weighs 105 kilos. He has 10 caps for the France team. He started at ES Gimont before joining FC Auch in 2014 with whom he won the title of French National B champion with Grégory Alldritt. Due to the bankruptcy of his team, the two players joined Stade Rochelais in 2017. From his first season, and at only 20 years old, he asserted himself as the starting hooker of the Maritimes. His try after a crazy 80-meter run against the Wasps then testifies to his potential. In 75 Top 14 games, he has already planted 22 tries, including 9 in the 2020/2021 season alone, a record for a hooker. Despite his 25 years, he is already the most capped Stade Rochelais player in the Champions Cup with 30 games played and has two trophies in this competition to his name: 2022 and 2023.
What course with the XV of France?
Pierre Bourgarit experienced a meteoric rise in the professional world of rugby. In a few months, he went from scrapping in Federal 1 near Auch to living a New Zealand – France in the country of rugby, during a summer tour, in June 2018. Briefly returned to the Blues during a rout in England during the 6 Nations 2019, he then started in the revenge at Twickenham, on December 6, 2020, for the final of the Autumn Nations Cup.
The Gersois was then on two match sheets during the 6 Nations in 2021 before living a few complicated months until his return to Blue during the tour of Japan in 2022. “Bourga” has since missed several rallies such as the last VI Nations due to a knee injury. During a preparation match against Scotland, he started for the second time in his career with the XV of France. His good match undoubtedly validated his presence in the group of 33 for the 2023 World Cup.
What role with the XV of France?
“I am not naive: since Fabien Galthie took charge of the France team, there is a hierarchy that has been created and I know that it is currently my place.” With these words, Pierre Bourgarit revealed himself to be lucid about his place in the hierarchy of hookers of the XV of France. For the moment, the Rochelais is behind the Toulousains Julien Marchand and Peato Mauvaka. But with already four games to play just for the group stage, Bourgarit will logically be brought to play in the World Cup of rugby, especially against Uruguay and Namibia The staff of Les Bleus appreciates his ability to be often in the forward ball in hand and his mobility to be quickly in support in the rucks.
The Gersois seems to have been handicapped by his temperament to claim more responsibility with the jersey struck by the rooster. He is a prime target for his opponents given his ability to fall into provocations. He already received a six-week suspension in 2020 after aiming for Tom Curry’s eyes in the Champions Cup. Pierre Bourgarit is often in the crosshairs of referees because of his reputation as a grump and bloodthirsty player on the pitch.