French winger Damian Penaud, known for his surgical precision on the field, has recently matched the legendary Serge Blanco's record of 38 tries for France. This feat was achieved during a Six Nations clash against Scotland, where France emerged victorious to secure the Grand Slam. Despite his recent absence from the national team due to club commitments with Bordeaux, Penaud's prowess has remained a hot topic. In a revealing interview with L’Equipe, he not only discussed his future but also shone a spotlight on a rising star poised to surpass his achievements.
While Penaud was instrumental in Bordeaux's near-miss in the Top 14 final and their historic win in the Champions Cup against Northampton, his focus has shifted back to international rugby. However, he believes his try-scoring record will soon be just a footnote in history, courtesy of his teammate, Louis Bielle-Biarrey. This young prodigy, at just 22, has already racked up 18 tries from 19 appearances for France, with a staggering eight in the last Six Nations alone, tying the record for most tries in a single tournament.
"Louis will easily beat my record. If he keeps up at this pace, he will score 70 tries! I will be very happy for him, even if he doesn't care about records either. I admire what he does for his young age. The number of high-intensity runs, his positioning… He is good everywhere."
Penaud's admiration for Bielle-Biarrey is palpable, emphasizing the youngster's remarkable skill and on-field intelligence. Despite his own achievements, Penaud remains humble and driven by the pure competition of the sport rather than personal accolades.
"I don’t care about records. What drives me is the competition, the weekend match. I get a good sense of stress and excitement from it because deep down, I love what I do."
As Bordeaux prepares to host La Rochelle in the upcoming 2025/26 season opener, all eyes will not only be on Penaud to see if he can continue his try-scoring exploits but also on Bielle-Biarrey, the young phenom predicted to redefine French rugby history.