Move over, Cheslin Kolbe; French rugby has a new speed demon on the block, Gaël Dréan. This Toulon winger is blazing trails with a pace that's setting the rugby world alight. Just last weekend, in the Investec Champions Cup last-16 showdown, Dréan showcased his speed and skill, contributing significantly to Toulon's thrilling 28-27 victory over the Stormers.
Toulon's coaching staff has been left in awe of Dréan's capabilities since he joined the team. Backline coach Andrea Masi was immediately struck by his quickness.
"From the very first training session, I was surprised by his speed. He had some incredible bursts of acceleration,"
Masi remarked to RugbyRama. Since exploding onto the rugby scene last season, Dréan has not only been named the Top 14 Revelation of the Year but has continued to impress this season with 14 tries in 18 appearances, including five in the Champions Cup.
But it's not just raw speed that makes Dréan special; he's honed his game to a sharp edge. Masi notes,
"Now, he’s much smarter in his movement. He gets to the loose ball because he makes better running decisions,"
adding that Dréan has perfected a signature move — the fend-off — through diligent practice.
According to Toulon’s head of performance research, Anthony Couderc, the numbers testify to Dréan's extraordinary pace. "He’s the fastest player I’ve ever worked with," Couderc claims, noting that Dréan clocked a top speed of 36.8 km/h last season and demonstrated impressive defensive recovery at 35.6 km/h in a recent match against Munster.
The stats place Dréan in a league of his own, even surpassing the renowned speeds of Cheslin Kolbe, who recorded a top speed of 36.2 km/h in the 2022-23 season. Couderc also highlighted Dréan's explosive acceleration, clocking in at 1.54 seconds over 10m, making him a formidable opponent on the field.
As Toulon advances in the Champions Cup, all eyes will undoubtedly remain on this swift French winger, whose career is accelerating as fast as he sprints on the rugby field.
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Move over, Cheslin Kolbe; French rugby has a new speed demon on the block, Gaël Dréan. This Toulon winger is blazing trails with a pace that's setting the rugby world alight. Just last weekend, in the Investec Champions Cup last-16 showdown, Dréan showcased his speed and skill, contributing significantly to Toulon's thrilling 28-27 victory over the Stormers.
Toulon's coaching staff has been left in awe of Dréan's capabilities since he joined the team. Backline coach Andrea Masi was immediately struck by his quickness.
"From the very first training session, I was surprised by his speed. He had some incredible bursts of acceleration,"
Masi remarked to RugbyRama. Since exploding onto the rugby scene last season, Dréan has not only been named the Top 14 Revelation of the Year but has continued to impress this season with 14 tries in 18 appearances, including five in the Champions Cup.But it's not just raw speed that makes Dréan special; he's honed his game to a sharp edge. Masi notes,
"Now, he’s much smarter in his movement. He gets to the loose ball because he makes better running decisions,"
adding that Dréan has perfected a signature move — the fend-off — through diligent practice.According to Toulon’s head of performance research, Anthony Couderc, the numbers testify to Dréan's extraordinary pace. "He’s the fastest player I’ve ever worked with," Couderc claims, noting that Dréan clocked a top speed of 36.8 km/h last season and demonstrated impressive defensive recovery at 35.6 km/h in a recent match against Munster.
The stats place Dréan in a league of his own, even surpassing the renowned speeds of Cheslin Kolbe, who recorded a top speed of 36.2 km/h in the 2022-23 season. Couderc also highlighted Dréan's explosive acceleration, clocking in at 1.54 seconds over 10m, making him a formidable opponent on the field.
As Toulon advances in the Champions Cup, all eyes will undoubtedly remain on this swift French winger, whose career is accelerating as fast as he sprints on the rugby field.