French Rabbit: NRL rookie to play in Euro Championships
South Sydney Rabbitohs officials believe teenage backrower Louis Grossemy will gain valuable experience by playing for France in the upcoming European U19s Championship before joining the club’s NRL squad for pre-season training.
Grossemy, who was South Sydney’s SG Ball (U19s) captain and player-of-the-year, is regarded highly at the Rabbitohs, where he has been playing for the club's Jersey Flegg (U21s) team.
French officials view him as a potential member of their 2025 World Cup squad.
The 19-year-old - whose mother, Samantha O’Brien, was the first Australian ironwoman champion in 1992 - will represent his French heritage for the first time at the tournament in Italy from September 3 to September 10.
“South Sydney are very supportive of the international game and when Louis came to us and said he had an opportunity to play for France we gave him the thumbs up,” Rabbitohs pathways manager Joe O’Callaghan said.
“We believe it is a great opportunity for him to play for France.
"I think he is the only Australian-based player going over to the European Championships. He is only 19 and he doesn’t know any of his team-mates, so we think it will be great for his development to get that experience.
“We think very highly of Louis and when he comes back he will have a pre-season with the NRL squad.”
Born and raised in Sydney, Grossemy has been playing league since he was four years old and had a stint with Sydney Roosters, whose NRL coach Trent Robinson is the FFRXIII director of rugby.
He has previously represented his Indigenous heritage by playing for the NSW Koori U16s against the Queensland Murri U16s in 2019.
France are the only nation at this year’s World Cup unlikely to have an NRL player in their squad but that could change when they host the 2025 tournament if Grossemy continues his development as predicted.
He has travelled to France and will join the 24-man squad under coach Eric Anselme ahead of the seven-team tournament at Pasian Di Prato stadium near Udine.
Western Australia's Gethin Thomas is in the Wales squad for the European U19s Championships.
France are the defending champions and will play England, Ireland, Serbia, Ukraine, Wales and host country Italy.
“I would like to congratulate the 24 players selected who will officially take part in the European Cup,” Anselme said.
"A thought for those not selected and the disappointment that must be theirs. Choices are made but this in no way detracts from the quality of these players. This is part of the life of a top athlete. I wish them to come back even stronger next season.
"We complete our preparation with this last course. The players showed great rigor during the sessions set up by the staff. I see a voluntary group, very united, all endowed with a competitive spirit. I trust the players to write a new page of the successes of the France U19 team.
"The beginning of a great adventure is looming in the days to come. The players, the staff and myself are all without exception eager to go and defend our title in Italy.”
France U19s: Maxence Barbet (Rugby Club Salon XIII), Yacine Ben Abdeslem (St Esteve XIII Catalan), Kylian Benavent (St Esteve XIII Catalan), Lenny Chachoua (St Esteve XIII Catalan), Enzo Delbe (St Esteve XIII Catalan), Enzo Deltheil (Villeneuve XIII RL), Sosthène Ennoyotie (Toulouse Olympique), Nesta Fleury (Villeneuve XIII RL), Théo Fouque (Rugby Club Salon XIII), Mathieu Garrigues (FC Lezignan XIII), Louis Grossemy (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Damien Huescar (XIII Limouxin), Romain Humbert (St Esteve XIII Catalan), Julien Laporte (Carcassonne XIII), Nolan Lopez-Buttignol (Carcassonne XIII), Thibaut Marty (Carcassonne XIII), Thomas Monclus (Villeneuve XIII RL), Salim Nahal (FC Lezignan XIII), Arthur Salles (FC Lezignan XIII), Elian Serre (Rugby Club Salon XIII), Benjamin Sinimale (Albi RL XIII), Mattéo Stefani (RC St Gaudens XIII), Rayan Tadjeur (St Esteve XIII Catalan), Justin Tropis (Toulouse Olympique).
