Small changes, big ambitions? The reigning double European champion seems to be playing the card of continuity, after a season punctuated by the European Cup as well as a Top 14 final lost against Stade Toulousain.
La Rochelle took its time before advancing its pawns on the transfer market. First of all, the club will be able to trust its young players: 4 of them are U20 world champions with the Blueberries (Hugo Reus, Oscar Jegou, Louis Penverne and Alexandre Kaddouri). We should see them fully evolve in the French championship during the next exercise.
In the crossover of departures and arrivals, 13 players leave the ship, 4 board. The new faces are called Jack Nowell (English winger, 30 years old), Ihaia West (New Zealand opener, 31 years old), Teddy Iribaren (French scrum half, 32 years old) and Judicaël Cancoriet (3rd French line, 27 years old). In addition to these 4 arrivals, the La Rochelle club will welcome 3 World Cup jokers: Archer Holtz, Akila Tabuelevu and Billy Pollard.