Joshua Brennan: Position switch opens Les Bleus door for Irish-Toulousain

With AFP: Joshua Brennan, recently called up for the first time to the French national team ahead of the November tests, is known as a genuine “club kid” at Stade Toulousain—a club his father, former Irish international Trevor Brennan, also represented in the 2000s.

Despite his remarkable stature—standing at 1.99m and weighing 118kg—Joshua Brennan is surprisingly reserved and shy, particularly when interacting with the media. His gentle voice, laced with a Toulouse accent, stands in stark contrast to his formidable presence.

TOPSHOT - Toulouse's Irish lock Joshua Brennan (C) is lifted into the air to catch the ball from a Toulouse lineout during the French Top14 rugby union match between Lyon Olympique Universitaire Rugby and Stade Toulousain Rugby (Toulouse) at the Gerland Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France, on June 8, 2024. (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Images)

Born in Dublin, Joshua Brennan relocated to Toulouse before he turned one, accompanying his father, who became a prominent figure in the Rouge et Noir. After earning 13 caps with Ireland, Trevor Brennan established his life in France, opening several pubs in the Toulouse area while raising his two sons, Daniel (26) and Joshua (22).

“We’re simply following the path he’s on”

On Sunday, October 27, the two brothers could potentially face off in the 8^th round of the Top 14, with Daniel currently playing as a prop for Toulon after previous experiences at Montpellier and Brive.

Joshua, on his end, has remained committed to Stade Toulousain, steadily progressing with each season and now earning a spot on the XV de France for matches against Japan, New Zealand, and Argentina.

“He's a kid from the club,” asserts his manager, Ugo Mola. “He’s coming off a truly remarkable season, especially with his contributions in crucial matches. We’re simply following the path he’s on.”

After a complete journey through France's youth teams, Joshua made his Top 14 debut during the 2020-21 season at just 19 years old, though he experienced a brief dip in form afterward.

Repositioned as flanker

“A player's career is not linear,” recalls Toulouse forwards coach Jean Bouilhou. “It often consists of stages and small moments when you realize you can achieve much more.”

The turning point for Joshua came last winter when the Toulouse coaching staff chose to move him to the blindside flanker position, capitalizing on his speed and power despite his size.

Toulouse's Irish lock Joshua Brennan (C) is challenged during the French Top14 rugby union match between USA Perpignan and Stade Toulousain (Toulouse) at the Aime-Giral stadium in Perpignan, south-western France, on March 9, 2024. (Photo by Valentine CHAPUIS / AFP) (Photo by VALENTINE CHAPUIS/AFP via Getty Images)

“He's a player who possesses both power and speed, despite his size,” explains Bouilhou, a former teammate of Trevor Brennan. “They're guys who enjoy sharing and bring a sense of joie de vivre that's essential in a team setting.”

Thanks to his newfound versatility, Joshua Brennan cemented his role in the team last season, contributing to the victorious Champions Cup and Top 14 finals, where he came out of the bench.

A lad, with a strong attitude

Since September, he has maintained his performance level, although competition remains fierce with top-tier players like Thibaud Flament, Emmanuel Meafou, and Richie Arnold vying for positions.

“Josh may have realized the demands of the very highest level,” says Ugo Mola. “He’s put things in order (...) And he’s an ambitious lad with a strong attitude.”

Joshua confirms that he has matured, particularly regarding recovery: “I've come to understand a lot about the recovery phases and the fact that Top 14 seasons are very long. So, it's important to be able to recover properly to continue performing.”

His Toulouse accent always brings a smile to everyone, including his father, a proud Irishman. “He doesn’t necessarily recognize it,” Joshua says with a wry smile. “He’s just happy as long as I have an Irish accent when I speak English.”