Trevor Brennan's 130kg son Daniel has signed for Brive

Sizeable France age-grade prop Daniel Brennan will be hoping an old friend of his father can be pivotal in catapulting his Top 14 career onto the next left after he joined Brive as a medical joker from Montpellier until the end of the 2020/21 season.   

Trevor Brennan, the French league and European Cup champion from the early noughties Toulouse team run by Guy Noves, won six of his 13 Ireland caps playing in 1999 with Jeremy Davidson, the celebrated 1997 Test-series winning British and Irish Lions lock who is now in charge at Brive following a long apprenticeship coaching in France.

As the boss, Davidson made unfashionable Aurillac a consistent PRO D2 challenger before taking on an assistant's role at Bordeaux which was followed by his takeover at Brive, whom he guided to Top 14 promotion at the first attempt. 

Now in his second top-flight season in charge, he has recruited Daniel Brennan, Trevor's 23-year-old son who tips the tighthead scales at 130kgs. 

Brennan rose to prominence as part of the World Cup-winning France U20s some years ago having emerged at Toulouse. 

He joined Montpellier in summer 2018 but has been limited to just six appearances at the club, just one this term after finding himself behind first-choice France prop Mohamed Haouas, Antoine Guillamon and American international Titi Lamositele.

With Brive looking for cover following an injury to Cody Thomas, Philippe Saint-Andre agreed to allow Brennan link up with Davidson in the hope that exposure there can accelerate his career. 

“I'm very happy to sign for Brive," said Brennan. "It was important for me to find a family environment. It's a club with a great history in a city that loves rugby. I'm here to find some playing time and bring everything I can to the team."

Davidson added: “We had the opportunity to recruit Daniel who completes our workforce in the front row. He is a player with great potential and great hope for French rugby. He is aggressive, mobile and mentally strong."