France Women 100,000 players: The ambitious target for women's rugby in France
The FFR vice-president in charge of women's rugby has a target of 100,000 players by 2033.
Pauline Bourdon plays as a scrum half for the French women’s rugby union team and Stade Toulousain. She made her debut for the national side in 2015 and has represented the team at the Women’s Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup.
Born on 4 November 1995, Pauline Bourdon has made her name as an outstanding scrum half. She was selected for the national team at the age of 20 and made her first Six Nations appearance in 2016.
Bourdon scored her first Six Nations tries at the 2018 tournament. This included a try during France’s magnificent 57-0 win against Italy and in their 38-8 victory against Wales. Her streak continued in 2019, where she scored an impressive four tries and eight conversions.
It was during the 2021 Six Nations that Pauline Bourdon’s talent was widely recognised. She put on a spectacular performance and scored 13 points (including two tries and a penalty) against Wales – France won the match 53-0.
In the same year, Bourdon was selected to represent France at the 2021 Rugby World Cup. Her moment of glory came in the third-place play-off, when she scored a try against Canada. The game ended 36-0 and France finished in third place.
A regular star during the Six Nations and with plenty still to show on the international stage, we’re eager to see how Pauline Bourdon’s career continues to unfold.
France coaches Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz have made four changes to their starting line-up for Saturday’s crunch Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2024 encounter with England in Bordeaux.