Antoine Déliance France rugby squad call-up, Digi Mart USA News (Ain, France): At just 21 years old, Antoine Déliance is rapidly rising in French rugby. Captain of LOU Rugby despite his young age, the third-row forward has been called up for the first time to the France squad by head coach Fabien Galthié.
The Ain native has played only 13 Top 14 matches, yet his rapid rise has drawn attention. Away from the spotlight, he keeps some unusual habits.
Whenever he can, he returns to the family farm, where he sometimes even drives a tractor.
Déliance grew up in the Bresse region in a family deeply attached to rugby. His father, Alexandre, played for Viriat and US Bressane, with whom he won the French championship title in 2003.
His paternal grandfather, Norbert, was a loyal supporter of the Bourg-en-Bresse club, while his maternal grandfather, Jacques, long served as the club’s equipment manager. His uncle Sylvain also reached the top level, notably at Grenoble, first as a player and later as a coach.
Antoine grew up in this environment alongside his brothers Thomas and Louis, with whom he spent much of his time playing ball. In July 2025, his older brother Thomas told the newspaper Le Progrès: “We have always played sports together.”
Despite his rapid rise, Déliance has never cut ties with his roots. When he leaves Lyon, he likes to return to the family farm in Sainte-Colombe, near Marboz, in the Ain department.
Away from professional training and the championship’s intensity, he enjoys a simpler routine in nature and farm work, sometimes even helping with the farm’s tasks. Thomas said: “As soon as Antoine can go back to the farm and to nature, he does, and he loves it.”
That passion has sometimes led to unusual situations. Former coach Jean-Henri Tubert recalled calling Déliance while he was driving a tractor, a scene far removed from the typical image of a Top 14 professional.
On the field, Déliance’s progress has been notable. In March 2025, he led the France under-20 team to victory in the Six Nations Under 20s Championship, including a 45-40 win over Scotland.
He later took part in the Under-20 World Cup. At the start of the 2026-2027 season, LOU entrusted him with the captain’s armband despite his limited top-level experience.
Déliance has also drawn attention for his workload. A tireless tackler and effective at rucks and lineout, he played a key role in LOU’s 48-25 win over Vannes on October 31, scoring a try, making 16 tackles and winning eight lineout takes.
His coach, Karim Ghezal, summed up his profile: “a player in the shadows, tough as nails.”
The day after that match, Déliance learned of his first call-up to the 42-player France squad preparing for the match against Fiji. At just 21, the young Bressan has reached a major milestone in his career while keeping his close connection to the family farm and the land of his childhood.
