Antoine Chalus-Cercy

A young French back-row prospect coming through the ASM Clermont Auvergne system, Antoine Chalus-Cercy is part of the next wave of forwards working their way into senior consideration at the Top 14 club. Born in January 2005, he sits in the bracket of emerging French flankers being developed against the demanding standards of one of the country's most established rugby institutions. His game profile centres on the traits Clermont's coaching staff prize in their back row: a willingness to commit to defensive collisions, an active presence at the breakdown and the kind of work rate that adds value across long passages of forward play. Flankers of his generation are being asked to combine traditional tight forward duties with mobility and decision-making in transitional moments, and that is the direction his development is being shaped in. For a player at this stage of his career, exposure to senior training environments at Clermont is itself a key step. The club's depth in the back row makes regular minutes hard-earned, but it also means he is competing daily against established senior internationals — an environment that accelerates technical and physical progress. As he continues to push for greater senior involvement, the focus remains on building consistent club performance to support his pathway through the French rugby system.