Charles Kanté Samba

At Stade Rochelais, one of the dominant forces in French and European rugby in recent years, Charles Kanté Samba is developing his trade as a young back-row forward. Born on 8 February 2005, the Frenchman has come through at a La Rochelle club whose formidable pack has underpinned its rise to the top of the Top 14 and the continental game. His game is defined by a relentless work rate at the breakdown and honest carrying in the loose, the kind of unglamorous duties on which a successful forward effort is built. Kanté Samba focuses on securing turnover ball and providing defensive grit across the field, profiling as a hard-working flanker still learning the senior game. Breaking into a squad packed with established and international forwards is a demanding challenge, and that competition for selection forms a central part of his development as a back-rower. With his enthusiasm for the contest and his willingness to graft, he has the raw attributes of a promising loose forward, and the depth around him at La Rochelle should only sharpen his game as he pushes for opportunities.