Loris Zarantonello

Loris Zarantonello, born on 17 November 2000, is a French flanker contracted to Castres Olympique in the Top 14. Now in his mid-twenties, he forms part of a Castres back row that has long been built around relentless defensive pressure, abrasive collisions, and a strong breakdown contest — qualities that have defined the club's identity in French rugby. As a flanker, his core responsibilities revolve around tackling at volume, working between rucks, and competing for jackal turnovers, while also offering a ball-carrying option around the fringes of the breakdown. Castres is one of the more forward-oriented sides in the Top 14, prioritising set-piece dominance and physical defence, and a flanker in this system is required to combine the engine of a loose forward with the physicality of a tight forward. Zarantonello continues to develop within that environment as he competes for game time in one of the most demanding domestic competitions in world rugby. His French nationality also leaves the longer-term door open to age-grade or wider national pathway opportunities, depending on form and selection.