Ruan Viviers

Lyon Olympique Universitaire have handed early opportunities to Ruan Viviers, a back-row prospect cutting his teeth in France's Top 14. Born on 29 March 2006, he is at the very beginning of his senior journey, learning his trade in one of the toughest and most physically demanding leagues in world rugby. A flanker by trade, Viviers is known for his work rate at the breakdown, his tackling and his ability to compete for turnover ball, the foundational skills of an effective modern loose forward. Lyon, or LOU as the club is widely known, operate at the top end of the French game, and the step up to that level offers a steep but valuable education for an emerging forward. Viviers's role is built on energy and disruption: contesting at the ruck, supporting in defence and adding to the collective forward effort. As a young player, his focus will be on building physical maturity and senior experience, with game time the key to his progression. He represents a developing talent within the Lyon pack, a forward whose ceiling will be shaped by how well he adapts to the intensity of Top 14 rugby in the seasons ahead.