Thomas Lavault

A product of French rugby's competitive forward ranks, Thomas Lavault is a back-row forward at Stade Rochelais, one of the leading powers in the Top 14 and European rugby. Born on 3 May 1999, the flanker brings physicality and defensive steel to a La Rochelle pack long admired for its size and abrasiveness. Lavault's game is rooted in the hard graft of forward play: tackling with intent, competing at the breakdown, and adding line speed to the team's defensive system. At 27 he is in the prime years of his career, offering the kind of dependable, combative presence that coaches value in the engine room of a side built around forward dominance. His responsibilities centre on the collision areas, making his tackles, clearing rucks, and providing a reliable target around the fringes. La Rochelle's demanding style, blending power up front with ambition in attack, suits a forward willing to do the unseen work, and Lavault contributes to that platform with consistency and physical commitment. As he continues his career on the west coast of France, he remains a useful and durable option in a deep and talented Rochelais forward unit.