Yoan Tanga

A robust, ball-carrying back-rower, Yoan Tanga has built his reputation on physical confrontation and tireless work across the breakdown. Born on 29 November 1996, the France-qualified forward made his name in the Top 14 with Racing 92, where his strong carrying and disruptive defensive presence marked him as one of the league's more abrasive loose forwards. He moved to Stade Francais Paris to add experience and grunt to the capital club's pack, and he has since become a dependable presence in the engine room of their forward effort. Tanga's game is built around the collision: he is most effective taking the ball into contact, generating front-foot momentum, and competing hard for possession at the ruck. His size and athleticism allow him to operate across the back row, contributing in defence with high tackle counts and an appetite for the unglamorous work that underpins a functioning pack. For Stade Francais he offers both a physical edge and the experience of a player who has competed at the top level of French and European club rugby, making him a valued member of the squad's forward rotation. Reliable in the tight exchanges and willing to take on the heavy lifting that the position demands, he remains the kind of forward coaches trust to set a confrontational tone up front.