Teddy Thomas Returns to French Rugby Squad Training at Marcoussis

Teddy Thomas has returned to the French rugby squad’s training base at Marcoussis for the first time in more than five years, preparing alongside the wider group for a match against South Africa.

rugbyrama.fr reported that the winger last featured for Les Bleus during a July 2021 summer tour against Australia, earning his 28th cap before a prolonged absence from the national team.

From Racing 92 to La Rochelle

After sliding down the pecking order at Racing 92, where he scored six Top 14 tries in his final season, Thomas moved to La Rochelle in 2022. The reigning European champions offered a fresh start, but the initial transition proved rocky for the player.

Limited playing time pushed him out of national team contention under head coach Fabien Galthié. “It is necessary to do things in order, as long as I am not undisputed in my club, I will not be able to play in the World Cup,” Thomas admitted to Canal+, as reported by rugbyrama.fr.

His precarious standing worsened when he watched La Rochelle secure a second Champions Cup title from the stands and suffered defeat in the Top 14 final. Emotional fatigue followed the missed milestones.

“Emotionally, this new setback was difficult to digest, especially when you see your teammates win titles without you. In my mind, I do not consider myself a European champion,” he said in an interview published by rugbyrama.fr.

The Toulouse Renaissance

A positional shift during his third and final year with La Rochelle in the 2024-25 season offered a new outlet. Moving to second centre brought higher involvement and more ball touches.

He then secured a move to Stade Toulousain ahead of the following campaign, viewing it as a final major challenge in his career. The fit within Toulouse’s fast-paced movement style proved immediate, yielding 16 tries across 26 matches.

“Since I was little, the game that suited me the most was obviously that of Stade Toulousain,” Thomas stated, according to rugbyrama.fr. He added that the calculated gamble paid off by landing him in an environment where he expects to spend the best years of his rugby career.

Back in the French Squad

Seven tries in his first nine outings of the current season caught the attention of the national selection staff. While he enters the squad primarily as a training partner for the upcoming clash with South Africa, the recall changes his career trajectory.