Théo Attissogbé (born 19 November 2004) is a France rugby union player who plays as a full back for Pau in the Top 14 competition and the France national under-20 team. He made his Top 14 debut with his club on 25 August 2023.
 Six Nations U20 2023 - Italy vs France | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 19 November 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Périgueux, France | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 79 kg (12 st 6 lb; 174 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing career
Early career
Attissogbé started rugby for his hometown club in 2011, and then joined Mont-de-Marsan as a junior in 2019. In 2022, he signed with Pau and joined the Top 14 club at the end of the 2021–22 season.[1] Attissogbé debuted for Section Paloise's professional team in January 2023 during the third round of the EPCR Challenge Cup against Dragons RFC, starting as fullback, scoring the winning try[2]. Later that month, he was selected for the France national under-20 team to compete in the Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[3] He started in the first match against Italy and also featured in the game against Ireland, scoring a try.[4] In June of that year, he was chosen to compete in the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa alongside three other Section Paloise players: Clément Mondinat, Brent Liufau, and Hugo Auradou.[5] He scored a try in the second pool match against the Baby Blacks.[6] At the tournament's conclusion, he became a world champion with his team after a convincing victory in the final,[7] starting the match and winning 50-14 against Ireland.[8]
Théo Attissogbé made his starting debut in the Top 14 during the 2023–24 season, contributing to Section's victory at Stade du Hameau against Racing 92.[9] He scored his first Top 14 try at home on 2 September 2023, during the third round against Lyon OU, with his team winning the match 40-10. Throughout his first full season, he became a cornerstone of the squad and embodied Section's ethos.[10] Attissogbé stood out as one of the Top 14's most effective players in breaking tackles.[11] In February 2024, he extended his contract by three years, committing to Section Paloise until 2027.[12] Despite being made available for his club Section Paloise during the 2024 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, Théo Attissogbé played the final match at Stade du Hameau against England.[13] During this match, he caught the eye of the international press, notably initiating one of the competition's standout tries.[14] On the twentieth matchday of the Top 14, Attissogbé achieved his first career double in the league against Stade Toulousain at Stade Ernest-Wallon, in a narrow defeat for a youthfull Pau team in the final minute.[15]
This performance underscored the breadth of his tactical skills, as he used anticipation and speed in defense to execute successful interceptions.[16] Following a successful first professional season in the Top 14, Attissogbé attracted the attention of coach Fabien Galthié, who called him up for the French team's tour of South America.
On 6 July 2024, he lined up with the French XV against Los Pumas at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza (victory 13-28) on the same day as Hugo Auradou[17], and scored his maiden international try.[18]
International tries
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 July 2024 | Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, Argentina |  Argentina | 8–25 | 13–28 | 2024 Argentina and Uruguay test series |
Honours
- International
References
External links
Media related to Théo Attissogbé at Wikimedia Commons