Stade Francais Star Sekou Macalou Hailed as “Most Complete Athlete” by Teammate
France’s Rugby World Cup Standout Impresses with Versatility and Athletic Prowess
Stade Francais centre Joe Marchant has heaped praise on his teammate Sekou Macalou, describing the Frenchman as the most “complete athlete” he has seen in his career. Macalou, a modern-day rugby phenom, is capable of playing multiple positions, including flanker, No8, and even on the wing.
Standing at 1.94m and weighing 102kg, the powerful Macalou was famously deployed as a starting wing for France against South Africa in 2022, despite never being officially listed as a wing by head coach Fabien Galthie. This season, Marchant has witnessed Macalou’s athletic prowess firsthand after joining Stade Francais following the World Cup.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more complete athlete,” the England centre said on the Le French Rugby podcast. “He is huge, and you stand next to him and you feel tiny. He’s rapid, and he’s playing in the forwards, which just doesn’t seem right.”
Marchant marveled at Macalou’s try against Pau, where the back-rower stepped an opponent, “did them in a phonebox,” and then fended off a winger – a skill typically associated with international-level wingers.
Despite Macalou’s impressive performances for Stade Francais, which saw them finish the regular season in second place with a 23-20 win over Toulon on Saturday, the 26-year-old has yet to cement a regular spot in the French national team. Marchant believes Macalou deserves “a really good crack with the French squad” but acknowledges the intense competition for places.
Both Marchant and Macalou started in the win over Toulon and will enjoy a week off before returning for the semi-finals.
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