Hamza Kaabeche

Hamza Kaabeche did judo before he played rugby, at his local club in Bourg-en-Bresse. Grip strength and balance are not the worst inheritance for a prop.

He is French-Algerian, plays for Lyon, and is 1.89m and 114kg, born on 23 September 1996.

What makes him useful is that he packs down on both sides of the scrum. Loosehead and tighthead are different jobs with different techniques, and a player who can do both properly saves a club a place on the bench every week.

Quick for the position and comfortable carrying — he scored twice early in the 2019-20 season, which is a lot for a front-rower.

The Challenge Cup came with Lyon in 2022 and was a losing finalist in 2025.

Beyond that the published record is thin. Where he learned the game, when he debuted and how often he has played are all unrecorded, and inference is not evidence.

What is documented: a European trophy, a runners-up medal, and a decade in a Top 14 front row that has included France internationals throughout.