“He smells the right shots”: who is Lyam Akrab, the Bleuets’ serial scorer?
Lyam Akrab grew up in a small village, Villard-Bonnot, about twenty minutes northeast of Grenoble. He started playing rugby at the age of five, after a brief stint in soccer. “My mother quickly realized that it wasn't for me,” smiles the Bleuet. “I was already a bit heavyset, so I pushed everyone over. I used my shoulders to win the ball. She finally signed me up for rugby.”
The young man from Isère signed his first license with the Grésivaudan Belledonne sports club, where he played for almost ten years before spending a season at FC Grenoble , in the Gaudermen category. "What I liked was the very family-oriented side of rugby," he recalls. "I loved being with my friends. I was also a bit unruly and I liked it when there was a response in front of me. I liked taking the ball and going into contact."
At the age of 14-15, Lyam Akrab headed to Montpellier. Was he spotted by the MHR ? Not at all. "It was my mother who wanted me to get a change of scenery. Since she didn't want me to go off on my own, she chose Montpellier because she had a friend, whom I consider an "auntie," who lived there. She sent an application to the MHR, and I was accepted to join their training center." The teenager arrived as a right prop. But he was very quickly repositioned to hooker.
Then it was in the Crabos category that Lyam Akrab truly realized his potential. "The turning point was during my first selection with the French U18 team against Italy. I understood that it was getting serious. Since then, I've been giving everything to achieve it." With the MHR, he saw his first match sheets at the end of the 2023-2024 season (twice as a substitute). This season, he played eight matches (3 in the Top 14 and 5 in the Challenge), including three as a starter. And he scored three tries.
Lyam Akrab made a name for himself during the last U20 Six Nations Tournament. With seven tries in five matches, the Bleuets hooker broke the record for tries for a forward in the competition. "I don't think I was ready to break this record," he sighs. "I went through a lot of emotions. I was especially happy and very proud. When I was told I had broken this record, I couldn't believe it!" The number 2, who started in all five matches, first scored a brace against Wales (63-19 victory), then another against Italy (5-58 victory) and another against Ireland (12-22 victory).
He scored a final try against Scotland (45-40 victory, synonymous with final victory in the Tournament). He ultimately remained silent only during the defeat in England (27-10). "What's crazy is that I'd never scored a double before!" he reveals. Lyam Akrab was logically named "MVP of the Tournament." "Winning this trophy, I didn't expect it at all," he admits. "It's always been a dream, one I thought was a bit unattainable. This Tournament has given me a lot of confidence. My goal is clear: to be world champion and keep going." During the three group matches of the World Championship, the Bleuets hooker scored two tries, against Spain and Argentina.
Cédric Laborde’s (U20 manager) opinion:
"Lyam brings a lot of positive energy both on and off the field. He's always smiling, always has a good word to say. He's a jovial, bright player, and an important part of a team. From a rugby perspective, he carries the ball very well. He likes space, he senses good shots, which allows him to score quite a few tries. On carried balls, he has this ability to know when to go, and since he's explosive, he often manages to cover the last few meters to flatten the ball. Lyam has made a lot of progress in his fighting ability. During the Tournament, we saw more of him in the darker tasks. In his role as hooker, he improved his throwing. Today, he still has room for improvement from a physical point of view."
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