He arrived in France at the age of 13
Born in Futuna, Yoram Moefana arrived in France at the age of 13, accompanied by his uncle, Tapu Falatea, twelve years his senior, with one idea in mind: to become a professional rugby player.
Before him, his father had come to mainland France in the early 2000s, as a pillar in the Niort team.
A career cut short due to a serious injury when he joined FC Auch, a resident of the Top 16 at the time.
Yoram Moefana started at the Limoges rugby school before joining the Colomiers training center.
At 18, he played his first matches in Pro D2 (six, including three as a starter in 2018-2019).
Attracting the attention of big teams: Stade Toulousain and Union Bordeaux-Bègles, which he chooses.
After a season with the Espoirs Girondins,
he made his debut in the Top 14 on October 5, 2020, replacing UBB in the defeat on the lawn of Lyon (27-10).
He flaunts all his efficiency from the start, then scoring five tries in six matches.
The machine was launched.
To discover
Ranking Tournament 6 of Nations
Calendar and results 6 Nations
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A solid and explosive center
Yoram Moefana, with his robust physique (1.83 m for 97 kilos), has two essential qualities to play the game advocated by Fabien Galthié and his assistant in charge of the attack Laurent Labit: power and explosiveness.
He has a rare ability to break through defences, to create danger with all his shots.
Whether by its speed and its very rapid action, or by its solidity.
Add to that an above-average passing technique, especially for the famous "offloads" (passes after contact).
“It's a bomb,
said Christophe Urios, his manager at UBB, in the columns of
Sud Ouest
.
And he's an easy player to manage because he knows where he wants to go and what to do about it.
He is a learner.
Always reliable.
But also amazing.
Because he is as reserved, even shy, in life as he is aggressive on the pitch.
The interested party flourishes completely in Gironde:
“In club, we have a formidable group, and the more I play with them, the more I gain in confidence.
It really brings me.
I think I have taken a new step in terms of self-confidence.
He is a cousin of the Taofifenua
Many players from the Pacific have come and come to shine in the jersey of the XV of France.
Recently, it is the Taofifenua family which has shown itself in blue with the second line Romain and the pillar Sébastien.
Sébastien Vahaamahina was one of their cousins.
But Yoram Moefana, originally from Futuna, is also part of this clan.
“
His father Falatea is my cousin, he is a Taofifenua
”, Willy Taofifenua had recently confirmed.
Currently, other island players frequent the France team, such as Peato Mauvaka or Tani Vili.
"
It's always nice to find guys who come from New Caledonia, Wallis or Futuna in the France team,
savors Moefana.
After that, I don't think I'm an ambassador yet.
I think more of Roman
(Taofifenua)
because it has been there for a long time.
For young people, I am thinking of Peato
(Mauvaka)
with his club and selection experience.
I find out.
» High speed.
First player born in 2000 to wear the blue jersey
During the unprecedented Autumn Nations Cup against England, in the fall of 2020, Fabien Galthié and his staff were forced to compose without their usual holders due to the agreement between the FFR and the LNR which limits the number of international matches.
Moefana then knows his first selection in Blue, he enters as a substitute against Italy (success 36-5).
Before starting (and impressing) in the final lost in extra time against England (22-19 ap).
During this competition, he became the first player born in the 2000s to wear the jersey of the XV of France.
“It's a pride to be here for me and to prepare for this Six Nations.
It's a dream come true,
he admitted during the preparation course.
I find myself here when I did not expect to be there.
It gives me even more motivation when it comes to training.”
Came into play against Italy in the relay of injured Jonathan Danty, he was decisive twice.
By accelerating on the right side on Damian Penaud's try (69th), then delivering the last pass on Gabin Villière's third try (80th + 1).
He is a regular of the XV of France
In the absence of Danty, the staff of the Blues had two options in front of him: to establish the young Moefana or to recall the experienced Vakatawa.
Prime was given continuity, with the UBB center coming on as a substitute against Italy - and he was convincing - as the Racingman struggles to regain his best.
And Galthié to defend his choice: “
We have been following him since our arrival.
At the start, he was in front of us during the oppositions against the under 20s.
And, during the Autumn Cup in November 2020, we did not hesitate to start him because he was naturally imposing in training.
Despite his shyness, his potential was obvious.
(…) He lived a lot with us.
Technically, physically and psychologically, without forgetting his talent, he is ready to meet all the requirements of this match.
“And to add about his agreement with Fickou:”
It does not change much for Fickou because our centers know the circuits in defense well.
In attack, they can be complementary and at the service of each other.
We are on the same animation as against Italy and New Zealand with this pair of centers.
The duel against the Irish Bundee pair Aki-Garry Ringrose promises to be fierce.
