Nobody saw it coming.
Maybe not even him.
This Sunday, taking advantage of the injury of Thomas Laclayat, victim of a costal cartilage fracture with Racing 92 against Montpellier (20-44), Alex Burin was recalled by Fabien Galthié to prepare the reception of Italy with the XV of France.
The right pillar probably has no illusions, however.
He should not participate in this third match of the Six Nations Tournament, unless Uini Atonio or Dorian Aldegheri, the doublet in the position, is also injured.
However, this call-up is a fantastic boost for the SU Agen player.
Starting twelve times this season in Pro D2, Alex Burin has not experienced the joys of the French team since the 2019-2020 season, when he won the world title with the Bleuets, a few months after finishing second. of the U20 Six Nations Tournament behind Ireland.
Our pillar Alex Burin is called up to the French XV group for the 6 Nations Tournament in order to prepare for the match against Italy!
Rising star of French rugby and from the Agenaise training, the SUA LG presents to you its 𝒇𝒆́𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙 👏 pic.twitter.com/etPv16ktT6
— Agen Rugby - SUA LG (@agen_rugby) February 18, 2024
Stopped by a herniated disc
And the Frenchman rather shone in this tournament.
Starting in the opening match of the World Cup against Fiji, then in the semi-final against South Africa and in the final against Australia, Alex Burin even scored the second try of the match, allowing the Bleuets to turn into head at the break.
Positioned to the right of the first line composed of Jean-Baptiste Gros and Théo Lachaud, the pillar had perfectly led a maul following a touch to flatten in the in-goal.
A few months earlier, the player, then aged 19, discovered the Top 14, with three minutes of play against Lyon.
He benefited from a little more time spent on the pitch in the Challenge Cup, whether against Grenoble or Treviso.
And then patatras.
Arriving in Agen in 2017 from Sport Athlétique castelbriantais (Châteaubriant), in his native region of Loire-Atlantique, the rugby player experienced a serious setback in 2020, when he had to have back surgery, victim of a herniated disc on a collapsed scrum in training.
Read also U20 World Rugby: training, Jiff status… Why the Bleuets are so strong
“Little by little, the pain radiated until I ended up no longer feeling my right foot,” he said when he returned to competition, almost a year later.
I could no longer stand on the tip of my foot, and I felt tingling sensations under the arch of my feet…” Alex Burin would ultimately only play again in October 2020, during the Agenais’ last year in the elite.
“Everything from the modern pillar”
But his talent and his imposing physique (1.90 m and 122 kg) quickly allowed him to find a place of choice in the SUA squad.
“He has everything of a modern pillar,” underlined Julien Guiard, the sports director of the SUA high-level sector, to Midi Olympique.
He is big, he is strong and knows how to move around the field.
All the qualities of a very good pillar these days.
» And even a potential player for the French XV, as Fabien Galthié estimated.
Given the shortage of French right pillars, Alex Burin could even become a serious candidate for a regular place in the French squad.
Anyone who describes the 2027 World Cup in Australia as “a dream” could therefore feel it with their fingertips.
However, the road remains particularly long.