Barnabé Massa
French rugby union player (born 2004)
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Barnabé Massa (born 13 May 2004) is a French rugby union player, who plays for Clermont. His preferred position is hooker.[1]
| Born | 13 May 2004 Valence, Drôme, France | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 103 kg (227 lb; 16 st 3 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early career
Massa was born in Valence, Drôme and began playing rugby at US Véore, before joining the academy of Valence Romans and later moving to Grenoble. Originally a number 8, he converted to hooker while with Grenoble.[2] In April 2022, Massa was selected for the France U18 squad,[3] before representing the France U20 side in both 2023 and 2024.[4][5]
Professional career
Massa debuted for Grenoble in February 2023 in the fixture against Béziers.[6] He would make a further three appearances that season, scoring one try. The following season, he would make 30 appearances, scoring nine tries after becoming first choice hooker, breaking a tackle record in a fixture against Vannes.[7] Grenoble would make the Top 14 promotion/relegation match having finished second in the Pro D2, losing to Montpellier.[8] He joined Clermont ahead of the 2024/26 season.[9]
Massa represented France XV in the fixture against England XV in June 2026.[10] Four days later he was included in the full France squad for the 2026 Nations Championship Southern Hemisphere Series.[11] He would debut as a replacement in France's first game of the tour against New Zealand.[12]
