Émilien Gailleton
France international rugby union player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Émilien Gailleton (born 13 July 2003) is a French rugby union player, who plays as a centre for Top 14 club Section Paloise and the France national team.
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Gailleton with France U20 in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 July 2003 Croydon, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 89 kg (14 st 0 lb; 196 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life and youth career
Club career
SU Agen
Gailleton made his professional debut for SU Agen on 15 October 2021, at the age of 18, in a match against Rugby Club Vannes during the 2021–22 Rugby Pro D2 season.
Section Paloise
In December 2021, Gailleton signed with Section Paloise, joining them for the 2022–23 Top 14 season.[4] Despite interest from ASM Clermont Auvergne and Stade Toulousain, he chose Pau, partly due to the opportunity to work again with Sébastien Piqueronies,[5] whom he had known during his time at the Centre national du rugby in Marcoussis with the French youth teams.[6]
During his first season in the Top 14, Gailleton scored 14 tries in 24 matches, finishing as the league’s top try-scorer.[7] His performance earned him a nomination for the Oscars Midi Olympique in both the Espoir and Oscar d'Or categories and inclusion in the league's team of the season.[8]
In the 2023–24 Top 14 season, Gailleton continued to develop as a player, evolving into a more well-rounded player although he faced stiff competition from other emerging talents.[9] This apparent slowdown in his progression led to increased competition from emerging young talents in the France national team. Nevertheless, Gailleton seized upcoming opportunities during the end-of-season international tours. He concluded the season with eighteen line breaks in twenty-four Top 14 matches.[10]
In the 2024–25 Top 14 season, Gailleton solidified his role as a central figure for Section Paloise, demonstrating his development into a complete player.[11] He expanded his tactical repertoire, showcasing his ability to create plays, structure the defense, and regain offensive efficiency.[12]
International career
France U20
Gailleton was selected for the France U20 team for the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship at just 17.[13] He played in four matches, starting in three. In 2022, he captained the team during the Six Nations Under 20s Championship, scoring a try against Scotland.[14] He also played in the U20 Six Nations Summer Series, adding further international experience.[6]
France senior team
On 30 October 2022, Gailleton was first called by Fabien Galthié to the France senior team for the Autumn internationals.[15] Gailleton did not play. In 2023, he was included in the extended squad for the 2023 Six Nations Championship[16] but was later released to rejoin the U20s team. He made his senior debut on 5 August 2023 in a test match against Scotland.
International tries
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 July 2024 | José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina |  Argentina |
21–18 | 33–25 | 2024 Argentina and Uruguay test series |
| 2 | 9 November 2024 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France |  Japan |
10–0 | 52–12 | 2024 Autumn internationals |
| 3 | 31 January 2025 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France |  Wales |
38–0 | 43–0 | 2025 Six Nations |
| 4 | 15 February 2026 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | Wales |
0–5 | 12–54 | 2026 Six Nations |
| 5 | 22 February 2026 | Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France |  Italy |
31–8 | 33–8 |
Personal life
Gailleton is bilingual, speaking both English and French fluently. His language skills have been useful in international competitions, especially when captaining the France U20 team.
Honours
- Individual
- 1× Top 14 leading try-scorer: 2023 (14 tries)
- 1× Top 14 team of the season: 2023
- 1× Nuit du rugby Breakthrough Player of the Season: 2023[17]
