Belgium have shown their hand for next month’s last-chance World Cup Repechage qualification tournament. Black Devils coach Laurent Dossat has named a familiar squad with the vast majority of the 31 players based in France. There are just three domestic inclusions, all of whom suit up for the Brussels Devils in the Rugby Europe Super Cup.
Headlining the squad is star flyhalf or fullback Matias Remue, the only current Top 14 player named. He is supported by a handful of Pro D2 talent that includes flanker and vice-captain Jean-Maurice Decubber. Maxime Jadot, Julien Berger, and regular skipper Jens Torfs are the longest-serving members.
Notable absentees include outstanding loose forward Thomas De Molder, who is unavailable for the tournament, while veteran hooker Alexis Cuffolo is left out. Vincent Tauzia, Timothé Rafon, and Lucas Michiels earn recalls after missing out on earlier tests this year, and there is one new name in former Cornish Pirates wing or center Robin Wedlake, who qualifies through his father.
The Belgians toured North America in July, coming up short against the USA but defeating Canada in Edmonton. They open the Dubai tournament against Namibia on November 8, followed by Brazil on November 13 and finally Samoa on November 18. The Samoans are the highest ranked team of the four, with the Black Devils six spots behind at No22. Belgium has never qualified for the World Cup.
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LOOSEHEAD PROP
Charlesty Berguet (Vannes, FR) 11 caps
Basile van Parys (Dendermonde / Brussels Devils) 13 caps
Bruno Vliegen (Marcq, FR) 16 caps
HOOKER
Alexandre Raynier (Auch, FR) 19 caps
Vincent Tauzia (Martres-de-Veyre, FR) 11 caps
TIGHTHEAD PROP
Jean-Baptiste de Clerq (Albi, FR) 15 caps
Maxime Jadot (Emak Hor, FR) 54 caps
Seppe Verelst (Dendermonde / Brussels Devils) 6 caps
SECOND ROW
Gillian Benoy (Béziers, FR) 31 caps
Maurice Fromont (Stade Métropolitain, FR) 7 caps
Maximilien Hendrickx (Suresnes, FR) 25 caps
BACK ROW
Jérémie Brasseur (Orléans, FR) 12 caps
Toon Deceuninck (Auch, FR) 22 caps
Jean-Maurice Decubber (Charente, FR) 18 caps
Felipe Geraghty (Dendermonde / Brussels Devils) 5 caps
Lucas Rassinfosse (Anglet, FR) 14 caps
William van Bost (Béziers, FR) 12 caps
SCRUMHALF
Julien Berger (La Roche-sur-Yon, FR) 63 caps
Isaac Montoisy (Salles, FR) 17 caps
Timothé Rifon (Mâcon, FR) 12 caps
FLYHALF/FULLBACK
Hugo de Francq (Agronomia, PO) 19 caps
Matias Remue (Toulouse, FR) 11 caps
MIDFIELD
Florian Remue (Valence d’Agen, FR) 25 caps
Jens Torfs (Barbezieux, FR) 39 caps
Maxime Vacquier (Béziers, FR) 5 caps
Robin Wedlake (Camborne, UK) uncapped
OUTSIDE BACKS
Dazzy Cornez (Aubenas, FR) 23 caps
Lucas Michiels (Alcobendas, ES) 4 caps
Ervin Muric (Marcq, FR) 17 caps
Siméon Soenen (Albi, FR) 13 caps
Thomas Wallraff (Langon, FR) 30 caps
