French International Elisa Riffonneau becomes a Trailfinder

Trailfinders Women are delighted to announce the signing of French International Elisa Riffonneau.

The hooker, who has also played for France U20s, joins Abby Dow, Liz Crake, Rowena Burnfield, Kie Tamai and Tyson Beukeboom in bringing international experience to Trailfinders Sports Club next year.

Despite her quick rise to international honours, Riffonneau didn’t actually take up rugby until the age of 14, when she went to her local club, USJ. After loving it from the outset, her move to Rennes for high school allowed her to join Stade Rennais rugby club.

Stade Rennais have several sides, with their first team competing in Élite 1, the top league for women’s rugby in France; another side in the French third division and then an U18s and an U15s level.

Riffonneau has been playing at Stade Rennais for the last five seasons, slowly progressing through their various sides. Last season, when she had finished school, she was called up to and was capped by the French U20s side before she then was part of the French wider training squad ahead of last year’s World Cup.

Despite not being named in the final 32, Riffonneau did then make her French debut earlier this year, as she played against Ireland in April in the Tik Tok Women’s Six Nations.

As well as playing rugby next year, Riffonneau will also be studying at Brunel University, further cementing the link between the West London uni and the club.

When speaking about joining the club, Riffonneau said: “I’m very happy to be joining Trailfinders as I take on this new adventure.

“Having only really played in France before, I’m looking forward to discovering these new experiences and testing myself in English rugby”.

Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather said: Elisa has made outstanding progress this season and will join us brimming with confidence.

“To gain her first French cap in the front row at such a young age is a remarkable achievement and we can’t wait to help her continue that upward development curve and to see her challenge herself in the Premier15s.”