Brendan Lebrun: From Judo to Pro Rugby – A Châteaulin Success Story

Professional athletes are not legion in Châteaulin. If it is not surprising to find a professional cyclist, Thibault Guernalec, in the city of cycling, the presence of a professional rugby player is more surprising. Brendan Lebrun, a pure product of the rugby school of Rugby Football Club Kastellin, who has already had a good time with Top 14 clubs, now plays for Biarritz Olympique, a Pro D2 club.

You judo au rugby

However, nothing predestined Brendan to rugby because, in the Lebrun family, judo is the sport of choice. “I was watching the Six Nations Tournament on television,” remembers Brendan, “and it made me dream. My parents thought you could only play rugby in Brest, so I started with judo. One day, we realized that there was the RFCK in Châteaulin, and I was enrolled in the rugby school at 9 years old.”

Quimper, Tours, La Rochelle, Castres…

Jacque Brisoux, the memory of the Châteaulinois club, measures the progress made: “He stayed at the club until he was 15, but, given his abilities, he joined the certified training center of Quimper, then the Pôle Espoir of Tours. He wore the blue jersey in all categories, from U16 to U19, he will even be world champion with the U18s.”

Spotted by La Rochelle, the Châteaulinois pillar joined the Rochelais training center, then signed his first professional contract, in 2020, to play in the Top 14 for two seasons. He then played at Castres Olympique. For the 2023-2024 season, he therefore joined Biarritz Olympique in Pro D2.

A contagious virus in the family

If judo was the Lebrun sport, the rugby virus has now gained ground. Kelly, Brendan’s sister, after the Châteaulin rugby school, joined La Rochelle in the women’s elite. Sven, the youngest of the family, licensed at Châteaulin, plays with Sud 29.

As for Fabienne, the mother, now vice-president of the RFCK, she is a U9 educator and plays with the rugby team. A great example of volunteering within a recognized training club.

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