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Connor Sa (born 22 January 2002) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Bordeaux Bègles. Born in New Zealand, he played for the France under-20 team.

Early life

Sa was born in suburban Auckland to rugby union prop Salemane Sa [fr] (born 1980). He grew up in France, where his father played for teams including Bordeaux Bègles.[1]

Club career

Sa was a youth player at Bordeaux Bègles and signed his first professional contract of three years in May 2022, before being loaned to Carcassonne of the Pro D2 in the same month.[2] He played nine games, of which two as a starter;[3] on 9 September he scored a late try in a 26–24 home win over local rivals Béziers.[4]

Sa returned to Bordeaux Bègles in December 2022 due to Pablo Dimcheff‘s injury,[5] and made his Top 14 debut on 23 December against La Rochelle, winning 12–8 away.[6] In the following January, he played in Champions Cup losses against English teams Sale Sharks and Gloucester, and as Dimcheff was still out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, his return was extended to the end of February.[7]

Sa missed the entire 2023–24 season with an Achilles tendon rupture from a sprint in training.[8] In January 2025, he extended his contract for two more years,[9] and on 1 March he scored his first Top 14 try, in a 29–17 win at Perpignan.[10] On 24 May, he played the last 18 minutes as a substitute as his club won the Champions Cup final 28–20 against Northampton Saints at the Millennium Stadium;[11] on 28 June he also came off the bench in a 39–33 extra-time loss to Toulouse in the Top 14 final at the Stade de France.[12]

International career

Sa played for the France under-20 team at the Six Nations Under 20s Championship in 2021 and 2022. He played two games at the former, and in the latter he scored three tries, in wins against Wales (two tries) and Scotland.[13]

References

  1. ^ Bonnet, Frédéric (25 November 2021). “UBB : “J’aimerais suivre les traces de mon père”, dit Connor Sa” [UBB: “I would like to follow my father’s footsteps”, says Connor Sa]. Sud Ouest (in French). Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  2. ^ Cathala, Pierre (21 May 2022). “Pro D2 : un jeune talonneur de Bordeaux-Bègles tout proche de signer en prêt à l’US Carcassonne” [Pro D2: a young Bordeaux-Bègles winger close to signing on loan to US Carcassonne]. L’Independant (in French). Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  3. ^ “Connor Sa (Carcassonne) de retour de prêt à Bordeaux-Bègles” [Connor Sa (Carcassonne) back from loan at Bordeaux-Bègles] (in French). Rugbyrama. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  4. ^ “L’US Carcassonne remporte le derby face à Béziers sur le fil !” [US Carcassonne win the derby against Béziers by a hair’s breadth!]. Le Petit Journal (in French). 12 September 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  5. ^ “Top 14. UBB : Connor Sa, première au talon face au Stade Rochelais” [Top 14. UBB: Connor Sa, hooker’s debut against Stade Rochelais]. Sud Ouest (in French). 22 December 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  6. ^ Droual, Ivan (23 December 2022). “Top 14. Bordeaux-Bègles se relance en s’imposant sur la pelouse de La Rochelle” [Top 14. Bordeaux-Bègles relaunch themselves by imposing themselves on La Rochelle’s turf]. Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  7. ^ Leshauriès, Yoan (22 January 2023). “Top 14. Connor Sa restera à l’UBB jusqu’à fin février” [Top 14. Connor Sa will stay at UBB until the end of February]. Sud Ouest (in French). Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  8. ^ Guillou, Yanis (20 October 2024). “Top 14 – “Je reviens de loin” : après un an et demi de galère, Connor Sa (UBB) enchaîne enfin” [Top 14 – “I’ve come a long way”: after a year and a half of struggle, Connor Sa (UBB) finally gets back on track] (in French). Rugbyrama. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  9. ^ Paturaud, Jean-François (4 January 2025). “Connor Sa (UBB) va prolonger deux ans” [Connor Sa (UBB) will extend for two years]. L’Équipe (in French). Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  10. ^ Billiard, Willy (1 March 2025). “Top 14 : Bordeaux remonte à la 2e place après sa victoire sur Perpignan” [Top 14: Bordeaux climb back to 2nd place after their victory over Perpignan] (in French). Rugbypass. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  11. ^ Cameron, Ian (24 May 2025). “Bordeaux player ratings vs Northampton 2025 Investec Champions Cup final”. Rugbypass. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  12. ^ Bendon, Philip (28 June 2025). “Toulouse Wins Epic Top 14 Final In 100th Minute To Seal 3rd Straight Title”. Flo Rugby. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  13. ^ Carré, Arnaud (16 March 2022). “Tournoi des 6 nations U20 : tout s’accélère pour le talonneur de l’UBB Connor Sa” [Six Nations Under-20 Championship: everything is accelerating for UBB hooker Connor Sa] (in French). France Bleu. Retrieved 4 April 2026.