Penaud replaces Blanco as France’s all-time leading try scorer

By Canadian Press on November 8, 2025.

PARIS (AP) — Damian Penaud overtook Serge Blanco as France’s all-time leading try scorer in test rugby with his 39th try early against world champion South Africa on Saturday.

Penaud latched onto a smart chip kick from fullback Thomas Ramos and ran over in the right corner untouched.

The 29-year-old Penaud took 57 tests to pass Blanco, who retired in 1991 as one of the greatest fullbacks of all time and had 38 tries in 93 tests.

The sides met for the first time since 2023 when South Africa knocked out the World Cup host 29-28 in an epic quarterfinal. Eleven Springboks from that matchday 23 have returned to the Stade de France.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

The Associated Press

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