Corentin Penc’hoat, between rugby sevens and finance studies: "My goal is the French national team"

Corentin, can you explain what the InExtenso Supersevens is?

The InExtenso Supersevens is France’s professional rugby sevens tournament. It features 16 teams, including all 14 Top 14 clubs, as well as Monaco and the Barbarians Français, a selection team comparable to a France B team.

The competition is played in four stages:

• Three qualifying tournaments in the summer.
• A final at Paris La Défense Arena, where the top eight teams compete for the French rugby sevens championship title.

You had the opportunity to take part in the final stages with the Barbarians Français. How did you experience this?

It was an incredible experience. I regularly attend training camps with the French national sevens development team, and this year, I was selected to represent the Barbarians Français in the Supersevens final stages.

We had a fantastic tournament, starting with a quarter-final victory against Monaco, the tournament's favourite, featuring several World Rugby Sevens Series players. In the semi-finals, we faced Racing 92, and in the final, we clinched the title with a last-gasp victory over Pau. It was an intense journey, and competing at this level was an immense source of pride.

My ultimate goal is to join the French national sevens team.

Why did you choose to study at SKEMA?

I am originally from Bordeaux, and when I joined Stade Niçois in Pro D2, I needed a school that could offer academic flexibility while providing a strong finance programme. SKEMA Business School, with its Sophia Antipolis campus, was the perfect choice, as it is close to my club and offers adapted schedules for high-level athletes. This allows me to train and play at the highest level while pursuing my studies smoothly.

How do you balance professional rugby and demanding finance studies?

It is a real challenge, but thanks to SKEMA’s high-level athlete programme, I can adjust my schedule to keep up with my courses while training intensively. I chose finance because it is a field that interests me and offers strong career prospects beyond rugby. Time management and discipline are key to excelling in both sports and academics.

What are your medium- and long-term goals?

In the short term, I want to keep improving with Stade Niçois and perform well in rugby sevens competitions. My ultimate goal is to join the French national sevens team and compete on the international stage. At the same time, I aim to obtain my degree and develop my finance expertise, ensuring a successful transition after my rugby career.

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