KILKENNY MAN PETER Lydon has been named in Stade Français’ starting team to face Harlequins in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris tomorrow [KO 8.00pm Irish time].
The 21-year-old will be making his first senior appearance for the club in the fullback position, having already started at out-half in the Amlin wins over Lusitanos XV and Cavalieri Prato this season.
Lydon joined the Top 14 club last summer from Ulster Bank League side Seapoint RFC, where he had been nominated for the Division 2A Player of the Year award in 2013. A product of Kilkenny College, the Dutch-born out-half also previously impressed at schools level in the Leinster Senior Cup.
Since signing an academy contract with Stade at the start of the current season, Lydon has spent much of his playing time with the Espoirs [under 23] team, although he did make his Top 14 debut as a replacement in September’s 38-10 defeat away to Castres.
The presence of France international Jules Plisson and former Springbok Morne Styen in the out-half position has resulted in limited first-team opportunities in the 10 shirt, but Lydon’s selection at fullback for a European quarter-final is a marker of the impression he has made at the Parisian club.
Stade Français can surely count on plenty of Irish support ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with ‘Quins.