Portugal fan favourite Storti scores 80m try on Top 14 debut

Stade Français season might’ve not started as intended, but at least there was a ray of sunlight shining through after their last defeat against Castres: Raffaele Storti. In his Top 14 debut, the wing scored a spectacular interception try, bouncing off Baptiste Cope with a perfectly timed hand-off before sliding across the whitewash.

Unfortunately for Stade Français, the try didn’t change the course of the match, as the Stadistes suffered their 5th loss of the season, remaining second to last in the Top 14.

The Portuguese wing had his debut delayed due to an injury, which had already forced him to turn down the opportunity to play against the Springboks last July.

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Storti made an impact in the U20 World Rugby Trophy back in 2019, moving to the Uruguayan Franchise, Peñarol, in 2020. As the season was cut short due to COVID, the young wing moved back home to reenlist in Técnico and was approached by Stade Français in the Summer of 2021, joining the French club as an academy-player.

After failing to secure any game time in his first season in France, Storti was loaned to AS Béziers-Hérault where he remained for two seasons, scoring 31 tries in 31 outings. With the number of suitors racking up, Stade Français re-signed the outside until 2027, offering him another shot in the Top 14.

Storti’s try…

The best way to introduce yourself in the Top 14#top14 pic.twitter.com/Qz7yeDap2q

— Francisco Isaac (@francisaac87) October 19, 2024

In his first match in the competition, Raffaele Storti not only dotted down a try, but was the player with the most metres gained, clean breaks and carries of the match, making his presence felt. The wing shared his feelings to RugbyPass about his debut for Stade Français: “Mixed emotions, as we were losing an important game and with barely any time left to play. Of course, I was happy with my first try, as it was a dream of mine to play and score a try in the Top 14. It means a lot to me to have done it in my first outing for the club. We have been working hard to help the club. It is a long season, and we are still on time to be back in the race for the playoffs.”

With Paul Gustard now at the helm of the Parisian side, Storti’s try-scoring prowess can play a crucial role in turning the tide and helping the club get back on track.