Felix Balshaw: French tennis star whose dad won Rugby World Cup
Twenty-year-old tennis player Felix Balshaw, son of England rugby winner Iain Balshaw, climbs into the world's top 180 after securing his first ATP Tour win.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Twenty-year-old rising tennis star Felix Balshaw represents France despite his English heritage.
- He grew up in Biarritz, France, after his father moved to play in the French Top 14 rugby league.
- Balshaw recently claimed his maiden ATP Tour win at Lyon Open and rose into the world's top 180 rankings.
Accents quickly reveal a lot about a person, and speaking to Leeds-born Felix Balshaw—the 20-year-old son of England Rugby World Cup winner Iain—makes it immediately clear why he represents France on his professional tennis journey.
There is no mistaking a strong Gallic twang as Balshaw, who celebrated the first ATP Tour victory of his career this week, discusses his athletic path. He was born in West Yorkshire while his father played for Premiership club Leeds Tykes, before the family relocated to Biarritz when Iain—an electrifying full-back and wing who scored three tries in England's iconic 2003 campaign—joined the exodus to the French Top 14 league.
The Balshaw family has remained in the luxurious Basque coastal city, known for its Belle Epoque architecture, Atlantic seafront casinos, and world-class surfing. Balshaw noted that growing up in France made him feel increasingly French each day, while return trips across the English Channel were very rare and mostly limited to Christmas family gatherings.
"When he was at Biarritz I was always stood in a little corner in the stands with the rugby gang. It was very, very inspirational to watch him."
Felix Balshaw
Now ranked number 178 in the world, Balshaw is fully aware that his father is permanently etched into English sporting history for scoring three tries in the pool stage of the 2003 World Cup and coming on as a second-half substitute in the 20-17 victory over Australia in the final. On the eve of his Lyon Open second-round match against fellow Frenchman Corentin Moutet, Felix sought inspiration by watching highlights of his father playing in 2003.
In the context of modern professional sports, cross-border family backgrounds and international representation choices have become increasingly common. Balshaw's career trajectory highlights how athletes raised abroad often adopt the sporting culture of their upbringing, shaping the landscape of modern tennis representation.
Balshaw started playing tennis at the age of four but also displayed natural talent for rugby. By age 13, facing the prospect of a professional career, he had to choose which sport to pursue more seriously. He admitted that having a rugby champion father naturally made him want to follow the same path, but he ultimately felt rugby was not his sport, finding more internal drive in individual tennis competition.
Possessing a Roger Federer-style one-handed backhand and a Thor-inspired hammer celebration, Balshaw started the 2026 season ranked 718th and recently beat Portuguese world number 56 Jaime Faria for his maiden tour-level win at the ATP 250 event in Lyon. His rapid rise will see him climb inside the world's top 180.
Source: BBC Sport
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