As a child, Roumat - who looks set to feature against Japan this weekend - had two idols: Kieran Read and Imanol Harinordoquy. Is it then in tribute to the 127-capped All Black that he also wears a white headband with a black stripe around his head? "My dad also wore the headband; it's perhaps a sign of destiny," laughs Roumat, whose father Olivier was a French international with 61 caps. "At the beginning, I played with a helmet. And during a Pro D2 match in Agen, I forgot it. So I wanted to try to protect my ears as much as possible and I put on a headband. Since then, I feel good with it, so I kept it."
So the look didn't come from that other titan of the back row, Harinordoquy (82 caps for France between 2002 and 2012) who had the same headband? "He was a number eight who was a jumper, runner and quite technical with his hands, very comfortable - a player I followed throughout my childhood," says Roumat, admiringly.
Maiden start against the Brave Blossoms?
The 27-year-old Roumat will be thinking of his illustrious predecessors if he is lucky enough to start against Japan this Saturday, as most expect he will. It will be his very first start, having been a substitute in his first four caps during the 2024 Guinness Men's Six Nations.
If all goes to plan, he could be involved against New Zealand (November 16) and Argentina (November 22). "For my part, I have never played these three nations. All the matches are quite important, quite symbolic for me. I can't wait to get started; I can't wait to be there and be part of the 23," he says, while not hiding the fact that playing against New Zealand would be the pinnacle. "It's always a pretty special match. I had the chance to play them in the French youth teams. The week, the preparation, it's always special; the haka is always a pretty special moment. These are matches that we all dream of as players when we're young. So, having the opportunity to do it in a packed Stade de France would be a dream."
A nailed-on starter at Toulouse
It would be a shared memory with his dad who played the All Blacks five times during his career, achieving two victories – on the famous summer tour of July 1994 – and three defeats. He tells an anecdote of the nature of the father-son relationship. "We are always setting ourselves little challenges," smiles Roumat. "When I got my first cap, he congratulated me but he told me that I would only really be an international once I had played the oranges, greens and blacks - meaning the three southern hemisphere nations [Australia, South Africa and New Zealand] which, for him, are the three flagship nations for an international. We discussed it. They are always extremely difficult matches against big teams."
Having played for Biarritz (2015-2017), Bordeaux (2017-2022) and now Stade Toulousain (2022-2024), Roumat gradually established himself in the red and black of Toulouse, finishing last season as an undisputed starter with a Champions Cup and Top 14 double to his name.
Roumat's versatile profile, so highly praised in Toulouse, allows him to play all positions across the back row, from six to eight. He played five years in Bordeaux as an openside, and could make his debut there on Saturday against Japan, even if he often plays at number eight at the moment.
Roumat's father, Olivier (pictured above), played at second row, and says: "These young people today are not like us. We were that generation of rugby players where we chose a position and we didn't deviate. What he wants is to enjoy himself. The position doesn't matter, it's not his problem.
"Everything he has today, he went and got it with a knife between his teeth. Today I'm an old fool. When people meet me in Toulouse, they say, 'This gentleman is Alexandre's dad'. Today, I'm Alexandre's father whereas before he was Olivier Roumat's son! And I'm very happy about that. My ego isn't bruised. On the contrary, I'm relaxed, I'm enjoying myself."
With his son's burgeoning Test career on the horizon, his happiness as a father is only just beginning.
France v Japan, Saturday 9th November, 20:10 GMT, Stade de France. Live on TNT Sports.
