Gaël Dréan targets a 2026 return with Toulon

Gaël Dréan remains confident he will return to competitive rugby in 2026 after heart surgery ended his season with Toulon. The 25-year-old winger says the only uncertainty is how quickly he can recover his previous level, rather than whether he will continue his career. He has extended his Toulon contract through 2029.

Dréan underwent a seven-hour operation in Paris on June 1 after a congenital heart condition worsened. He spent a week under observation and lost about 10 kilograms during the two weeks after the procedure. His condition involved a bicuspid aortic valve with insufficiency, alongside thickening of the ventricle and aorta.

His rehabilitation began in Brittany, and he returned to training three weeks after the operation. Since then, he has followed individual sessions and extensive physical preparation while gradually rebuilding his capabilities. He does not yet have a specific date for his return to matches.

The interruption came after an important season for Dréan. He made his France debut against Italy in February during the Six Nations, before Toulon finished ninth in the championship and reached the Champions Cup semi-finals. His recovery now shapes the club’s plans for the return of one of its established players, who joined Toulon in 2022.