Sébastien Chabal facts for kids
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| Date of birth | 8 December 1977 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Valence, France | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 113 kg (249 lb; 17 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sébastien Chabal (born 8 December 1977) is a famous French former rugby union player. He was known for his strong tackles and unique look, which included a full beard and long hair. Fans even nicknamed him l'Homme des Cavernes, meaning "the Caveman"!
Sébastien played for many top clubs like Bourgoin, Sale Sharks, and Racing Métro 92 Paris. He also proudly represented the French national team in 62 games. During his 16-year career, he won the English Premiership with Sale and the 2007 Six Nations Championship with France. He was one of the most popular sports stars in France, leading to a craze called Chabalmania.
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About Sébastien Chabal
Sébastien Chabal was born on 8 December 1977 in Valence, France. He grew up in a small town called Beaumont-lès-Valence. His family was humble; his father worked in a garage, and his mother worked in a jewelry store.
Sébastien loved working with machines. He went to a special school to study mechanics. After school, he worked in a factory. While working there, he played rugby for a local amateur club. Later, he joined Valence Sportif and became a professional rugby player.
Sébastien is also a member of 'Champions for Peace'. This group includes many famous athletes who use sport to help bring peace to the world.
Sébastien's Rugby Journey
Starting Rugby
Sébastien first tried rugby when he was nine years old, but he stopped after only two months. He gave it another try when he was sixteen, joining two friends at a local club. This time, he really loved the game and the teamwork.
He quickly moved up through the different levels of French rugby. He played for Valence Sportif and then joined CS Bourgoin-Jallieu in 1998. Bourgoin was one of the top teams in France. Even though he didn't win any major trophies with Bourgoin, he played at the highest level and earned his first chance to play for France.
Playing in England
After six years with Bourgoin, Sébastien decided to try playing in England. He joined Sale Sharks in 2004. This was a great move for him!
In his first season, Sale Sharks won the 2004–05 European Challenge Cup. This was Sébastien's first major trophy. The next year, Sale Sharks won the 2005–06 Guinness Premiership, which is the top rugby league in England. Sébastien became a key player for the team.
During his time in England, Sébastien became very famous for his tough tackles and unique look. His "Caveman" image made him popular with fans and helped him get many advertising deals.
Returning to France
After five successful years in England, Sébastien decided to return to France in 2009. He signed a three-year contract with Racing Métro 92, a team that had just moved up to the top French league. He joined other famous players there.
Racing Métro did well in their first season back in the top league. In 2010, it was reported that Sébastien Chabal was the highest-paid rugby player in the world!
For his last two seasons (2012–2014), Sébastien played for Lyon. He ended his amazing career on a high note, helping Lyon get promoted to the top division in 2014.
Playing for France
Sébastien Chabal also had a big impact on the French national team. Even though he usually played as a back-row player, the coach often used him as a lock, which is a different position. Sébastien was happy to play wherever the team needed him.
He played in important tournaments like the 2007 Six Nations Championship, which France won. He also played in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, where France reached the semi-finals. Sébastien was very sad when France lost that game.
He continued to play for France in various international matches until 2011.
Other Appearances
Even after his main rugby career, Sébastien Chabal made some special appearances. In 2012, he played one game for an Australian rugby club, which created a lot of excitement. He even scored a try in that game!
In 2014, he appeared in an advertisement for a company called CurrencyFair, where he was called the "Currency Fairy."
Sébastien continues to be part of the 'Champions for Peace' group. He uses his fame to show how sport can help bring people together and promote peace around the world.
See also
In Spanish: Sébastien Chabal para niños
