Raphaël Ibañez

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Raphaël Ibañez


caption =
birthname =
nickname = "Raf"
birthyear = 1973
birthmonth = 02
birthday = 17
placeofbirth = Dax, France
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = height|ft=5|in=10
weight = 15 st 10 lb (100 kg)
ru_position = Hooker|capital=yes
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_amclubcaps =
ru_amclubpoints =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = France
ru_nationalyears = 1995-2007
ru_nationalcaps = 98
ru_nationalpoints = (40)
ru_ntupdate = 2008-01-10
ru_clubyears = 2005-present 2003-2005 2000-2003 1998-2000 1991-1998
ru_proclubs = London Wasps Saracens Castres Perpignan Dax
ru_clubcaps = 52
30
ru_clubpoints = (40)
(20)
ru_clubupdate = 2008-02-28
university =

Raphaël Ibañez (born 17 February 1973 in Dax, France) is a French rugby union footballer. He is a hooker, and a former captain of the France national team.

Ibañez began his playing career in his home town of Dax before moving to Perpignan and Castres. He made his debut against Wales in 1996 and went on to win 72 caps for his country, including 27 as captain, before his first retirement from international rugby in 2003. He won successive Grand Slams with France in 1997 and 1998 and led them to the World Cup Final in 1999.

After his first international retirement following the 2003 World Cup, he moved to Saracens. In 2005 he moved to Wasps on a two-year deal. In the first match of the following season, he was made captain as replacement for the injured Lawrence Dallaglio. Bernard Laporte made it one of his priorities to bring him back into the fold, especially after fellow hooker William Servat was ruled out of the autumn schedule with a neck injury. He would add 26 more France Test caps, 15 of them as captain, before announcing his second and final international retirement in 2008.

Ibañez served as France captain for the 2007 Six Nations, taking over from the injured Fabien Pelous for France's first two matches, and then being named captain for the remainder of the competition after Pelous' injury ruled him out of France's remaining three fixtures. [cite web|url=http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_20207135300.php |title=France robbed of skipper Pelous |publisher="RugbyRugby.com" |date=February 20, 2007]

He was also heavily responsible for London Wasps' win in the 2007 Heineken Cup final, playing in the same side as fellow Six Nations captain Phil Vickery.

After Pelous' injury troubles continued, [cite web|url=http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_2462717,00.html |title=France hand Ibanez the armband |publisher=Planet-Rugby.com |date=2007-07-02 |accessdate=2007-07-04] Ibañez was named as France captain for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, with Pelous as his unofficial vice-captain. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6261954.stm |title=Ibanez to captain France at Cup |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-07-02 |accessdate=2007-07-04] France would go on to finish fourth in the 2007 World Cup.

Ibañez announced his second retirement from Test rugby on 10 January 2008, but continues to play for Wasps.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7181236.stm |title=France's Ibanez quits Test rugby |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-01-10 |accessdate=2008-01-10] On 28 February 2008, Wasps announced that Ibañez and the club had agreed on a contract extension which will see him serve as a specialist forwards coach in the London Wasps Academy, as well as play for the senior side, during the 2008-09 season.cite press release|url=http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps29444.ink |title=Ibanez extends his time with Wasps |first=Fiona |last=Hackett |publisher=London Wasps |date=2008-02-28 |accessdate=2008-02-28] Though on 5 August 2008 Ibanez was named as succesor to Lawrence Dallaglio to take over the captaincy at London Wasps

ee also

*List of rugby union Test caps leaders

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.wasps.co.uk/playerdisplaySS.ink?skip=14&season=07/08&seasonl=2007/2008&playertype=P Wasps profile]