Lionel Nallet
France
player portrait
Full name Lionel Nallet
Born September 14, 1976, Bourg-en-Bresse
Current age 47 years 196 days
Major teams Castres, Lyon, Racing Metro, France
Position Lock
Height 6 ft 5 in
Weight 252 lb

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2000-2012 74 54 20 45 9 0 0 0 49 24 1 66.89
Five/Six Nations 2001-2012 34 27 7 20 4 0 0 0 24 9 1 72.05
IRB Rugby World Cup 2007-2011 10 9 1 20 4 0 0 0 6 4 0 60

Career statistics
Test debut Romania v France at Bucharest, May 28, 2000 match details
Last Test France v England at Stade de France, Mar 11, 2012 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list
Profile

Nallet made his international debut on May 28, 2000, against Romania in Bucharest and scored a try in his side's crushing 67-20 victory.

The uncompromising lock went on to make six appearances for his country in 2001 including the Six Nations clash against England and matches with South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

Nallet was recalled to the national squad for the 2003 summer tour and although he was an unused replacement in the two clashes against Argentina, he started in the one-off Test against the All Blacks.

He did not pull on an international jersey again until the end of 2005 and remained part of the squad throughout 2006.

Having played a key role in France's success, he retained his place in the squad for the tour matches against Romania and South Africa and that year's autumn internationals.

Nallet was ever-present throughout France's successful defence of the Six Nations title in 2007 and was subsequently named in the squad for the 2007 World Cup. He went on to make four appearances with veteran Fabien Pelous preferred for the bigger clashes and Sebastien Chabal often chosen to make an impact from the bench.

Following the retirement of Pelous and Raphael Ibanez after the World Cup - and the arrival of new coach Marc Lievremont - Nallet was named as France's skipper for the 2008 Six Nations.

He was unable to inspire a third successive Six Nations triumph as France succumbed to Wales in the Championship decider. Nallet then led his side on tour to Australia and in doing so played his 53rd consecutive week of rugby. In 2009 he was replaced as national skipper by flanker Thierry Dusautoir.

On the domestic stage Nallet played for Bourgoin from 1998-2003 before moving to Castres and later Racing Metro.

Having started all five of France's games during the 2011 Six Nations - bagging two tries against Wales in the process - Nallet is expected to go to the 2011 World Cup and has been named in Lievremont's 33-man preliminary squad for the tournament.

Despite a rough ride, France reached the final - where they lost to New Zealand - with Nallet playing an integral role. He was dropped from France's Six Nations training squad early in 2012 as new coach Philippe Saint-Andre looked to inject some youth into the squad. But he was swiftly recalled as injuries mounted.

Latest Articles
Bourgoin wilt under financial pressure (Aug 9, 2012) Nallet admits France days are over (Mar 13, 2012) France recall veteran Nallet (Jan 10, 2012) Blues not getting carried away (Nov 11, 2011) Blues lay down impressive marker (Nov 11, 2011) Lionel Nallet news and articles (35) »
Latest Photos
Nov 7, 2011
Racing Metro's Lionel Nallet clasps the Heineken Cup trophy
Racing Metro's Lionel Nallet clasps the Heineken Cup trophy
©  Getty Images
Nov 7, 2011
French club captains pose with the Heineken Cup trophy
French club captains pose with the Heineken Cup trophy
©  Getty Images
Oct 23, 2011
France lock Lionel Nallet offloads out of the tackle
France lock Lionel Nallet offloads out of the tackle
©  Getty Images
Oct 20, 2011
France lock Lionel Nallet attaches some bait to his fishing rod
France lock Lionel Nallet attaches some bait to his fishing rod
©  Getty Images
Lionel Nallet rugby photos (30) »

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