What if we took a step back in time? What if we relived the best actions of the French championship?
Legendary Plays has selected 49 iconic Top 14 players just for you. You'll be able to rediscover some of these players' finest actions and most memorable moments.
This collection will take you back ten or even twenty years! Without further ado, here is a presentation of some of the players in this collection.
Christophe Dominici, the shooting star
Against Biarritz Olympique, in the Top 16 final at the time, Christophe Dominici scored one of the finest tries ever scored in a French championship final.
He picked up the ball on the halfway line, accelerated but was caught out...
But he wasn't held! He rose to his feet at lightning speed, after sliding off his knees. His top speed then did the rest as he finished behind the try line.
It was quite a career for the man with 67 caps for the French national team, and winner of the 1998 V Nations Tournament and 3 Six Nations Tournaments. A two-time European runner-up and 5-time French champion with Stade Français, Dominici was one of the greatest French wingers in history.
Frédéric Michalak, the gifted Frenchman
During the 2001 final between Stade Toulousain and ASM Clermont, Michalak used his full range of skills to score a penalty from almost 50 metres. At just 19 years of age, the player trained at Stade Toulousain is discovering himself in the eyes of the rugby world.
And his record of achievements is STRATOSPHERIC. Three times French champion (2 with Toulouse and 1 with Toulon), 6 times European champion (3 with Toulouse and 3 with Toulon). He has won the Six Nations Tournament 4 times, including 3 Grand Slams, and is the highest scorer in the history of the French national team with 436 points!
Are you still alive? We can hardly believe it!
Sébastien Chabal, Hummmm « Chabal »
Naturally, this list includes the monster, the beast that is Sébastien Chabal, 62 caps for the French national team. A 113-kilogram colossus colliding with you at full speed obviously leaves its mark. His monstrous tackle in the Top 16 semi-final in 2003-2004 was a case in point.
Click here to try to obtain his extraordinary tackle
To his credit? Two Six Nations tournaments, in the squad for two Rugby World Cups with Les Bleus. Apart from winning the French Pro D2 title with LOU in 2014, his record of achievements in France unfortunately does not reflect his career... A SENSATIONAL player that French rugby will never forget.
Juan-Martin Hernandez, “El Mago”
Juan-Martin Hernandez scored his side's only try of the semi-final in the corner against Bourgoin with his club Stade Français. It was a crucial try that sent the Parisians into the final at the Stade de France, before they went on to win it.
A two-time French champion with Stade Français and European champion in 2015 with RCT, the Argentinian magician has spent some fine seasons on French soil. Whether he played as an opener, fullback, centre or even winger, his time in France was marked by his vision and exceptional intelligence. Hernandez won 74 caps for the Pumas, with whom he played in three World Cups. A monstrous career for an exceptional player.
Imanol Harinordoquy, the leaping basque
During the Basque Country derby between Biarritz Olympique and Aviron Bayonnais, Imanol Harinordoquy was on the receiving end of a clever overhead kick from Dimitri Yachvili.
The Basque player has won twice the French championship with Biarritz Olympique and is a two-time finalist in the European Cup.
Winner of 4 Six Nations tournaments with the French team, including 3 Grand Slams (2002, 2004 and 2010), Imanol has also taken part in three Rugby World Cups, reaching the final in 2011.
Finishing his career with Stade Toulousain, Harinordoquy's career was a reflection of his size (1.92 metres and 105 kilos): HUGE.
You can find other old-fashioned players in our collection:
- Fabien Galthié : Stade Français 🇫🇷
- Xavier Garbajosa : Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷
- Florian Fritz : Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷
- Rupeni Caucaunibuca : SU Agen 🇫🇯
- Napolioni Nalaga : ASM 🇫🇯
- Jonny Wilkinson : RCT 🏴
- Jean-Baptiste Elissalde : Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷
- Julien Arias : Stade Français 🇫🇷
- Yann Delaigue : Castres Olympique 🇫🇷
- Dimitri Szarzewski : Stade Français 🇫🇷
- Brock James : ASM 🇦🇺
- Sonny Bill Williams : RCT 🇳🇿
- Lionel Beauxis : Stade Français 🇫🇷
- Pierre Mignoni : ASM 🇫🇷
- Pepito Elhorga : Aviron Bayonnais 🇫🇷
- Patricio Albacete : Stade Toulousain 🇦🇷
- Felipe Contepomi : RCT 🇦🇷
- Julien Malzieu : ASM 🇫🇷
- Byron Kelleher : Stade Toulousain 🇳🇿
- Iain Balshaw : Biarritz Olympique 🏴
- Julien Dupuy : Stade Français 🇫🇷
- Clément Poitrenaud : Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷
- Joe Van Niekerk : RCT 🇿🇦
- David Skrela : ASM 🇫🇷
- Sireli Bobo : Racing 🇫🇯
- Paul Sackey : Stade Français 🏴
- Luke McAlister : Stade Toulousain 🇳🇿
- Romain Teulet : Castres Olympique 🇫🇷
- Matt Giteau : RCT 🇦🇺
- Benoit August : Biarritz Olympique 🇫🇷
- Ignacio Corleto : Stade Français 🇦🇷
- Jamie Cudmore : ASM 🇨🇦
- Jean-Baptiste Poux : Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷
- Lionel Nallet : Racing 🇫🇷
- Mario Ledesma : ASM 🇦🇷
- Nicolas Brusque : Biarritz Olympique 🇫🇷
- Nicolas Mas : USAP 🇫🇷
- Pascal Pape : Stade Français 🇫🇷
- Percy Montgomery : USAP 🇿🇦
- Rodrigo Capo-Ortega: Castres Olympique 🇺🇾
- Sylvain Marconnet: Stade Français 🇫🇷
- Thibaut Privat: ASM 🇫🇷
- William Servat: Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷
- Yoann Maestri: Stade Toulousain 🇫🇷
All these players and their actions are now available on Legendary Plays
So don't wait, open your pack the old-fashioned way and let the magic begin.
