When Sebastien Chabal and Racing Metro “parted in good terms” a couple of weeks ago, before a player rebellion against coach Pierre Berbizier, the 34-year-old French international Chabal said he had a few option.
He could stay in France, he could go to Japan… or he could play Super Rugby.
A few French teams were interested: new Top 14 side Lyon, as well as the other Parisian side, Stade Francais. So when this morning (Monday night in Europe, Tuesday 14 here) Sebastien Chabal gave an interview to French radio station RMC, all thought he was going to reveal the name of his new club.
Nope, it didn’t happen like this. “ I am going to tell you a little secret: I am soon going to play in Australia. I won’t tell you more. As of today nothing has been officialised,” said Chabal. He later tweeted “Koalas or kangaroos?”. One could equally choose to read that as “Super rugby or NRL?”
A later tweet indicated that he might be playing an exhibition match at Stadium Australia. But again, who can be sure?
The French Neanderthal icon down under? Chabal being Chabal, this cannot be taken literally. For a start, the man is well known for his metaphors, and prides himself in being elusive. Coming to our shores would be the biggest escape in French rugby history, as France’s daily L’Equipe reported a few hours earlier that he was close to a deal with Stade Francais.
Practically speaking, the Super Rugby is about to start and all teams have finalised their squads. Well, the Western Force still has permission to recruit a foreign player following Willie Ripia’s resignation, but hiring a forward to replace a fly-half doesn’t make sense. And yet, nothing is impossible these days.
In terms of rugby, Sebastien Chabal has never been considered a benchmark in France. A very good back row, or even a good lock in the last few years, yes. A reference, no.
He learnt his rugby in a small town called Beauvallon before joining then first division side Bourgoin. He quickly got nicknamed cartouche (cartridge or bullet) due to his natural propensity to fighting. He became the ‘brand’ (no disrespect) and icon he is now when he started growing his hair and his beard while playing for Sale.
The Caveman was born. Women voted him the sexiest man in France and all the media wanted a piece of him. Yet this change of status didn’t seem to affect him, and he remained a man of a few words, elusive even during his rare interviews.
June 2007. A few months before the 2007 Rugby World Cup kicked off. France were in New Zealand for their end-of-season tour. Chabal was there. His presence in the Rugby World Cup squad was far from assured. A broken jaw and a knock-out later it was.
Who has forgotten Chris Masoe stumbling after being hammered by Chabal? Who doesn’t remember a sorry looking Ali Williams leaving the field, his jaw smashed? Chabal’s status had reached worldwide stardom.
Three months later, Cardiff, a 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-final. Haka time. Chabal’s stare into All Black eyes will go viral around the world.
Lievremont often selected him as a second row off the bench in the years following, and he remained in contention for a 2011 Rugby World Cup spot until the very last minute.
Yet, he was eventually overlooked by Lievremont, who preferred youngsters Lakafia and Picamoles at No. 8, and locks Julien Pierre and Millo-Chluski. This year, Chabal didn’t play much with Racing Metro under Berbizier, as the former scrum-half didn’t want to offer him another lucrative two-year deal.
So, Sebastien Chabal in Australia?
Wait and see. One thing is certain; this would be a huge marketing coup for any team in the country.
Olddantucker
Guest
Hate to correct you but Balmain did win the 1st and 2nd grade Grand Finals in Subbies Div Three in 2010, which is the year you are referring to, and came 3rd in 2011. In the Grand Final in 2010 they defeated Blacktown, who were the club promoted that year. Oh and Mitchell and Giteau played 30 and 35 minutes each against Epping alright, and the Epping club fully entered into the spirit of the day and were of course fully consulted beforehand as to whether they would be okay with it, and had a team talk and their photos taken with the guys afterwards. But don't stop your jealousy and bitterness getting in the way of the facts now, will you.
Eamon
Guest
Balmain rugby came second in third division and were only premoted to second division because Blacktown were relegated for not fielding a colts (under 21 ) side. Balmain did not win the comp in three's despite playing two Australian representitive players at the end of the season against Epping when the two sides were compeating to make the finals after a long season.
sledgeandhammer
Guest
I agree, I can't imagine too many people being scared of the Haka these days, it's been done to death (excuse the pun). But like it or not, the NZ team do use the Haka to stir up their own emotions, Chabal did the same and a few boys in black were punished.
ted
Guest
BTW about that Samoan argument....draft Samoa, Fiji & Tonga into Super rugby and get them up to the level of the rest of the top rugby nations.
ted
Guest
he is rubbish...cannot even hold down a spot in French team....whats all the fuss about...oh a beard and long hair...
kovana
Guest
"but there are special allocations for all the NZ SR teams for Island players." Where are these players? I only see Pisi and Mo Schwalger now. Yes. Very generous by the NZRU.
mania
Guest
who cares bout collins hit? well no one in context to this article. but in context for people how like seeing being hits, everyone who likes rugby ps- standing up to the haka should have no bearing on the game. the haka is just a prelude to the game. too many people read into it way too much. if u feel u have to 'stand up to it' then your probably a bit scared and shouldnt be playing. if you see it for what it is, its just a challenge.
Emric
Guest
RB If is truly from Samoa.. and I've no reason to disbelieve him, then his statement could be a reflection of how Samoans are feeling about super rugby in general. This is a situation which requires fixing.
mania
Guest
NZRFU's treatment of Samoan rugby has always been a double edged sword. NZRFU and IRB as an entity have tried to help Samoan rugby but its the key @holes in the charge at the time that have made it diffilcult for Samoa. In the WC 2007, Samoan players were told they could go to the WC but would then have their super contracts ripped up. guys like loki crichton couldnt play for manu and stayed with the chiefs then subsequently left that season to go over seas. the spirit of assistance from the NZRFU is there, its just that some of the key people who make the final decisions have interpretted the letter of the law to suit their own ends disadvantaging Samoans. in recents years (since the WC 2007) NZRFU hasnt done a lot for Samoan players that arent eligible for the AB's. saying all this though no country has done more for Samoa than NZ ps- I'm a samoan kiwi and have 2 allegiences. AB's and Manu. i was in Samoa when they beat aus and i was there when they were fundraising for the WC. I love the AB's but i have respect and pride for the way Manu comport themselves and punch above their weight. Samoa is my 2nd home and I will always marvel at how resiliant and strong we are as a people. Manu will never have the economic power of any of the top tier nations but threaten every top tier side they ever play. i'm a proud samoan savage and as a kiwi born i cant believe the amount we achieve with what little we have. win or lose Samoa always play with honour and pride. when the AB's play Samoa I support Samoa because they are the fairy tale StGeorge taking on the dragons of worldRugby. when a samoan plays for the AB's i feel pride for my race. We NZ borns arent solely kiwi's, we are true NZ patriots but we also have an allegience and affilation to our parents home land. rugbug and roger, i see your guys argument but its pointless. NZ born samoans are still still both kiwi's and samoans. NZ gave us the opportunity to be rugby players but samoan gave us the speed, strength, power, honour and most importantly our humility.
roger
Guest
they're samoans mate..they were born to samoan parents who changed their diapers, put them in school, put a roof over their heads and food on the table..but of course you wouldn't know, because you're not samoan..
Intotouch
Guest
This guy is terrific for the first ten minutes and then invisible. He brings great publicity but great play? Strange purchase.
sledgeandhammer
Guest
who cares about Collins hit? It had no significance, Chabal was blind sided (literally) and got hit in an awkward position. When France played the All Blacks in NZ they were an inexperienced side who were on a hiding to nothing. Chabal stood up to the All Blacks in the Haka and then backed it up on the field. If only more Australian forwards had the balls to do the same.
Rabbi
Guest
No chance that nrl clubs would want him. At 34 he is too old for them to take a chance on him adapting successfully or quickly enough. If willie mason can't get a run, I don't think chabal can. Odds on he'll be back in French rugby on good coin sooner rather than later. Big kudos to Balmain subbies, a great promo for their club, and the code. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Rugbug
Guest
I think you may want to do your homework a bit more Kovana then come back and debate this topic with me. Sure NZ doesn't go recruiting the islanders to play in NZ but there are special allocations for all the NZ SR teams for Island players. Not to mention many Samoan and tongan players have all plied there trade in the NPC. A lot of NZ born PI players turn out for the Islands respectively and to say they don't is pure ignorance at its best. So now your narrowing it down to just the 7's team oh I love it hopw you change the goal posts to suit your argument kovana. I was talking about the Samoan World Cup teams and the Samoan team members born and raised in NZ but of course you want to ignore that.
Rugbug
Guest
Like I said roger I think you may want to do a bit more homework before coming into a site like this making such childish and unsubstantiated statements. If your sick of the patronising it may pay to actually do some research and then come back when you know what your talking about. 2007 Samoan rugby team roger please tell me how many of them were New Zealand born and raised. Also please note where did the pisi's and Mahonri Swalger learn there rugby? Lome Fa'atau should I go on?
roger
Guest
no just create a pipeline/pathway from the islands to super rugby..our young talented players need the money and the exposure..
roger
Guest
i live in samoa and the only way a samoan lad can play pro rugby is hopefully get noticed by european club agents..and you do that by playing sevens rugby..the nzru and sanza closed the door a long time ago on island-committed rugby players..the writing has been on the wall the last decade..they went ahead and invited argentina to join sanza, where does that leave samoa tonga and fiji?..they'd rather recruit europeans like cipriani, chabal, haskell, etc, than scouting the islands for talent..there's plenty of those here..nzru and sanza has done crap for island rugby and i hope super rugby dies away..graham henry even had the nerve to go to europe and lecture european clubs not to recruit island players anymore..sick of the patronizing bs from these kiwis..
kovana
Guest
"The NZRU has provisions in place for Pacific Islanders to be part of the SR franchises and all the ITM cup sides" Oh really? Where are all these islanders then? You would think the fact NZ is only a few hours flight away from Tonga, Fiji and Samoa you would have plenty of them playing in the NPC.... Nope. There goes your theory. And take a quick look at the Samoa 7s team. All local boys. Not even fully pros as well. Amateurs, all of em.... NZ put up a bunch of fully pro contracted 7s players against a rag tag band of subsistence farmers, fishermen, taxi and Bus drivers from Samoa... and came out 2nd best. Oh dear. Samoas most famous taxi driver scored the winning try in the Las Vegas 7s.. and once again made Mikkelson look like the player he really is... soft.. Yet Alafoti wont even get a contract from NZ.
Rugbug
Guest
Auckland is the biggest polynesian city in the World and Polynesian children are and will continue to be born there oddly enough. I guess you would like NZ to bar anyone with polynesian heritage from playing for its national teams, including those born and raised in NZ.
Onor
Guest
jerry was a way bigger hitter than chabal... remember the hit on charvis??? thats the biggest hit ive ever seen.. and thats including league...