Raphaël Ibañez 2372346 216100535 2008-05-31T02:01:29Z Cydebot 1215485 Robot - Moving category Spanish-French people to French people of Spanish descent per [[WP:CFD|CFD]] at [[Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2008 May 13]]. {{Infobox Rugby biography | name = Raphaël Ibañez | image = | caption = | birthname = | nickname = ''Raf'' | birthyear = 1973 | birthmonth = 02 | birthday = 17 | placeofbirth = [[Dax, Landes|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 national rugby union team|France]] | ru_nationalyears = 1995-2007 | ru_nationalcaps = 98 | ru_nationalpoints = (40) | ru_ntupdate = [[2008-01-10]] | ru_clubyears = 2005-present<br/>2003-2005<br/>2000-2003<br/>1998-2000<br/>1991-1998 | ru_proclubs = [[London Wasps]]<br/>[[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]]<br/>[[Castres Olympique|Castres]]<br/>[[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]]<br/>[[US Dax|Dax]] | ru_clubcaps = 52<br>30 | ru_clubpoints = (40)<br>(20) | ru_clubupdate = [[2008-02-28]] | university = }} '''Raphaël Ibañez''' (born [[17 February]] [[1973]] in [[Dax, Landes|Dax]], [[France]]) is a [[France|French]] rugby union footballer. He is a {{hooker}}, and a former captain of the [[France national rugby union team|France national team]]. Ibañez began his playing career in his home town of [[Dax, Landes|Dax]] before moving to [[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]] and [[Castres Olympique|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 Rugby World Cup|1999]]. After his first international retirement following the [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003 World Cup]], he moved to [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]]. In 2005 he moved to [[London Wasps|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 Championship|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_20207135300.php |title=France robbed of skipper Pelous |publisher=''RugbyRugby.com'' |date=February 20, 2007}}</ref> He was also heavily responsible for [[London Wasps]]' win in the [[2006-07 Heineken Cup|2007 Heineken Cup]] final, playing in the same side as fellow Six Nations captain [[Phil Vickery]]. After Pelous' injury troubles continued,<ref>{{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}}</ref> Ibañez was named as France captain for the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]], with Pelous as his unofficial vice-captain.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Retirement>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Extension>{{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}}</ref> {{start box}} {{succession box|title=French national rugby union captain|before=?? |after=Fabien Pelous |years=1998-1999}} {{succession box|title=French national rugby union captain|before=[[Fabien Pelous]]|after=[[Lionel Nallet]] |years=2007}} {{end box}} ==See also== *[[List of rugby union Test caps leaders]] ==Notes and references== {{reflist}} ==External Links== *[http://www.wasps.co.uk/playerdisplaySS.ink?skip=14&season=07/08&seasonl=2007/2008&playertype=P Wasps profile] {{France Squad 2007 World Cup}} {{France Squad 2003 World Cup}} {{France Squad 1999 World Cup}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ibanez, Raphael}} [[Category:1973 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:French people of Spanish descent]] [[Category:French rugby union footballers]] [[Category:Saracens F.C. players]] [[Category:London Wasps players]] [[Category:Rugby union hookers]] [[fr:Raphaël Ibañez]] [[it:Raphaël Ibañez]] [[ja:ラファエル・イバネス]] [[sv:Raphael Ibanez]] {{Wasps current}}