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Raphael Ibanez

Raphaël Ibañez
USO - UBB - 20150829 - Raphael Ibanez.jpg
Nickname Raf
Date of birth (1973-02-17) 17 February 1973 (age 44)
Place of birth Dax, France
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight 15 st 10 lb (100 kg)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Hooker
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Apps (points)
2005–2008
2003–2005
2000–2003
1998–2000
1991–1998
London Wasps
Saracens
Castres
Perpignan
Dax
52
30
(40)
(20)
Correct as of 17 February 2009
National team(s)
Years Club / team Apps (points)
1995–2007 France 98 (40)
Correct as of 10 January 2008
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Apps (points)
2005–2008
2003–2005
2000–2003
1998–2000
1991–1998
London Wasps
Saracens
Castres
Perpignan
Dax
52
30
(40)
(20)
Correct as of 17 February 2009
National team(s)
Years Club / team Apps (points)
1995–2007 France 98 (40)
Correct as of 10 January 2008

Raphaël Ibañez (born 17 February 1973) is a retired French rugby union footballer. A hooker, he was also a former captain of the France national team.

Ibañez was born in Saugnac-et-Cambran, Landes. He began his playing career in his home town of Dax before moving to Perpignan and Castres.

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.

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. Wasps beat long-time rivals Leicester at Twickenham in former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio's last match, and Ibanez scored one of Wasps's tries.

Ibañez continued to play for Wasps until suffering a series of what ultimately proved to be career-ending head injuries in late 2008. On 28 February 2008, Wasps announced that Ibañez and the club had agreed on a contract extension that would 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. On 5 August 2008 Ibanez was named as successor to Lawrence Dallaglio to take over the captaincy at London Wasps

On his 36th birthday, 17 February 2009, Ibanez announced his retirement from all rugby as a player. He suffered a concussion in a match against Worcester Warriors in September 2008, and suffered further head injuries in two later games. Whilst completing a two-month rest period, he continued to suffer symptoms from his injuries during training sessions, and ended his playing career on medical advice.


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Wikipedia

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