Raphael Ibanez

About Raphael Ibanez

Originally from Dax, Raphael Ibanez is one of the most popular French rugby players. Currently consultant for France Television, the French Channel, and formerly for Canal+ and the BBC, advising and commenting the rugby games of the Top 14 and the VI Nations Tournament.

During his professional career as a rugby player, he encountered the success among several team. From 1994 and 1998 at Dax and then at USA Perpignan (1998-2000). In 2000 he signed for Castres Olympique and win the European Amlin Challenge Cup in 2003. After the season, he decided to give an international dimension to his career and joined the British team of Saracens from 2003 to 2005. His performances with this team push the London Wasps to look at him and to recruit him in 2005, where he will play for until he retires in 2009. With the London Wasps, he wins the British-welsh cup in 2006, the European H-Cup in 2007, and the England Championship in 2008.

Raphael Ibanez also encountered the success through his international career. He took part to three World cup with the French team and finished second in 1999, half-finalist in 2003 and 2007. He won four times the VI Nations tournament in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2007(including “Grand Chelem” in 1998 and 2002). Overall he counts 98 selections to play with the National Team, which made him for several seasons, the world record man of national selection for the position of hooker.