Pascal Pape is a giant of French rugby. The robust second row is known for his incredible work rate around the park, as well as his fierce determination and will to win. These qualities alone make home an asset to any side, and has seen him captain both his club and country. Beginning his career at Bourgoin, Pape enjoyed a year at Castres in 2006 before moving to Stade Francais in 2007. Pape has captained Stade a numerous occasions, and finally enjoyed notable success with the side on winning the Top 14 in 2015. His club performances have not gone unnoticed by the French international side, making his debut in 2004 against Romania. In his early career Pape struggled to hold down a place in the international squad, and was even over looked for the 2007 World Cup Squad. The end of Marc Lievremont's stint as national coach marked the re-start of Pape's national career, and the powerful lock was once again a mainstay of the side, winning the 2010 Six Nations championship. 2011 was an excellent year for the second rower, as he starred for France on their run to the 2011 World Cup Final. He was a mainstay in the French team until 2015, when an incident with Jamie Heaslip in Dublin saw Pape banned for 10 matches. However, his overall presence and ability meant it was no surprise to see him named in the final 31-man French 2015 World Cup squad. Following the French teams quarter final exit at the hands of New Zealand, Pape announced his international retirement.
SL Oct '15
Career
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Bourgoin No 4 Lock |
2001 - 2006 |
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Castres Olympique No 4 Lock |
2006 - 2007 |
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France No 4 Lock |
2004 - 2017 |
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Stade Francais No 4 Lock |
2007 - 2017 |
