Alain Penaud
Encyclopedia
Alain Penaud is a former rugby union
player. He held the position of flyhalf, mainly at CA Brive
. He was selected 32 times for the French national team
, from 1992 to 2000.
Alain Penaud started with CA Brive
in the early 1990s. Alongside Sebastien Viars
, he formed a formidable back line. His first start for France came against Wales
in 1992. Penaut has been in and out of the side for France, though still appeared in the 1997 Grand Slam win, including a last minute victory against England at Twickenham
. After a defeat in Brisbane in the summer of 1997 his name disappeared from selections, missing the 1999 World Cup
.
It is with CA Brive
that Penaud will be best remembered, captaining the team in winning the European Cup in 1997 against Leicester Tigers
and featured in the final the following year against Bath.
He was brought by Saracens for the 1998-99 Allied Dunbar Premiership season to replace Michael Lynagh
, and scored a try on his debut against Northampton Saints
. Despite a three-year contract, he spent only one season across the channel (finishing 3rd in the league), preferring, for family reasons to return to France at Toulouse. Producing two excellent seasons, Penaud was recalled to the France squad for the 2000 Six Nations.
He then returned to CA Brive
, (then in the second division). He helped them to promotion for the 2003-04 season. In 2005 he signed at Lyon OU as player-coach, despite his age he surprised many by becoming one of the best players in the league. He then signed for Stade Français in 2005 - lasting only one season.
In 2006-07, he returned to honour his contract as player-coach with Lyon OU in Pro D2. His last season was to be tough, as he received a suspension for 30 days for insulting a referee during a match against USA Limoges
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He held the position of flyhalf, mainly at CA Brive
CA Brive
Club Athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin is a French rugby union team founded in 1910 and based in Brive-la-Gaillarde in the département of Corrèze of the Limousin région . They wear black and white and play in the Stade Amédée-Domenech .- History :The club was created on 15 March 1910 established on...
. He was selected 32 times for the French national team
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
, from 1992 to 2000.
Biography
A player more known for his vision of the game more than for his goal-scoring talent, his international career was limited due to his strong personality and the tactical choices of many coaches. He has indeed never been selected for a World Cup - even though his career has covered five World Cups (from 1991 to 2007).Alain Penaud started with CA Brive
CA Brive
Club Athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin is a French rugby union team founded in 1910 and based in Brive-la-Gaillarde in the département of Corrèze of the Limousin région . They wear black and white and play in the Stade Amédée-Domenech .- History :The club was created on 15 March 1910 established on...
in the early 1990s. Alongside Sebastien Viars
Sébastien Viars
Sébastien Viars is a former French rugby union footballer. He was nicknamed "The Compass". He played as a centre and as a wing.Viars was born at Aurillac...
, he formed a formidable back line. His first start for France came against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
in 1992. Penaut has been in and out of the side for France, though still appeared in the 1997 Grand Slam win, including a last minute victory against England at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
. After a defeat in Brisbane in the summer of 1997 his name disappeared from selections, missing the 1999 World Cup
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
.
It is with CA Brive
CA Brive
Club Athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin is a French rugby union team founded in 1910 and based in Brive-la-Gaillarde in the département of Corrèze of the Limousin région . They wear black and white and play in the Stade Amédée-Domenech .- History :The club was created on 15 March 1910 established on...
that Penaud will be best remembered, captaining the team in winning the European Cup in 1997 against Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
and featured in the final the following year against Bath.
He was brought by Saracens for the 1998-99 Allied Dunbar Premiership season to replace Michael Lynagh
Michael Lynagh
Michael Lynagh is a former Australian rugby union footballer who played as a Fly-half.Lynagh represented Australia from 1984 to 1995, playing at both inside centre and fly half. Lynagh was capped 72 times for Australia, and was captain from 1993 to 1995. He was the world points scoring record...
, and scored a try on his debut against Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
. Despite a three-year contract, he spent only one season across the channel (finishing 3rd in the league), preferring, for family reasons to return to France at Toulouse. Producing two excellent seasons, Penaud was recalled to the France squad for the 2000 Six Nations.
He then returned to CA Brive
CA Brive
Club Athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin is a French rugby union team founded in 1910 and based in Brive-la-Gaillarde in the département of Corrèze of the Limousin région . They wear black and white and play in the Stade Amédée-Domenech .- History :The club was created on 15 March 1910 established on...
, (then in the second division). He helped them to promotion for the 2003-04 season. In 2005 he signed at Lyon OU as player-coach, despite his age he surprised many by becoming one of the best players in the league. He then signed for Stade Français in 2005 - lasting only one season.
In 2006-07, he returned to honour his contract as player-coach with Lyon OU in Pro D2. His last season was to be tough, as he received a suspension for 30 days for insulting a referee during a match against USA Limoges
USA Limoges
USA Limoges is a French rugby union club currently competing in Fédérale 1, the top level of the French amateur rugby pyramid and one level below the professional leagues. They finished second-from-bottom in the second professional level, Rugby Pro D2, in both 2007 and 2008...
.
Clubs
- CA BriveCA BriveClub Athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin is a French rugby union team founded in 1910 and based in Brive-la-Gaillarde in the département of Corrèze of the Limousin région . They wear black and white and play in the Stade Amédée-Domenech .- History :The club was created on 15 March 1910 established on...
, 1987–1998 - SaracensSaracens F.C.Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
, 1998–1999 - ToulouseToulouseToulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, 1999–2001 - CA BriveCA BriveClub Athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin is a French rugby union team founded in 1910 and based in Brive-la-Gaillarde in the département of Corrèze of the Limousin région . They wear black and white and play in the Stade Amédée-Domenech .- History :The club was created on 15 March 1910 established on...
, 2001–2005 - Lyon OULyon OULyon Olympique Universitaire or LOU is a French rugby union team that competes in the Top 14, the first level of the country's professional league system. They earned their spot in the Top 14 by winning the 2010–11 title of the second-tier Pro D2....
, 2005 - Stade Français, 2005–2006
- Lyon OULyon OULyon Olympique Universitaire or LOU is a French rugby union team that competes in the Top 14, the first level of the country's professional league system. They earned their spot in the Top 14 by winning the 2010–11 title of the second-tier Pro D2....
, 2006–2007