Christophe Lamaison
Encyclopedia
Christophe Lamaison
Christophe Lamaison (born 8 April 1971 in Dax, Landes
, France
) is a former French
rugby union
footballer who represented France
at international level, and Brive
, Agen and Aviron Bayonnais
at professional club level. He won 37 caps
and is the current all-time leading points scorer for France, with 380 points. Lamaison played most of his rugby as a centre, and possessed reliable distribution and kicking skills, which made up for his only real weakness, a lack of pace. He could also play at fly-half. He made his international debut against South Africa
on 30 November 1996 in Paris
, and rose to prominence as a key member of France's Grand slam
-winning sides of 1997 and 1998. His goalkicking ability also helped Brive
reach the Heineken Cup
final in 1998 and 1999.
Lamaison's finest hour came at the 1999 Rugby World Cup
in the semifinal against New Zealand
at Twickenham
. Selected at fly-half for the match, Lamaison scored a full house
of points and set up several tries. He scored the first try of the game, but New Zealand hit back, with the Jonah Lomu
scoring two tries, to lead 24-10 in the second half. Then Lamaison kicked two drop goals and two penalties, bringing the score back to 24-22. In 13 minutes of rugby, the French scored 26 unanswered points and won 43-31 in one of the biggest upsets in Rugby World Cup history.
In 2000, Lamaison almost repeated his semifinal performance against New Zealand, scoring 27 points in a 42-33 victory. In 2004, he stopped his professional rugby union career despite lucrative offers from the English side Saracens
and played for Saint-Médard-en-Jalles in the Fédérale 2
. He retired from all rugby in 2006.
Christophe Lamaison (born 8 April 1971 in Dax, Landes
Dax, Landes
Dax is a commune in Aquitaine in south-western France, sub-prefecture of the Landes department.It is particularly famous as a spa, specialising in mud treatment for rheumatism and similar ailments....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is a former French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rugby union
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...
footballer who represented France
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...
at international level, and 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...
, Agen and Aviron Bayonnais
Aviron Bayonnais
Aviron Bayonnais is a French rugby union club from Bayonne in Pyrénées-Atlantiques that currently competes in the top level of the French league system, in the Top 14 competition...
at professional club level. He won 37 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
and is the current all-time leading points scorer for France, with 380 points. Lamaison played most of his rugby as a centre, and possessed reliable distribution and kicking skills, which made up for his only real weakness, a lack of pace. He could also play at fly-half. He made his international debut against South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
on 30 November 1996 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and rose to prominence as a key member of France's Grand slam
Grand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
-winning sides of 1997 and 1998. His goalkicking ability also helped 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...
reach the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
final in 1998 and 1999.
Lamaison's finest hour came at the 1999 Rugby 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...
in the semifinal against New Zealand
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
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...
. Selected at fly-half for the match, Lamaison scored a full house
Full House
Full House is an American sitcom television series. Set in San Francisco, the show chronicles widowed father Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife, enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and...
of points and set up several tries. He scored the first try of the game, but New Zealand hit back, with the Jonah Lomu
Jonah Lomu
Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game...
scoring two tries, to lead 24-10 in the second half. Then Lamaison kicked two drop goals and two penalties, bringing the score back to 24-22. In 13 minutes of rugby, the French scored 26 unanswered points and won 43-31 in one of the biggest upsets in Rugby World Cup history.
In 2000, Lamaison almost repeated his semifinal performance against New Zealand, scoring 27 points in a 42-33 victory. In 2004, he stopped his professional rugby union career despite lucrative offers from the English side Saracens
Saracens 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...
and played for Saint-Médard-en-Jalles in the Fédérale 2
Fédérale 2
Fédérale 2 is a rugby union club championship division in France. It is the fourth division of rugby above Fédérale 3. Teams can earn promotion to Fédérale 1, and subsequently, the professional leagues such as Rugby Pro D2 and the Top 14.-Results:...
. He retired from all rugby in 2006.