Jean-Baptiste Élissalde
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste ÉlissaldeJean-Baptiste Élissalde (born 23 November 1977 in La Rochelle
, France
) is a former French rugby union
player, playing either as a scrum-half or as a fly-half, and current backs coach of the Stade Toulousain
.
. His maternal grandfather Laurent Bidart and his father Jean-Pierre Élissalde
both represented the French international team
. Élissalde began playing rugby with La Rochelle
, where his father was a coach. He made his first appearance in the 1997-8 season. Élissalde then gained caps with the France U21 team.
until 2002 then decided to go to Toulouse
, where he initially had a hard time breaking into the senior squad, competing against Frédéric Michalak
and Yann Delaigue
. He was the first choice scrum-half at Toulouse and was competing with Biarritz Olympique
's Dimitri Yachvili
for the scrum-half shirt in the French national team
. Élissalde was a member of the Toulouse teams that won the Heineken Cup
three times in 2003, 2005 and 2010, and the Top 14 winning team of 2008.
in the 2000 Six Nations
. He was unable to force his way into the 2003 French World Cup squad. Élissalde bounced back from this disappointment with a strong showing in the 2004 Six Nations
, scoring 36 points in his three starts, including a 24 point haul against Wales
. The 2006 and 2007 Six Nations were successful for both Élissalde and France
, with two championship successes and he was finally established ahead of Dimitri Yachvili
in the French squad.
Élissalde went to the 2007 World Cup
in good form, but was left on the bench for the opener against Argentina.
Following a terrible display by his replacement Pierre Mignoni
, he was restored as the French made it to the semi finals. He scored a try in an 87-10 thrashing against Namibia
. He kicked the winning conversion in the quarter final against New Zealand, a game which France won 20–18. Élissalde was limited to three appearances in the Six Nations in 2008, including the championship deciding loss to Wales in Cardiff. He played his last Test in November 2008 against the Pacific Islands
. He gained 35 caps for France.
and Census Johnston
. He played in tests against England
and Ireland.
Élissalde featured in both tests, scoring 6 points in a loss to England and 3 points in a victorious test against Ireland.
and forwards coach Yannick Bru
.
In 2010, he briefly came out of retirement and was selected in the French Barbarians squad to play Tonga
on 26 November. Élissalde started in the fly-half position and scored 3 points. The Barbarians lost 28-27.
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
, 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 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...
player, playing either as a scrum-half or as a fly-half, and current backs coach of the Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
.
Early life
He is a third generation French internationalFrance 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...
. His maternal grandfather Laurent Bidart and his father Jean-Pierre Élissalde
Jean-Pierre Elissalde
Jean-Pierre Élissalde is a French rugby union former player and a current coach.A native of La Rochelle, a seaport city on the Bay of Biscay, Jean-Pierre Élissalde played, at scrum half, five times for France in 1980 and 1981...
both represented the French international 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...
. Élissalde began playing rugby with La Rochelle
Atlantique Stade Rochelais
Stade Rochelais is a French rugby union club who compete in the Pro D2. They are often known simply as La Rochelle.They were founded in 1898 and play at Stade Marcel-Deflandre . They wear yellow and black...
, where his father was a coach. He made his first appearance in the 1997-8 season. Élissalde then gained caps with the France U21 team.
Toulouse
He played for La RochelleAtlantique Stade Rochelais
Stade Rochelais is a French rugby union club who compete in the Pro D2. They are often known simply as La Rochelle.They were founded in 1898 and play at Stade Marcel-Deflandre . They wear yellow and black...
until 2002 then decided to go to Toulouse
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
, where he initially had a hard time breaking into the senior squad, competing against Frédéric Michalak
Frédéric Michalak
Frédéric Michalak is a French rugby union footballer, who currently plays in South Africa for the Sharks in Super Rugby and the Natal Sharks in the Currie Cup. His early career was spent playing for his hometown team, Toulouse, in the Top 14 and in the Heineken Cup...
and Yann Delaigue
Yann Delaigue
Yann Delaigue is a retired French international rugby union player.He earned his first cap with the French national team on 19 March 1994 against Scotland in a Five Nations Championship match that ended in a 20-12 victory.-Notes:...
. He was the first choice scrum-half at Toulouse and was competing with Biarritz Olympique
Biarritz Olympique
Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup...
's Dimitri Yachvili
Dimitri Yachvili
Dimitri Yachvili is a French rugby union footballer who currently plays scrum-half for Biarritz and France.Of Georgian descent, his father Michel was a French international before him...
for the scrum-half shirt in 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...
. Élissalde was a member of the Toulouse teams that won 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,...
three times in 2003, 2005 and 2010, and the Top 14 winning team of 2008.
International career
He made his international debut against ScotlandScotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
in the 2000 Six Nations
2000 Six Nations Championship
The 2000 Six Nations Championship was the first series of the Six Nations Championship, following the inclusion of Italy into the Five Nations championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the hundred-and-sixth series of the northern hemisphere...
. He was unable to force his way into the 2003 French World Cup squad. Élissalde bounced back from this disappointment with a strong showing in the 2004 Six Nations
2004 Six Nations Championship
The 2004 Six Nations Championship was the fifth series of the rugby union Six Nations Championship to be held since the competition expanded in 2000 to include Italy. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the hundred-and-tenth series of the northern...
, scoring 36 points in his three starts, including a 24 point haul 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...
. The 2006 and 2007 Six Nations were successful for both Élissalde and 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...
, with two championship successes and he was finally established ahead of Dimitri Yachvili
Dimitri Yachvili
Dimitri Yachvili is a French rugby union footballer who currently plays scrum-half for Biarritz and France.Of Georgian descent, his father Michel was a French international before him...
in the French squad.
Élissalde went to the 2007 World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
in good form, but was left on the bench for the opener against Argentina.
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
Following a terrible display by his replacement Pierre Mignoni
Pierre Mignoni
Pierre Mignoni is a retired French rugby union footballer who is currently a coach for his hometown club team, Toulon. He has also played for the France national team....
, he was restored as the French made it to the semi finals. He scored a try in an 87-10 thrashing against Namibia
Namibia national rugby union team
The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, represents Namibia at rugby union. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board tier system, the team have participated in all three Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999...
. He kicked the winning conversion in the quarter final against New Zealand, a game which France won 20–18. Élissalde was limited to three appearances in the Six Nations in 2008, including the championship deciding loss to Wales in Cardiff. He played his last Test in November 2008 against the Pacific Islands
Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance
The Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance was set up in 2002 as a basis of co-operation between the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga Rugby Unions. Niue and the Cook Islands are also members of the Alliance, and while not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they can and do supply members to the Pacific...
. He gained 35 caps for France.
Barbarians
Élissalde was selected to play for the Barbarians in summer 2010 alongside club team mates Cédric HeymansCédric Heymans
Cédric Heymans is a French rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Aviron Bayonnais after signing from Stade Toulousain in 2011. He started his club career with CA Brive before moving to SU Agen, where he stayed until the late 1990s, before signing with Toulouse...
and Census Johnston
Census Johnston
Census Johnston is a Samoan rugby union footballer. He currently plays for French club Stade Toulousain in the Top 14. He has represented Samoa several times, and was in the Pacific Islanders' team which toured Europe in November 2006. His usual position is prop. Johnson previously played for...
. He played in tests against England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
and Ireland.
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
Élissalde featured in both tests, scoring 6 points in a loss to England and 3 points in a victorious test against Ireland.
Retirement
After winning the Heineken Cup in 2010 with Toulouse, Jean-Baptiste Élissalde announced his retirement from playing rugby with France and his club. Élissalde took up a position with Toulouse as a backs coach, replacing Philippe Rougé-Thomas. He will work alongside head coach Guy NovèsGuy Novès
Guy Novès is a former French rugby union footballer and current long-serving coach of Stade Toulousain. Born in Toulouse, Novès, who played on the wing, was capped six times for the France national team...
and forwards coach Yannick Bru
Yannick Bru
Yannick Bru is a French rugby union coach and former footballer, currently serving as forwards coach at Stade Toulousain in the elite level of French rugby, the Top 14. Bru was capped 18 times for the French national side....
.
In 2010, he briefly came out of retirement and was selected in the French Barbarians squad to play Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
on 26 November. Élissalde started in the fly-half position and scored 3 points. The Barbarians lost 28-27.
Trivia
- His surname (Elizalde in Standard BasqueBatuaStandard Basque is a standardised version of the Basque language, developed by the Basque Language Academy in the late 1960s, which nowadays is the most widely and commonly spoken Basque-language version throughout the Basque Country...
, from eliza "church" and alde "side"), means "near the church" in BasqueBasque languageBasque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
.