Thierry Lacroix
Encyclopedia
Thierry LacroixThierry Lacroix (born 2 March 1967 in Nogaro
, France
) is a former French rugby union
footballer. He won 43 caps
playing at fly-half for the French rugby union side
. He made his international test debut at the age of 22 on 4 November 1989 as a replacement against Australia
. He was part of the winning side in the 1993 Five Nations Championship. He won his final cap the 22 November 1997 against South Africa
. Lacroix played in the 1991 Rugby World Cup
and again in the 1995 Rugby World Cup
in which he was the top points scorer with 112 points.
Lacroix started his rugby career at US Dax
in the French Ligue Nationale de Rugby
. After the 1995 Rugby World Cup
in South Africa
, he joined Natal Sharks
in South Africa
where he helped them to two Currie Cup
s in 1995 and 1996. He then left South Africa for England where he played for Harlequin F.C.
and Saracens F.C.
In 2000 he left Saracens to join USA Perpignan
in France just as Thomas Castaignède
signed to take up a position. Lacroix, a qualified physiotherapist, wanted to work in this domain and only played part-time rugby for Perpignan. He finished his rugby playing career at Castres Olympique
at the age of 37.
Nogaro
Nogaro is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, 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...
footballer. He won 43 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...
playing at fly-half for the French rugby union side
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...
. He made his international test debut at the age of 22 on 4 November 1989 as a replacement against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
. He was part of the winning side in the 1993 Five Nations Championship. He won his final cap the 22 November 1997 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...
. Lacroix played in the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
and again in the 1995 Rugby World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
in which he was the top points scorer with 112 points.
Lacroix started his rugby career at US Dax
US Dax
Union Sportive Dacquoise, also known as US Dax, is a French rugby union club currently playing in Rugby Pro D2, the second level of the French league system....
in the French Ligue Nationale de Rugby
Ligue Nationale de Rugby
The Top 14 is a rugby union club competition which is played in France. The Top 14 is at the top of the national league system operated by the French National Rugby League, also known by its French initialism of LNR. There is promotion and relegation between the Top 14 and the next level down, the...
. After the 1995 Rugby World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, he joined Natal Sharks
Natal Sharks
The Natal Sharks are a South African rugby union team that participate in the annual Currie Cup and Super Rugby tournaments. The Sharks home stadium is Kings Park. They draw most of their players from the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The Sharks are the current representative team of the Natal rugby...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where he helped them to two Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
s in 1995 and 1996. He then left South Africa for England where he played for Harlequin F.C.
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
and Saracens F.C.
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...
In 2000 he left Saracens to join USA Perpignan
USA Perpignan
Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais or Unió eSportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà , generally abbreviated as USAP in both languages, is a French rugby union club that plays in the city of Perpignan in Pyrénées-Orientales. The club currently competes in the Top 14, the top level of the French...
in France just as Thomas Castaignède
Thomas Castaignède
Thomas Castaignède is a former French rugby union footballer from Mont-de-Marsan, Gascogne.Born in Mont-de-Marsan, Aquitaine, Castaignède played as a junior and senior for Stade Montois in various positions, initially as fly-half or centre, and latterly as fullback...
signed to take up a position. Lacroix, a qualified physiotherapist, wanted to work in this domain and only played part-time rugby for Perpignan. He finished his rugby playing career at Castres Olympique
Castres Olympique
Castres Olympique is a French rugby union club located in the Midi-Pyrénées city of Castres and currently competing in the top level of the French league system.Founded in 1898, the club took its current name in 1906...
at the age of 37.