Christian Califano
Encyclopedia
Christian Califano is a former French
rugby union
player who finished his career at Gloucester Rugby.
At the end of 2003, he had been capped 68 times for the France national team
, which was the record for a French prop until Sylvain Marconnet
earned his 69th one on February 4, 2007. It seemed clear that Califano's international career was over, but he made a shock come-back as he was called to play against New Zealand on June 2 and June 9, 2007.
Califano earned his first national cap on June 26, 1994 against the All Blacks. His first two caps consist in two victories in New Zealand
. He was part of the French squad for both the 1995
and the 1999 World Cups
.
He has played second fiddle to props Nick Wood
and Carlos Nieto
in his time at Gloucester RFC. His versatility meant he received most of his appearances for the club off the bench.
On 21 February 2008, Califano announced his intentions to retire and the end of the 2007/2008 season.
He is the first French player to have taken part in the Super 12 (with the Auckland Blues). He is the first French front row player to have scored three tries in the same match. It was on April 20, 1996 in Aurillac
against Romania
(the match ended up in a 64-12 victory).
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...
player who finished his career at Gloucester Rugby.
At the end of 2003, he had been capped 68 times for the France 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...
, which was the record for a French prop until Sylvain Marconnet
Sylvain Marconnet
Sylvain Marconnet is a French rugby union footballer, currently playing for Biarritz Olympique having signed from Stade Français in the Top 14 club competition in France. His usual position is prop...
earned his 69th one on February 4, 2007. It seemed clear that Califano's international career was over, but he made a shock come-back as he was called to play against New Zealand on June 2 and June 9, 2007.
Califano earned his first national cap on June 26, 1994 against the All Blacks. His first two caps consist in two victories in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He was part of the French squad for both the 1995
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....
and the 1999 World Cups
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...
.
He has played second fiddle to props Nick Wood
Nick Wood
Nick Wood is an English rugby union footballer, currently playing in the Guinness Premiership for Gloucester Rugby...
and Carlos Nieto
Carlos Nieto
This article is about the Italian rugby player. For the Third Watch character, see Carlos Nieto .Carlos Nieto is an Italian Argentine international rugby union player....
in his time at Gloucester RFC. His versatility meant he received most of his appearances for the club off the bench.
On 21 February 2008, Califano announced his intentions to retire and the end of the 2007/2008 season.
Honours
-
- With the Stade ToulousainStade ToulousainStade 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...
- With the Stade Toulousain
- French championship (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001)
- European CupHeineken CupThe 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,...
(1996) - French national cup (1998)
- Challenge Yves du ManoirChallenge Yves du ManoirThe Challenge Yves du Manoir was a rugby union club competition that was played in France between 1931 and 2003 under different names. It is named after former player Yves du Manoir.-History:...
(1993)
-
- With the France national teamFrance national rugby union teamThe 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 the France national team
- Grand SlamGrand 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...
(1997, 1998) - Coupe Latine (1995, 1997)
He is the first French player to have taken part in the Super 12 (with the Auckland Blues). He is the first French front row player to have scored three tries in the same match. It was on April 20, 1996 in Aurillac
Stade Jean Alric
Stade Jean Alric is a rugby union stadium, in Aurillac, France.It is the home stadium of Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne. The stadium can hold 9,000 people ....
against Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
(the match ended up in a 64-12 victory).