Jean-Luc Sadourny
Encyclopedia
Jean-Luc Sadourny is a former French rugby union footballer and a current coach. He played as a fullback. He was nicknamed The Old Woman (La Vieille) and he's generally considered one of the best French players of his generation, a fair successor to Serge Blanco
in his position.
Sadourny played all his career at US Colomiers
. His best result was the 2nd place in the France Top 14 in 2000.
He had 71 caps for France
, from 1991 to 2001. He scored 14 tries and 4 drop goals, in an aggregate of 81 points, during his international career. The French fullback was selected for the 1991 Rugby World Cup
finals, playing a single match, and for the 1995 Rugby World Cup
finals, playing in all the five matches. He helped France to reach the 3rd place in this event. He won twice the Five Nations
, with a grand slam, in 1997 and 1998. Sadourny is also remembered for scoring the famous "try from the end of the world" against the All Blacks in 1994. In the second and final Test of France's tour of New Zealand, France were trailing with about 3 minutes to play and were pinned deep in their own end by a tactical kick. They counter-attacked down the field, with the ball touched by nine different French players before Sadourny touched down to give Les Bleus the points that secured a 23-20 win and a 2–0 series win.
After retiring as a player, Sadourny entered the coaching ranks at Colomiers. He left to take over the reins at Blagnac
for the 2007–08 season, leading them to an appearance in the Fédérale 1
final, where they lost to his former club Colomiers. As is standard practice in France, both finalists earned promotion to Rugby Pro D2
for the 2008–09 season. However, Sadourny chose not to stay with Blagnac, moving to Fédérale 3
club Stade Saint-Gaudinois for 2008–09, where he currently remains.
In 2010, Sadourny opened his own restaurant, the Sadourny Café, in Colomiers.
Serge Blanco
Serge Blanco is a former rugby union footballer who played fullback for Biarritz Olympique and the French national side, gaining 93 caps, 81 of them at fullback. His alternative position was wing....
in his position.
Sadourny played all his career at US Colomiers
US Colomiers
US Colomiers is a French rugby union club currently competing in Fédérale 1, the third level of the French rugby pyramid. They had been relegated from Pro D2 after finishing last in the 2006-07 season, but earned promotion from Fédérale 1 at the first opportunity in 2007-08, and survived a...
. His best result was the 2nd place in the France Top 14 in 2000.
He had 71 caps for 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...
, from 1991 to 2001. He scored 14 tries and 4 drop goals, in an aggregate of 81 points, during his international career. The French fullback was selected for 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...
finals, playing a single match, and for 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....
finals, playing in all the five matches. He helped France to reach the 3rd place in this event. He won twice the Five Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
, with a grand slam, in 1997 and 1998. Sadourny is also remembered for scoring the famous "try from the end of the world" against the All Blacks in 1994. In the second and final Test of France's tour of New Zealand, France were trailing with about 3 minutes to play and were pinned deep in their own end by a tactical kick. They counter-attacked down the field, with the ball touched by nine different French players before Sadourny touched down to give Les Bleus the points that secured a 23-20 win and a 2–0 series win.
After retiring as a player, Sadourny entered the coaching ranks at Colomiers. He left to take over the reins at Blagnac
Blagnac SCR
Blagnac Sporting Club Rugby is a French rugby union team that currently takes part in Fédérale 1, the top level of the country's amateur league system. The club is currently attempting to make a comeback to the professional ranks after having been relegated due to both sporting and financial issues...
for the 2007–08 season, leading them to an appearance in the Fédérale 1
Fédérale 1
Le championnat de France de première division fédérale, a.k.a. Fédérale 1, is a French rugby union club competition, the highest level of amateur rugby. The competition has been organised by the Fédération Française de Rugby since 2000, when it replaced the B2 Group...
final, where they lost to his former club Colomiers. As is standard practice in France, both finalists earned promotion to Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second level of domestic club rugby union in France, below the first division, Top 14. The competition was introduced in 2000. There is relegation and promotion between both the Top 14 and Fédérale 1, the third-level competition...
for the 2008–09 season. However, Sadourny chose not to stay with Blagnac, moving to Fédérale 3
Fédérale 3
Fédérale 3 is the fifth division of rugby union in France. The competition involves 226 clubs in 21 pools of 8, and winners can progress up into higher division of competition. The competition above Fédérale 3 is Fédérale 2 and above that, Fédérale 1...
club Stade Saint-Gaudinois for 2008–09, where he currently remains.
In 2010, Sadourny opened his own restaurant, the Sadourny Café, in Colomiers.