CHABAL - THE MAN OF MEN
Sébastien Chabal has become the pin-up for the French World Cup campaign, not so much for his on field attendance, but for his natural, hulking looks, and his warrior-like ferocity and physicality when he does enter the fray. His popularity has disseminated globally. Even 15 Facebook groups (at least) have been formed in his honour - ranging from Sébastian 'the caveman' Chabal to end the war in Iraq to Chabal: possibly the sexiest man on earth.
Yet as his wife admits, behind his unkempt mane of hair and tousled beard - left to cultivate in a fashion that earns him nicknames such as Attila the Hun, l'homme des grottes (the caveman) and Sea bass - there is a modest, generous and thoughtful family man.
Chabal, capped 35 times by Les Bleus, has been championed by French women for his looks - the antithesis to the metrosexual - and by the men for his sheer power. His hit on All Black No8 Chris Masoe - dubbed the ‘tackle of the century’ - and full-tilted bosh on Ali Williams is enough to make most men weep. His direct style, whether playing at No8 or, as French coach Bernard Laporte prefers, in the second row, is eye-catching and inspiring.
John Carter, who plays with Chabal at Sale Sharks, flinches at the thought of the Sea Bass in full flow. “He is naturally one of the most powerful people you will find,” Carter, who at 6ft 3ins and 16st is no wimp, says.
“He doesn’t actually need to train particularly hard to compete with most people. He can walk into the gym and keep up with (England’s prop) Andy Sheridan on the weights bench, which is quite amazing. He is a game-changer. The things he does in a game will determine whether or not his team will win or lose the game.”
Carter concedes that England are perhaps getting off lightly, as throughout France’s World Cup, Chabal has been utilised as a lock, and a replacement one at that. “At No8 he immediately has the ball in his hands and that’s where he is most effective. For us at No8 he is outstanding. For most countries he would be outstanding at No8, but Laporte wants him in the second-row.”
With only 7.5 per cent body fat, Chabal is mostly rippling muscle, and when he strips off at the Stade de France on Saturday, many an Englishman will be trembling. Yet few would imagine that this colossal 29-year-old is a relaxed and modest man, dedicated to his family and his friends.
“When I think that people imagine that Séb deliberately set out to look like Attila the Hun, it makes me smile,” Annick, his wife, said in a recent French publication (Paris-Match). “No one is more sensitive and withdrawn than him. The beard is, in fact, a way of hiding behind a screen.”
Chabal began to grow his beard when his daughter Lily Rose, now two-and-a-half-years-old, was conceived. He had planned to shear it when Lily Rose was born, but Annick liked it so much that he kept it for her. And, though the merchandising men continue to have a field day, producing T-shirts, banners and other Chabal paraphernalia, here is a man who drives a small Smart car - “you have never seen anything like it,” admits Carter - and who has confessed to being “afraid of ghosts and spiders”.
When unable to attend the family dinner due to rugby commitments he will, according to Annick, “connect up his webcam so that he is with us at the family table.”
Aside from being a devoted family man, Chabal is a great friend to his team-mates. “He is a very down-to-earth guy who mucks in with the lads - he’s very chilled out,” continues Carter. Chabal is known within the club for his generosity, advice and gentle humour.
Though not the ring-leader, he has been known for his practical jokes; his distinctive laugh booming through the corridors at Edgley Park. He is also renowned for his cooking skills - he regularly lays on team barbeques - and his kindness.
“You are friends with all your team-mates but there are some people who are more generous, and Chabal is one of them,” offers Carter.
Far from the Neanderthal image the media like to portray, Chabal would sooner be found sipping an espresso and talking politics than in a cave. “He will happily drink coffee all day,” suggests Carter.
There will be nothing so civilised about Chabal’s performance against England. Direct and punishing running will bludgeon the Red Rose’s defence. Whatever the outcome, one thing is for sure: after the semi-final he will log on to his computer and wish his little girl bonne nuit.
Sébastien Chabal has become the pin-up for the French World Cup campaign, not so much for his on field attendance, but for his natural, hulking looks, and his warrior-like ferocity and physicality when he does enter the fray. His popularity has disseminated globally. Even 15 Facebook groups (at least) have been formed in his honour - ranging from Sébastian 'the caveman' Chabal to end the war in Iraq to Chabal: possibly the sexiest man on earth.
Yet as his wife admits, behind his unkempt mane of hair and tousled beard - left to cultivate in a fashion that earns him nicknames such as Attila the Hun, l'homme des grottes (the caveman) and Sea bass - there is a modest, generous and thoughtful family man.
Chabal, capped 35 times by Les Bleus, has been championed by French women for his looks - the antithesis to the metrosexual - and by the men for his sheer power. His hit on All Black No8 Chris Masoe - dubbed the ‘tackle of the century’ - and full-tilted bosh on Ali Williams is enough to make most men weep. His direct style, whether playing at No8 or, as French coach Bernard Laporte prefers, in the second row, is eye-catching and inspiring.
John Carter, who plays with Chabal at Sale Sharks, flinches at the thought of the Sea Bass in full flow. “He is naturally one of the most powerful people you will find,” Carter, who at 6ft 3ins and 16st is no wimp, says.
“He doesn’t actually need to train particularly hard to compete with most people. He can walk into the gym and keep up with (England’s prop) Andy Sheridan on the weights bench, which is quite amazing. He is a game-changer. The things he does in a game will determine whether or not his team will win or lose the game.”
Carter concedes that England are perhaps getting off lightly, as throughout France’s World Cup, Chabal has been utilised as a lock, and a replacement one at that. “At No8 he immediately has the ball in his hands and that’s where he is most effective. For us at No8 he is outstanding. For most countries he would be outstanding at No8, but Laporte wants him in the second-row.”
With only 7.5 per cent body fat, Chabal is mostly rippling muscle, and when he strips off at the Stade de France on Saturday, many an Englishman will be trembling. Yet few would imagine that this colossal 29-year-old is a relaxed and modest man, dedicated to his family and his friends.
“When I think that people imagine that Séb deliberately set out to look like Attila the Hun, it makes me smile,” Annick, his wife, said in a recent French publication (Paris-Match). “No one is more sensitive and withdrawn than him. The beard is, in fact, a way of hiding behind a screen.”
Chabal began to grow his beard when his daughter Lily Rose, now two-and-a-half-years-old, was conceived. He had planned to shear it when Lily Rose was born, but Annick liked it so much that he kept it for her. And, though the merchandising men continue to have a field day, producing T-shirts, banners and other Chabal paraphernalia, here is a man who drives a small Smart car - “you have never seen anything like it,” admits Carter - and who has confessed to being “afraid of ghosts and spiders”.
When unable to attend the family dinner due to rugby commitments he will, according to Annick, “connect up his webcam so that he is with us at the family table.”
Aside from being a devoted family man, Chabal is a great friend to his team-mates. “He is a very down-to-earth guy who mucks in with the lads - he’s very chilled out,” continues Carter. Chabal is known within the club for his generosity, advice and gentle humour.
Though not the ring-leader, he has been known for his practical jokes; his distinctive laugh booming through the corridors at Edgley Park. He is also renowned for his cooking skills - he regularly lays on team barbeques - and his kindness.
“You are friends with all your team-mates but there are some people who are more generous, and Chabal is one of them,” offers Carter.
Far from the Neanderthal image the media like to portray, Chabal would sooner be found sipping an espresso and talking politics than in a cave. “He will happily drink coffee all day,” suggests Carter.
There will be nothing so civilised about Chabal’s performance against England. Direct and punishing running will bludgeon the Red Rose’s defence. Whatever the outcome, one thing is for sure: after the semi-final he will log on to his computer and wish his little girl bonne nuit.
Labels: France, John Carter, rugby union, Rugby World Cup, Sale Sharks, Sebastian Chabal
