Morgan Parra

Morgan Parra

Personal information
Full name	Morgan Parra
Date of birth	15 November 1988 (1988-11-15) (age 22)
Place of birth	Metz, France
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	77 kg
Club information
Position(s)	Scrum half / Fly-half
Current club	ASM Clermont Auvergne
Youth clubs
Years	Club
	Metz Dijon
Senior clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (points)
2006–09 2009–	Bourgoin Clermont	44 (41)
Representative teams**
2008–	France	19 (111)
* Professional club appearances and points counted for domestic first grade only and correct as of 6 June 2009. ** Representative team caps and points correct as of 21 October 2010.

Morgan Parra (born 15 November 1988 in Metz, France) is a rugby union player who plays as a Scrum half and occasionally Fly-half. He plays for Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 after signing for them from Bourgoin.

Parra plays as a Scrum half and he can also play as a Fly-half.

Career

Parra playing for Bourgoin in the 2008/09 European Challenge Cup final

Parra started playing rugby aged four for Metz. He made his debut for France aged 19 as a replacement against Scotland in 2008, making his first start for France in a defeat to England at the Stade de France. Parra's strength is his keen decision making and tactical game, allied with a surprising turn of pace. He is also a front-line goal-kicker, having taken on the mantle at Test level.

At club level he came to prominence with Top 14 strugglers Bourgoin, moving to heavyweights Clermont Auvergne in 2009 replacing stalwart Pierre Mignoni and striking up a strong partnership with Australian fly-half Brock James.

In 2010 Parra was instrumental in guiding France to a Six Nations Grand Slam. He was picked partly after Julien Dupuy who was first choice in the 2009 autumn internationals was banned for eye gouging. After being paired with the equally youthful Francois Trinh-Duc at halfback he produced a number of masterful performances, including in a rout of reigning champions Ireland at the Stade de France.

After the Grand Slam his fame and popularity rose in France, and is popular not just at his club but a darling to the French media and public.

Style

Parra has been described as 'snarling and loud' by former France captain Lionel Nallet, above he is shown displaying his brilliant leadership qualities

Parra has excellent vision and great speed of execution, technically efficient he has a good pass on his right and left hands. He is courageous in defence. He was seen as a back up kicker but during France's Grand Slam in 2010 he took the place kicks and soon took over the duties at his club Clermont Auvergne, he had a 87% success rate from 49 kicks at goal during the 2009/10 season. He is known to be a leader of the pack and is known in France as the petit général, former France captain Lionel Nallet accurately described him as 'snarling and loud' referring to the amount of times he is seen shouting at his pack.

Parra's popularity has rocketed after France's 2010 Grand Slam, here he is signing autographs for some of his fans

References

External links

• RBS 6 Nations profile
• unofficial forum about Morgan Parra

Persondata
Name	Parra, Morgan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	15 November 1988
Place of birth	Metz, France
Date of death
Place of death