Thomas Castaignède

Rugger
name = Thomas Castaignède


caption =
birthname = Thomas Castaignède
nickname =
birthyear = 1975
birthmonth = 1
birthday = 21
dateofbirth =
placeofbirth = Mont-de-Marsan, Aquitaine, France
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = convert|1.75|m|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|84|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position = fly-half
centre
fullback
ru_amateuryears = -1993 1994-1997 1997-2000
ru_amateurclubs = Stade Montois
Toulouse
Castres Olympique
ru_amupdate = 30 September 2007
ru_nationalteam = ru|FRA
ru_nationalyears = 1995-2007
ru_nationalcaps = 54
ru_nationalpoints = (247)
ru_ntupdate = 30 September 2007
ru_clubyears = 2000-2007
ru_proclubs = Saracens
ru_clubcaps =
ru_clubpoints =
ru_clubupdate =
ru_currentclub =
ru_province =
ru_provinceyears =
ru_provincecaps =
ru_provincepoints =
ru_provinceupdate =
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcaps =
ru_sevensnationalpoints =
ru_sevensupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
other = yes
occupation = Banking
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives =
school =
university =

Thomas Castaignède (born 21 January 1975) 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. He joined Toulouse to help them win French titles in three successive seasons, and lifted the inaugural European Cup with the club.

Castaignède entered the international scene in 1995 when his drop goal defeated England in the final minute of a Five Nations. Having joined Castres Olympique in preparation, in 1999 he was forced to pull out of the 1999 Rugby World Cup with a thigh problem.

Castaignède joined Saracens in 2000 but in November of that year he suffered an Achilles injury while warming up for France against Australia. The injury kept him out for 18 months, until April 2002. In 2003, he was dropped from the national team, with Bernard Laporte preferring Brian Liebenberg, and not returning until November 2005 against Australia when he appeared as a substitute in a 26-16 win.

Developing his career in preparation for his retirement, Castaignède became a rugby union columnist for The Guardian, a television pundit for Canal+ [ [http://www.planete-tele.com/sports/2744-thomas_castaignede_rejoint_l_equipe_des_consultants_de_canal.html Thomas Castaignède rejoint l'équipe des consultants de Canal +] ] and occasionally ITV Sport, and started an association and occasional work with French banking group Société Générale. [ [http://www.socgen-finance.com/sg/socgen/pid/174/context/SC/lang/fr/object/rubriqueSC/id/227/rubid/227/nodoctype/0.htm Thomas Castaignède, joueur du XV de France, rejoint Société Générale Corporate & Investment banking, 30 janvier 2006,] ] On 10 May, 2007, despite offers to return to France with various clubs, Castaignède announced his retirement from the sport after the 2007 Rugby World Cup in September, and pursue a career in banking in London. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/saracens/6641665.stm Castaignède calls time on career] BBC Sport - 10 May 2007]

References

External links

* [http://www.saracens.com/players/view.php?Id=12 Profile at Saracens official site]
* [http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/36_4571.php?player=1787 ERC profile]
* [http://sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1822 List of caps, Part 1 (sporting-heroes.net)]
* [http://sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1823 List of caps, Part 2 (sporting-heroes.net)]