Christian Califano

Christian Califano

Date of birth	16 May 1972 (1972-05-16) (age 39)
Place of birth	Toulon, France
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	105kg (16st 5lb)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Prop
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
19??-1991 1991 1991-2001 2002 2002-2003 2003-2006 2006-2008	RC Toulonnais Bourges Stade Toulousain Auckland Blues Saracens SU Agen Gloucester Rugby	5 20 36	(0) (20) (10)
correct as of 2007-05-31.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1994-2007	France	72	(35)
correct as of June 7, 2007.

Christian Califano (born on May 16, 1972) 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.^[1]

Honours

• • With the Stade Toulousain
• French championship (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001)
• European Cup (1996)
• French national cup (1998)
• Challenge Yves du Manoir (1993)

• • With the France national team
• Grand Slam (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 against Romania (the match ended up in a 64-12 victory).

References

1. ^ "CALIFANO TO CALL IT QUITS". Sportinglife. 2008-02-21. http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rugby/08/02/22/RUGBYU_Gloucester.html. Retrieved 2008-02-22. 

External links

• Leggat, David (2007-05-31). "Tough old rooster wants to crow again". nzherald.co.nz. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10442794. Retrieved 2007-05-31. 

Persondata
Name	Christian Califano
Alternative names
Short description	French Rugby union footballer.
Date of birth	May 16, 1972
Place of birth	Toulon, France
Date of death
Place of death