Christian Califano

Christian Califano (known as Cali , or the Caliph ), born the May 16th 1972 with Toulon (VAr), is a player of Rugby to XV French. He plays in team of France and evolves/moves at the station of pillar within the manpower of the Gloucester RFC.

He quite naturally began with the Rugby Toulon-native club from Daniel Herrero, then evolved/moved with the Sporting union of Berry of Bourges during a few months at the 19 years age, before playing during ten years with the Stade Toulousain starting from 1991 (immediately first equips some), initially under the protective wing of another pillar of the club, Claude Portolan. He continued his career in New Zealand (Auckland Blues), where he is the first French player to dispute the Super 12. Whereas it should have returned to Toulouse, it goes then to England (Saracens). He plays then KNOWN Agen then, since 2006, in the English club of Gloucester.

He is the first player of first line to mark three tests in a test match (vis-a-vis Romania in 1996). Culprit of a blow of head during the world cup 1999, it is excluded from the final stages. He holds a long time the record of selection in national team for a pillar, before being caught up with then exceeded in 2007 by Sylvain Marconnet.

Career of player

In club

until in 1991:
1991: U.S. Berry
1991 - 2001:
2001 - 2002:
2002 - 2003:
2003 - 2006:
since 2006:

He is the first French player to have taken part in the Super 12.

In national team

He disputed its first match with the team of France the June 26th 1994 against the team of New Zealand June 9th 2007-->.

Five Nations tournaments disputed: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
Turned:

New Zealand in 1994 (for its first 2 selections, 2 victories!)
Argentinian in 1996
Australia in 1997
New Zealand in 1999
South Africa in 2001 (winner with Johannesburg)
New Zealand in 2001
New Zealand in 2007

Prize list

Oscar of the Olympic South:

Money: 1996

In club

Champion of France: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001 Victorious
of the cut of Europe: 1996 Victorious
of the cut of France: 1998 Victorious
of the Yves Challenge of the Manor: 1993

In national team

(up to date to the 26.06.07)

70 selections (+2 not off.) in team of France, old national record at the station of pillar (new: Sylvain Marconnet)
7 tests (35 points)
Selections per year: 3 in 1994,13 in 1995,9 in 1996,10 in 1997,4 in 1998,9 in 1999,9 in 2000, 7 in 2001,3 in 2003,2 in 2007
Large slam: 1997, 1998 Victorious
of the Latin cut: 1995,1997
Team of France a: 1 selection in 2003 (Italy A)
Barbarians French: 2 selections

In world cup :

1999 : 3 selections (Canada, Namibia, Fiji)
1995: 5 selections (Ivory Coast, Scotland, Ireland, Springboks, England)

Other information

It sits at the District council of the Midday-Pyrenees (Socialist party, of which he is the vice-president of the Commission of the sports).

External bonds

Profile of the player by lequipe.fr
Statistical by itsrugby.fr
the blog of Christian califano for the World cup of Rugby 2007

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