Gaël Fickou

Gaël Fickou
Fickou representing France during the Six Nations Championship
Date of birth (1994-03-26) 26 March 1994 (age 30)
Place of birthLa Seyne-sur-Mer, France
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight100 kg (220 lb; 15 st 10 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Current team Racing 92
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2018 Toulouse 135 (198)
2018–2021 Stade Français 32 (65)
2021– Racing 92 61 (75)
Correct as of 17 March 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 France U20 2 (0)
2013– France 90 (85)
Correct as of 17 March 2024

Gaël Fickou (born 26 March 1994) is a French professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Top 14 club Racing 92 and the France national team.

Club career

Fickou made his Heineken Cup debut on 14 October 2012, scoring the only try of the game in a win against Leicester Tigers. His lithe movement, balance and pace for his size has seen him compared to English rugby legend Jeremy Guscott.[citation needed]

According to Toulouse and France teammate, Maxime Médard, Fickou "is one of the 10 best centres in the world and soon he will be number one. He reminds me of Sonny Bill Williams: tall, athletic, technical, with a good hand-off and a feel for the game. He has everything."[1]

After spending six seasons with Toulouse, he signed with Stade Français for the start of the 2018–19 season.[2]

On 22 March 2021, Fickou would leave Stade Français to join with Top 14 rivals Racing 92 ahead of the 2021–22 season.[3]

International career

He made his French international debut at the age of 18 against Scotland on 16 March 2013 in the RBS 6 Nations.[4]

Fickou scored his first try for France against England during the 2014 Six Nations.

Career statistics

List of international tries

International tries
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1 February 2014 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France  England 24–24 26–24 2014 Six Nations
2 23 September 2015 Olympic Stadium, London, England  Romania 36–11 38–11 2015 Rugby World Cup
3 13 March 2016 Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland  Scotland 18–10 29–18 2016 Six Nations
4 12 November 2016 Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse, France  Samoa 43–8 52–8 2016 November test series
5 12 February 2017 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France  Scotland 11–5 22–16 2017 Six Nations
6 20 March 2017 Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy  Italy 8–11 18–40
7 17 March 2018 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales  Wales 11–8 14–13 2018 Six Nations
8 21 September 2019 Tokyo Stadium, Chōfu, Japan  Argentina 5–3 23–21 2019 Rugby World Cup
9 2 October 2019 Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka, Japan  United States 17–9 33–9
10 6 February 2021 Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy  Italy 3–15 10–50 2021 Six Nations
11 26 February 2022 Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland  Scotland 10–17 17–36 2022 Six Nations
12 19 March 2022 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France  England 8–0 25–13
13 26 February 2023 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France  Scotland 30–21 32–21 2023 Six Nations
14 18 March 2023 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France  Wales 32–7 41–28
15 10 February 2024 Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland  Scotland 13–8 16–20 2024 Six Nations
16 10 March 2024 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales  Wales 10–11 24–45
17 16 March 2024 Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon, France  England 28–24 33–31

Honours

France

Personal life

Born in France, Fickou is one of six children. His dad is originally from Casamance in Senegal and his mother is a French of Pied-Noir descent.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ Six Nations 2014: France eagerly await another burst of speed from zero-to-hero Gaël Fickou, by Hugh Godwin, The Independent, dated 9 February 2014.
  2. ^ France centre Gael Fickou joins Stade Francais, uncredited author, "Sky Sports", dated 29 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Confirmed: France star Gael Fickou is leaving Stade Francais to join Top 14 rivals". Rugby Pass. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  4. ^ Kitson, Robert (16 October 2012). "Toulouse's Gaël Fickou looks ready to be rugby's next global superstar". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  5. ^ "Fickou : « Je sais que j'ai de la chance »" (in French). FFR. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  6. ^ Tournoux, Gilles (1 February 2020). "France-Angleterre : «Je n'aurais jamais pensé avoir cette vie-là», confie Gaël Fickou" [France v England: 'I never thought I would have this life', Gaël Fickou confides]. Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 13 November 2022.

External links