Imanol Harinordoquy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Imanol Harinordoquy (born 20 February 1980) is a French rugby union player who typically plays as a number 8 for France internationally and Biarritz at club level. Before signing with Biarritz for the 2004-05 season, he played club rugby at Pau. Despite his relative youth, he is generally regarded as one of the top number eights in international rugby union today.

A native of Bayonne (Aquitaine), Harinordoquy grew up in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port (Basque: Donibane Garazi). He grew up playing many sports, among them pelota, swimming, football and judo, only concentrating on rugby after a knee injury at age 14 limited his football development. He advanced quickly in rugby union, representing France at under-19 and under-21 levels. He was also brought up in the family's cattle-trading business; when it came time for him to choose between the business and rugby, he opted to only sign a one-year contract with Pau. He continues to sign one-year rugby deals.

The 1.92 m (6'3½") Basque made his international debut just before his 22nd birthday in the 2002 Six Nations against Wales, and helped France win the Grand Slam that year. His display against England was particularly brilliant. He has been a fixture in the French side ever since, helping them to a second Six Nations Grand Slam in 2004.

In the 2003 World Cup he was again in superb form, grounding tries in wins over Ireland, Scotland and Fiji. He was joint top try scorer with four in the 2004 RBS 6 Nations.

Harinordoquy entered the 2005 Six Nations with 30 caps for France. However, he missed the competition's first fixture against Scotland due to a separated shoulder suffered in his last game for Biarritz before the Six Nations, and had difficulty regaining his form immediately after the injury; he was dropped from the squad by the end of the 2005 tournament.

[edit] External links

• Profile at sporting-heroes.net (retrieved February 7, 2005)
• 2003 story at buzzle.com (retrieved February 7, 2005)