Damien Traille

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Damien Traille (born 12 June 1979 in Pau, France) is a French rugby union footballer. His usual position is in the centres or at fly-half. He currently plays for Biarritz Olympique in the Top 14 club competition in France. Traille has played for France, including at the 2003 Rugby World Cup as well as France's Six Nations victories in 2002, 2004 and 2006.

He played for Section Paloise from the late 1990s through to 2004, when he moved to his current club, Biarritz. Traille made his debut for France in 2001 in a match against the Springboks in Paris. France won the match 20 points to 10. He subsequently made a further two appearances for the national side that year, playing in a test against Australia in Marseilles which was won by one point, with the final score 14 to 13 to France, as well as a test against Fiji in St Etienne, which France won by over 60 points.

Traille played in all of France's matches during the 2002 Six Nations Championship. France won all of their five games, which saw them complete a grandslam and win the tournament. He received another six caps for France later that year, playing in tests against Argentina, Australia, South Africa, the All Blacks and Canada.

In 2003 Traille played in all of France's matches during the 2003 Six Nations Championship, although the tournament was less successful than the previous years grandslam victory, with France winning three of their five games in 2003. He played five more times for France prior to the Rugby World Cup that year; in the two losses to Argentina and the loss to the All Blacks as well as win over Romania and a 17 to 16 win over England.

Traille was included in France's 2003 Rugby World Cup squad in Australia and played in all of France's five pool matches. France won all their pool games against Fiji, Scotland, Japan and the United States, which saw France finish at the top of their pool. He did not play in the quarter and semi final matches, but played the All Blacks in the third/fourth place play-off.

The following year, Traille was a part of France's grandslam victory at the 2004 Six Nations Championship, playing in all of their five victories. He did not play in any of the other of France's internationals later that year. He was a part of the 2005 Six Nations Championship as well, playing in all the matches, with France only losing the one game to Wales. He played tests against Australia and South Africa later in the year as well.

Traille played in three of France's matches as the 2006 Six Nations Championship, in the wins over Italy, England and Wales. Biarritz made it to the final of the 2005-06 Heineken Cup, but lost to Munster. Although Biarritz lost the Heineken Cup final, Traille would celebrate winning the 2005-06 Top 14, defeating Stade Toulousain in the final.

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