Gaël Fickou

Last updated

Gaël Fickou
GaelFickou ItaliaFrancia6N2023(cropped).jpg
Fickou representing France during the Six Nations Championship
Date of birth (1994-03-26) 26 March 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth La 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
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2012–2018 Toulouse 135 (198)
2018–2021 Stade Français 32 (65)
2021– Racing 92 85 (102)
Correct as of 6 March 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2013 France U20 2 (0)
2013– France 93 (85)
Correct as of 22 November 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.

Contents

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.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
11 February 2014 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, FranceFlag of England.svg  England 24–2426–24 2014 Six Nations
223 September 2015 Olympic Stadium, London, EnglandFlag of Romania.svg  Romania 36–1138–11 2015 Rugby World Cup
313 March 2016 Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, ScotlandFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 18–1029–18 2016 Six Nations
412 November 2016 Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse, FranceFlag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 43–852–8 2016 November test series
512 February 2017 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, FranceFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 11–522–16 2017 Six Nations
620 March 2017 Stadio Olimpico, Rome, ItalyFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 8–1118–40
717 March 2018 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, WalesFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 11–814–13 2018 Six Nations
821 September 2019 Tokyo Stadium, Chōfu, JapanFlag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 5–323–21 2019 Rugby World Cup
92 October 2019 Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka, JapanFlag of the United States.svg  United States 17–933–9
106 February 2021 Stadio Olimpico, Rome, ItalyFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 3–1510–50 2021 Six Nations
1126 February 2022 Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, ScotlandFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 10–1717–36 2022 Six Nations
1219 March 2022 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, FranceFlag of England.svg  England 8–025–13
1326 February 2023 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, FranceFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 30–2132–21 2023 Six Nations
1418 March 2023 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, FranceFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 32–741–28
1510 February 2024 Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, ScotlandFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 13–816–20 2024 Six Nations
1610 March 2024 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, WalesFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 10–1124–45
1716 March 2024 Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon, FranceFlag of England.svg  England 28–2433–31

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.