Thu 28 Jul 2016 | 02:45
#Throwback Thursday: That time Sebastien Chabal knocked Marc Giraud out with a slap

5
Comments

Remember when Sebastian Chabal turned full Seabass and knocked out Marc Giraud with a right hook to the jaw? Here's a quick look back, as it was one of the most talked about incidents at the time, and the original video has since amassed 4 million views.

Three years ago when Chabal, then 36, was playing for Lyon in the French Pro D2, the fiery number eight unnecessarily took offence to Giraud grabbing him, and delivered a cracking punch to his opposite man.

Giraud hit the floor out cold but luckily escaped any further damage, while Chabal was lucky just to receive a yellow card, despite continuously pleading his innocence. 

There was some debate at the time as to whether it was an open hand slap or a punch, however it's effectiveness was never in question.

The iconic Frenchman received a three-week suspension for the incident.

5 Comments

  • drg
    2:21 PM 01/08/2016

    Well CC, you've already got my answer from the two other replies, but what I find funny is your first 3 words... "that's rugby mate".... what is precisely? and according to who? You? Your generation? etc?

    I mean no disrespect, but as mentioned "thats rugby mate" is what would have been said to Giraud in the early 2000's, you play a cynical game and expect to get some treatment. If you want a watered down or clean game, then behaviour like Girauds and any other cling-ons must be punished...

    The more you police the game, the more it will need policing....

  • hoot
    8:17 PM 29/07/2016

    Boom! He was a character and I miss seeing his big hits - he seems to have followed the seemingly fairly typical ex-rugby star career path of going into men's fashion as far as I can tell, is that right?

  • finedisregard
    12:32 AM 29/07/2016

    No, it's cheap by Marc Giraud to hold a player and prevent them from playing rugby.

    Chabal has a right to play rugby, Giraud has no right to prevent Chabal from doing so. If rugby wants to be 100% clean they need to ban the player that is cheating by holding the opposing player.

    Actions like this by Chabal are (or used to be) the only thing that kept players honest. Refs will never pick up garbage like this and it's up to players to sort it out. What Would Colin Meads Do?

  • 11:36 PM 28/07/2016

    That's rugby mate, cheap shot by chabal if ask me

  • drg
    10:24 PM 28/07/2016

    Agen 12 - 6 Lyon...

    "the fiery number eight unnecessarily took offence to Giraud grabbing him"

    Unnecessarily to the writer of this... I personally think if this sort of stuff happened more often then people would learn to keep their hands to themselves....