Franck Mesnel (born 30 June 1961,

Neuilly-sur-Seine Neuilly-sur-Seine (; 'Neuilly-on-Seine'), also known simply as Neuilly, is an urban Communes of France, commune in the Hauts-de-Seine Departments of France, department just west of Paris in France. Immediately adjacent to the city, north of the ...

) is a former

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

footballer. He played as a fly-half and as a centre. He is the founder of the French rugby and leisure clothing brand Eden Park. The company was founded in 1987 and is named after the stadium in New Zealand where that year France lost the first rugby union World Cup final.

Club career

Mesnel played for

Saint-Germain-en-Laye Saint-Germain-en-Laye () is a Communes of France, commune in the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, from the Kilometre Zero, centre of Paris. ...

(1980/81-1985/86) and for

Racing Club de France Racing Club de France, also known as RCF, is a French multi-sport club that was founded on 20 April 1882 under the name Racing Club. Racing Club changed its name to Racing Club de France (RCF) on 21 November 1885. The club is located at the Bois ...

(1986/87-1996/97). He won the title of the French

Top 14 The Top 14 () is a professional rugby union club competition that is played in France. Created in 1892, the Top 14 is at the top of the national league system operated by the National Rugby League (France), France National Rugby League, also ...

, in 1989/90, and finished second in 1986/87.

International career

He had 56 caps for

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, from 1986 to 1995, scoring eight tries and three drop goals, 41 points in aggregate. He won the Five Nations four times, first with a Grand Slam, in 1987, then in 1988, tied with

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

, 1989 and 1993. Mesnel also played in three

Rugby World Cup The Men's Rugby World Cup is a rugby union tournament contested every four years between the top international teams, the winners of which are recognised as the World championship, world champions of the sport. The tournament is administer ...

finals, in 1987, being vice-champion, 1991 and 1995, always without scoring. He also played for the English invitational team, the

Barbarian F.C. The Barbarian Football Club, known as the Barbarians, is a Great Britain, British-based invitational rugby union club. The Barbarians play in black and white hoops, though players wear socks from their own club strip. Membership is by invitatio ...

, alongside fellow French international

Jean-Baptiste Lafond Jean-Baptiste Lafond (born 29 December 1961) is a former French rugby union footballer. He played for the French national team on over 30 occasions. His usual position was either on the wing or at fullback. He made his debut for France against ...

. After ending his player career, he became a sports commentator.

References

External links

* 1961 births Living people French rugby union players 20th-century French sportsmen Rugby union fly-halves Rugby union centres Barbarian F.C. players France international rugby union players Sportspeople from Neuilly-sur-Seine Rugby union players from Hauts-de-Seine Racing 92 players 1987 Rugby World Cup players 1991 Rugby World Cup players 1995 Rugby World Cup players {{France-rugbyunion-bio-1960s-stub