Guilhem Guirado (born 17 June 1986) is a former French

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

player. During his 17-year career, he played for Perpignan,

Toulon Toulon (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Tolon , , ) is a city on the French Riviera and a large port on the Mediterranean coast, with a major naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and the Provence province, Toulon is th ...

, and Montpellier. Guirado was also the captain of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

from 2016 to 2019.

Career

Guirado first appeared on the professional scene playing for Perpignan from 2005, having joined from amateur junior side Arles-sur-Tech. In 2006, he was selected to play for the French U21 side in the

2006 Under 21 Rugby World Championship The 2006 Under 21 Rugby World Championship was played in the Auvergne region of France throughout June 2006. The final was played between South Africa and France at the Stade Marcel-Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand, which saw France win 24–13. Part ...

. He played in all matches, including the grand final against South Africa at the

Stade Marcel-Michelin The Stade Marcel-Michelin is a sports ground in Clermont-Ferrand, France. It has been the home of the French rugby union club ASM Clermont-Auvergne since its opening in 1911. The stadium takes its name from the founder of the ''Association Sport ...

. Three years later, he helped his club side Perpignan secure a 7th Top 14 title in the

2008–09 Top 14 season The 2008–09 Top 14 Competition was a French domestic rugby union club competition operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR). It ran from late August 2008 through the final at Stade de France on June 6, 2009, in which Perpignan lifted the Bo ...

, beating Clermont 22–13. He was also part of the Perpignan side that came second the following year, that time losing to Clermont 19–6. His excellent form during 2008–09 season saw him selected for the French national side for the

2008 Six Nations Championship The 2008 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2008 RBS 6 Nations because of sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the ninth series of the rugby union Six Nations Championship, the 114th series of the international championship. Fifteen ...

. He earned his first cap off the bench in the closing week of the tournament against

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

on 9 March 2008. On that occasion, Les Blues were victorious 25–13. It was not until his sixth cap that Guirado earned his first start. Starting as Hooker against Fiji during the 2010 rugby union internationals. He was part of the French side that were runners-up to the

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987, ...

in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, though he only played in one game – against

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

on 18 September. From the 2013–14 Top 14 season, Guirado joined Toulon, who were both European and French Champions, after Perpignan failed to stay in top division. He had already become first choice Hooker at international level, having started in every test against Australia during France's Test tour of Australia in 2014. He made his first appearance for Toulon against Bayonne, with Toulon winning 29–15. Guirado later took part in the World Cup in 2015, a tournament which was a major disappointment in France. In the quarter-final, France lost 62-13 to New Zealand. In 2015, after Guy Novès' nomination as Head Coach, he became captain of the national team. The level of the team then gradually improved, as players managed to play in a "French Flair"- based style. Playing very well for his club (Rugby Club de Toulon), and also impressing for the national team, the Frenchman's attitude and professionalism was praised by the press. Guy Novès also showered Guirado with praise, saying he was likely to be captain of the national team until his retirement, or at least until the end of Novès' head coach's mandate. Guirado retired from international rugby in 2022.

Personal life

Born in France, Guirado is of Catalan descent.

References

External links

FFR profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guirado, Guilhem 1986 births Living people People from Céret French rugby union players France international rugby union players Rugby union hookers USA Perpignan players RC Toulon players Montpellier Hérault Rugby players French people of Catalan descent French people of Spanish descent Sportspeople from Pyrénées-Orientales Rugby union players from Occitania (administrative region) 2011 Rugby World Cup players 2015 Rugby World Cup players 2019 Rugby World Cup players