Marc Cécillon (born 30 July 1959 in Bourgoin-Jallieu, Isère) 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 and convicted murderer, who captained the national side on five occasions. He represented France from 1988 to 1995, with 46 test caps, including playing in the

1991 File:1991 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Boris Yeltsin, elected as Russia's first president, waves the new flag of Russia after the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, orchestrated by Soviet hardliners; Mount Pinatubo erupts in the Phi ...

and

1995 File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The Great Hanshin earthquake str ...

World Cups A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities – usually international teams or individuals representing their countries – compete for the title of world champion. The event most associated with the concept i ...

. Cécillon, who played both number 8 and flanker, was known as the ''Quiet Man'' of French rugby. In August 2004, Cécillon was arrested by French police for murdering his wife, whom he shot in front of 60 people at a party in Saint Savin (near to Bourgoin-Jallieu). A blood test showed that Cécillon was drunk. On 10 November 2006, Cécillon was found guilty of murdering his wife and sentenced to 20 years in prison, five more years than the prosecution had sought. The sentence was reduced to 14 years on appeal. The French media heavily followed the case. He was freed on parole on 7 July 2011. In September 2018 Cècillion was charged with "driving under the influence of alcohol, without a license and at excessive speed, violence against a person in a state of drunkenness and theft". He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with six suspended, and fined 350 euros. The incident occurred after he was working at a vineyard and was drinking at a post-harvest evening event. Cecillon reportedly assaulted the vineyard's owner and some other workers who tried to intervene before getting in a vehicle and hitting a parked truck. At his trial Cecillon acknowledged that he was still struggling with alcohol. Peter FitzSimons remains a strong supporter.

References

1959 births Living people People from Bourgoin-Jallieu French rugby union players People convicted of murder by France French people convicted of murder France international rugby union players Sportspeople from Isère Sportspeople convicted of murder Rugby union number eights CS Bourgoin-Jallieu players {{France-rugbyunion-bio-stub