Standing at 6ft 3in, weighing in at 115kg and sporting a caveman-esque look with a bushy beard and long, unkempt locks, it is perhaps unsurprising that Sebastien Chabal became one of the faces of international rugby during the 2000s.
A renowned hardman, the giant forward was a hugely intimidating presence on the field and was often found bulldozing his way through opposition defences and throwing himself into crunching tackles, using his physicality to devastating effect in snuffing out any attacks.
At one time, he was rumoured to be the highest-paid player in world rugby, while a phenomenon known as ‘Chabalmania’ broke out across his native France in the lead-up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup, such was his popularity.
Over the course of his 11-year international career, Chabal would represent his country 62 times, winning two Six Nations titles – including a Grand Slam in 2010 – and reaching a World Cup semi-final.
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At club level, he won both the Premiership title and Challenge Cup with Sale Sharks, while he also represented Bourgoin, Racing Metro and Lyon over the course of 283 career games.
However, in a devastating twist, Chabal admitted last year that he now has no memory of any of those games, claiming he “can’t remember a single second” of his career.
In an upsetting interview with the YouTube channel Legend, the now 48-year-old revealed that his “memory won’t return” and he now can’t even remember the birth of his daughter Lily-Rose in 2005.
Admitting that he had not consulted a neurologist, the Les Bleus icon explained: “I don’t remember a single second of a rugby match I’ve played. And I don’t remember a single one of the 62 Marseillaises (anthems) I’ve experienced.
“I don’t talk about it because it’s just my business. The problem of concussions is not new in a sport where impacts are sometimes very violent, despite all the actions put in place to try to remedy it. Go see a doctor, for what? The memory will not return…”
Chabal had a fearsome reputation on the rugby field
Asked if he remembered Lily-Rose’s birth, Chabal added: “No…I have a few childhood memories, but not yet. I think it’s because people told me about them. I don’t have this memory of past moments.
“When I talk about it at home with my wife, I tell her that I have the impression that it wasn’t me who played rugby. And since I always thought I was a bit of an imposter, since I got there a bit by chance… With the fact of not remembering, I have the impression that it wasn’t me.”
The interview prompted an outpouring of love and support for Chabal, who revealed at the start of this year that he had changed his mind and is now undergoing tests and medical treatment in a bid to help his amnesia.
Today, the Frenchman lives a very different life to the one he had during his rugby career, but is certainly keeping busy with several different projects on the go.
While it is now 12 years since Chabal hung up his boots, he is still a very recognisable figure in France and has lent his name to a series of businesses in ambassadorial deals.
The former rugby star is an investor and brand ambassador for biotech and wellness company Weo, while he is also one of the major investors in sustainable food storage start-up Biotyfood.
In addition, he is the face of both butcher chain Chez Andre and interior design outlet Monsieur Store. He was also a shareholder in property technology start-up Promy, but the company was placed into judicial liquidation earlier this month.
However, Chabal’s business career is not limited to deals with other companies, having teamed up with 2023 world burger champion Joannes Richard to launch his own burger restaurant. Jo’s Burger opened its first permanent location in Marseille in January this year.
That’s not all, however, with Chabal also harking back to his sporting roots to create a rugby-inspired clothing brand called Ruckfield, with the company selling rugby polos, shirts, t-shirts and sweatshirts up to size 6XL.
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