Thierry LACROIX

Biog of Thierry LACROIX :

Thierry Lacroix’s international career was a strange affair. He made his first appearance in the starting line-up in Lille on 11 November 1989 as fly-half in the victory (25-19) over the future Australian World Champions, Lynagh, Farr-Jones, Campese, Little and Horan. Lacroix was 22 years of age. His second start at fly-half (his third in total) came just two years later in the quarter-final of the 1991 World Cup, a disappointing defeat to England (10-19) at the Parc des Princes. He would then have to wait a further year before being selected again, at centre this time, where he finally got an extended run.

From 1992 till 1995 Lacroix, a fly-half by training, became under coach Pierre Berbizier a permanent link in the tricolore attack at inside centre, his role being to back up the fly-halves (Cambérabero, Penaud, Deylaud, Mesnel) using his kicking game in particular. “I wanted a midfield that could hold its own to make space for my attacking trio of Saint André, Ntamack and Sadourny,” explains Berbizier, “and the understanding between Lacroix and Sella in the centre worked wonders.” With the exception of a “one-off” start at fly-half in the 1994 Five Nations tournament, Lacroix partnered Sella in the centre 23 times in a row from October 1992 till the 1995 World Cup. He was in the squad for the successful tours of South Africa (1993) and New Zealand (1994) and played on the winning side against the Springboks in Paris (1992) and the Wallabies in Bordeaux (1993). At the time, Lacroix played club rugby for US Dax, up until then his one and only club. Dax was also his hometown where, with brother and fellow USD player, Pascal, he was a practicing physiotherapist.

Then came the 1995 World Cup in South Africa and the unbelievable semi-final against the Boks, played out under torrential rain, ending in a 19-15 defeat. South Africa went on to become World Champions one week later. France themselves won the third place play-off 19-9 against England – their first victory against their old foes since 1989! It was the start of the professional era and of a second career for the competition’s highest points scorer (112), Thierry Lacroix. As soon as the World Cup was over, Lacroix packed his kit bag and began his voyage around planet rugby. 1995 and 1996 saw Lacroix in South Africa (he returned to Dax inter season) playing in, and winning, the Currie Cup with Natal (together with Dax teammate, Olivier Roumat, in 1996). Then a move to London and two years at Harlequins followed by a further year at Saracens. In between times, Lacroix’s international career, which had been stop/start of late due to his travels, came to an end, along with other players of his generation (Saint-André, Merle and Cabannes), on 22 November 1997 after the humiliating defeat (10-52) at the hands of the Springboks at the Parc des Princes. That evening represented the heaviest defeat ever suffered by les Bleus - although Lacroix ended his international career as France’s record points scorer (367) all the same - a record that would later be surpassed by Christophe Lamaison in 2001 (380).

Returning to France in the summer of 2000, Lacroix finished off his career with two successful seasons at Perpignan and a last less successful season at Castres, hanging up his boots definitively in 2003. He was already commentating for France Télévisions and would later commentate for TF1. He was also behind an abortive project to take over Bordeaux-Bègles rugby club. Today, Lacroix lives in Australia where he develops the pharmaceutical group, Pierre Fabre’s, business activities.