Famed France No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy announced his retirement from rugby today and to celebrate his trophy-laden career we look back at six of his best RBS 6 Nations moments.
The 36-year-old will call time on a 16-year career at the end of this season and hopes to sign off in style by winning a Top 14 title with Toulouse.
Were he to do that, it would add to five Six Nations titles, including three Grand Slams, that he won while racking up 82 caps for Les Bleus. 2002 – The debut
In 1999 Harinordoquy joined Pau from amateur side Nafarroa and after three seasons impressing in south west France he was drafted into the national squad for the 2002 RBS 6 Nations.
Bernard Laporte trusted the big back-rower to start against Wales in the second round of matches and Harinordoquy repaid him as he helped France to a 33-37 win at the Millennium Stadium on his debut. 2002 – The first Grand Slam
After impressing on his debut Harinordoquy was trusted with the No.8 shirt for the remainder of the tournament.
The Frenchman scored his first international try in his second game against England before a routine victory over Scotland and a dominant 44-5 win over Ireland on the final weekend of the tournament saw Harinordoquy celebrating a Grand Slam in just his fourth France appearance. 2004 – The second Grand Slam
After England’s World Cup winning side dominated the 2003 RBS 6 Nations, France returned the following year to reclaim their Grand Slam.
Harinordoquy was the star of their side as he ran in four tries, including two against Italy.
His third came against Wales in week three but the most important came in the Championship decider against England, in Paris, on the final day. 2010 – The Grand Slam hat-trick
His performances in the 2010 Championship led to him being nominated for the player of the championship award.
He lost out to Ireland’s Tommy Bowe but he was France’s star as they registered a third Grand Slam in nine years.
The back-rower capped his tournament with a try in the 46-20 win over Italy in the penultimate round of games. 2011 – The try
England may have won the tournament, France may have lost twice in finishing second, but a moment of inspiration from Francois Trinh-Duc set up Harinordoquy to run half the length of the field and score the third of four French tries in a 34-21 win over Scotland.
Fly-half Trinh-Duc flung a through the legs pass behind him to the waiting Harinordoquy who, after dummying the outside pass, raced free to score under the posts. 2012 – The RBS 6 Nations farewell
After finishing as runner-up with France in the 2011 World Cup, Harinordoquy came into the following year’s RBS 6 Nations on a high.
He started on the bench for the first game against Italy but was restored to the starting XV by Philippe Saint-Andre for the remainder of their fixtures.
His final Championship appearance came at the Millennium Stadium on March 17 as his side slumped to a 16-9 loss to Grand Slam-winners Wales as the tournament waved goodbye to one of its brightest stars.
