Jérôme Thion

Who is Jérôme Thion?

Jérôme Thion is a French rugby union footballer who currently plays for Biarritz Olympique in the Top 14 club competition in France. Thion, one of the most hard-working and underrated locks in world rugby, has played for France since 2003, representing them at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia as well as captaining them in three tests in late 2005. He was also a part of the 2006 Six Nations Championship-winning side.

Before playing rugby union, Thion played basketball for Entente Osny Cergy Pontoise and Pau-Orthez. In fact, he made the switch from basketball to rugby late enough in his life that under current regulations of LNR, which operates France's professional rugby union league, he does not qualify as a "France-developed" player.

Thion's first club was AS Montferrand, where he stayed until 2001, then signing with USA Perpignan, where he stayed for two seasons, before moving to Biarritz, his current club.

He made his debut for France on 14 June 2003 in the first of two matches against Argentina. Argentina won the match 10–6 at Vélez Sársfield in Buenos Aires.