Olivier Azam

Who is Olivier Azam?

Olivier Azam is a retired French rugby union footballer and current forwards coach at Top 14 club Toulon. A hooker who could also cover prop, Azam spent most of his professional playing career in the English Premiership at Gloucester Rugby. Azam also had 10 caps for France.

Azam made his Gloucester debut in August 2000 against Saracens. Azam returned to Gloucester Rugby in the summer of 2004 after one year with French outfit Montferrand. He notched over 140 appearances for the West Country club.

Renowned for his aggressive, hard hitting mentality, Azam had to compete with Wallaby international Jeremy Paul and England international Andy Titterrell for the No. 2 shirt upon his return.

Azam was named the player of the season by Gloucester fans for the 2008/09 season.

On 19 May 2011 Gloucester Rugby announced that Azam was leaving Gloucester. Shortly afterward, he chose to return to France to replace Aubin Hueber as forwards coach at Toulon.

Outside of sport, he runs a successful restaurant in Cheltenham called Armagnac.