Sebastien Chabal: Rugby Legend, Poker Fan
The man fans have affectionately dubbed the Caveman sports a distinctive look, with his fierce tackling on the field and even fiercer looking facial hair. It’s therefore no wonder that he is arguably one of the most recognisable athletes in the sport.
However, the Frenchman is not content with staying in the proverbial cave of rugby and has ventured onto the poker tables to hunt down a new way to win. His passion for the card game has led him to participate in numerous tournaments and even star in an advert for the world’s largest online poker site, PokerStars.
He has delivered the no nonsense style that rugby fans have come to know him for onto the poker tables. His aggressive strategy initially developed online and has since translated through to live competitions. Chabal and other rugby stars have identified the similarities between the two games, both requiring the same skill set. Although poker is not as physical as rugby, players must have a strong mental instinct, be easily adaptable and possess strong focus in order to excel in either sport.
Other rugby players who have followed the French national team player into the field of poker include James Haskell, Ben Foden, Mike Tindall, Dylan Hartley and Delon Armitage. However, stars from all varieties of sports have cut their poker teeth, including World No. 1 tennis player Rafael Nadal and Olympic legend Michael Phelps.
Despite his impressive performances, Chabal has yet to lay claim to a major tournament win. However, with a clear interest and determination for the sport, it won’t be long until the iconic player emulates his rugby success and lays claim to his first ever poker title.
