Known for his pace and his footwork, he started his club career with Brive where he won the Heineken Cup in 1997 before moving to Agen, where he stayed four seasons. He then moved to Toulouse in 2001 and won the Heineken Cup three times and the Top 14 twice. After ten years spent with the most successful club in France, he played two seasons for Bayonne before retiring in 2013.
Cédric Heymans was born on 20 July 1978 in Brive-la-Gaillarde, Corrèze.[1] He started rugby in Meyssac, his hometown near Brive-la-Gaillarde, and then moved to French elite club Brive later.[2]
Heymans made his debut for France in a match against Italy in Paris as a reserve during the 2000 Six Nations Championship. He made one other appearance for France that year, starting in a match against Romania in Bucharest.[1]
In 2002, he started in two subsequent matches for the national side later that year, in the 30–10 win over South Africa in Marseille as well as the draw against the All Blacks in Paris. In 2004, he started against the United States, and was a reserve in a subsequent match against Canada. He received a further three national caps that year, starting in the win over Australia, as well as in the losses to Argentina and the All Blacks.[3]
Heymans was the only person to have won the Heineken Cup on four occasions, having won it with Brive in 1997 and then with Toulouse three times in 2003, 2005 and 2010. However after the 2017–18 Champions Cup this record was equalled by Isa Nacewa, Johnny Sexton and Devin Toner as four time winners. He is also the youngest player to be involved in a final.[4]
Heymans and his wife Justine have three children.[7]
He currently works as a commentator and pundit for Canal+, and as a chief commercial officer for French fruit manufacturing company and Brive sponsor Andros as well.[8]
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