An exceptional "impact player"

Chabal is primarily a back-row player (he plays at number 8 for Sales Sharks and France), France coach Bernard Laporte has long sought to use him as a lock. He is famous for a number of eccentric moments in his rugby career. These include missing a tackle on an opponent and tackling the linesman instead; lurching towards the referee when blown up trying to tackle a player; and whilst attempting a small kick just behind the back line, he miscued it completely and subsequently attempted to kick the ball over the posts whilst it was still on the ground.