Rémy Martin (rugby union)
A fierce and intelligent flanker who became the relentless heartbeat of the French national team's pack during a golden era of European rugby.
Born 1979 (age 47)·French rugby union player·Birthday: August 10·Generation X
Biography
Rémy Martin's rugby was a study in controlled fury. As an openside flanker for Stade Français and the French national team, he was the archetypal 'petit général'—a smaller, quicker forward whose intelligence, technical skill at the breakdown, and relentless work rate made him indispensable. He rose to prominence with Stade Français, helping them dominate the French Top 14 in the early 2000s. His international career coincided with a period of French strength; he earned 23 caps and was a key component of the team that won the 2002 and 2004 Six Nations Grand Slams. Martin wasn't the flashiest player, but coaches and teammates revered him for his tactical understanding, his ability to pilfer opposition ball, and his sheer tenacity. His style embodied a classic French rugby ideal: brains and bravery fused into one disruptive, dynamic package.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Rémy was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rémy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Rémy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two Six Nations Grand Slams with the French national team in 2002 and 2004.
- Captained Stade Français to the French Top 14 championship title in the 2003-2004 season.
- Earned 23 caps for the French national team between 2001 and 2006, starting in multiple Six Nations campaigns.
Did You Know?
He studied law at university alongside his professional rugby career.
After retiring, he transitioned into a successful career as a players' agent, representing other rugby professionals.
He is known for being an avid fan of classic rock music.
“The breakdown is a chess match played at a hundred miles an hour.”
