27 Facts About Jean-Pierre Rives

Jean-Pierre Rives was born on 31 December 1952 and is a French former rugby union player and visual artist.

Jean-Pierre Rives is both a painter and a sculptor, and exhibiting regularly at prominent public venues all over the globe.

Jean-Pierre Rives was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor and the National Order of Merit by the government of France.

Jean-Pierre Rives was born on 31 December 1952 in Saint-Simon, a suburb of Toulouse, in the Haute-Garonne, Occitan departement of southwestern France.

Jean-Pierre Rives grew up with his brother Philippe in the family of Jo and Lydia Rives.

Jean-Pierre Rives's father was a pilot and an avid tennis player, and he encouraged his son, who excelled in athletics at early age, to pursue tennis, but it was rugby that would become Jean-Pierre Rives' ultimate choice.

Jean-Pierre Rives began playing rugby for his hometown club in 1974.

Jean-Pierre Rives made his France debut against England in 1975, at the age of 22, marking the start of an international career that would take him to the very top in terms of both personal and team achievements.

Jean-Pierre Rives was instrumental in helping France to the Grand Slam in 1977 and was installed as French captain during the 1978 season.

Jean-Pierre Rives played for TOEC, Beaumont and Stade Toulousain, then in 1981 left Toulouse to join Racing Club de France.

Jean-Pierre Rives was dubbed the Casque d'or due to his long and wild blond hair.

Jean-Pierre Rives captained France in 34 games, a world record at the time, and played in the teams which completed the Grand Slam in the Five Nations Championship in 1977 and 1981.

Jean-Pierre Rives captained the first French side to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Jean-Pierre Rives would have his career ended by a succession of shoulder injuries in 1984.

In 2000, a documentary feature film entitled L'Empreinte des champions: Jean-Pierre Rives was released and made headlines.

Jean-Pierre Rives was influential in France's bid to host the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and played a part in the trophy presentation following the tournament's final.

Jean-Pierre Rives has been an inspiration and a role model for fans across generational and cultural lines.

Jean-Pierre Rives turned to art full-time after his retirement from rugby in 1984.

Jean-Pierre Rives' chosen media became painting and sculpture, which he took up when he was still a rugby player, after meeting a well-known French sculptor and Prix de Rome winner, Albert Feraud.

Jean-Pierre Rives considers Albert Feraud a great man and an inspiration.

Jean-Pierre Rives' sculptures were called by the French La Depeche du Midi "a marvelous mixture of suffering, grace and beauty".

Jean-Pierre Rives sees his paintings as the two-dimensional reflections of his sculptures.

Jean-Pierre Rives uses the word "impression" to describe both the technique and the philosophy applied to his canvases.

Jean-Pierre Rives' sculptures have been showcased at public venues around the world including the prestigious Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, a stone's throw from the classical Senate building, in 2002.

Jean-Pierre Rives' work is found in numerous private and public collections throughout the globe, including Musee du quai Branly in Paris, Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, in Paris, and Asago Art Village Museum and Sculpture Garden in Asago, Japan, among many others.

Jean-Pierre Rives is represented in the US by the Serge Sorokko Gallery.

Jean-Pierre Rives loves life on the Mediterranean, where he can paint and sculpt in peace and solitude.