'Quiet man' of rugby held for killing wife

The "quiet man" of French rugby, the former international captain Marc Cécillon, 45, opened fire with a handgun and killed his wife at an end-of-season function near Lyons at the weekend, police said.

The "quiet man" of French rugby, the former international captain Marc Cécillon, 45, opened fire with a handgun and killed his wife at an end-of-season function near Lyons at the weekend, police said.

The 6ft 4in player, who was overpowered by other party guests and taken into custody on Saturday night, was allegedly so drunk that he did not realise he had killed his wife, Chantal, until he woke up in a police cell yesterday. Witnesses said Cécillon, who earlier this year became honorary manager at his first club, Bourgoin-Jallieu, near Lyons, began arguing with his wife at the open-air function attended by about 60 people at Saint-Savin. He briefly left the party, which was being held in a friend's garden, but returned to open fire "numerous times" at Chantal's thorax and head.

Cécillon ­ who was first capped in 1988 and captained France five times ­ was said to have had a stormy relationship with Chantal, a medical secretary and mother of his two daughters.

Pierre Martinet, the chairman of Bourgoin-Jallieu, said Cécillon appeared to have had trouble adapting to ordinary life after the end of his professional career last year. "I have known Marc for 12 years. I often saw him with Chantal, who was very proud of him. I never noticed problems between them and I never personally saw him drunk. But it is clear that his recent lack of activity tended to incite him to drink," Mr Martinet said.

Rugby journalists say that Cécillon was known for his capacity to drink and that only his father seemed to be able rein him in when he went on binges and caused trouble in the nightclubs of Lyons. As a player, he had been uncomfortable in the role of captain of France and felt ill-at-ease with the pressure implied by the position.

Cécillon, who was first capped at junior level and gained 46 full caps for France, is a prominent personality in Bourgoin-Jallieu. He played in the town's team for 23 years until 1999 and one of the wings of the local stadium is named after him.

Cécillon lived with Chantal and the couple's two daughters in a farmhouse that he had rebuilt himself.

Police, who searched Cécillon's home, said he would remain in custody. They expected a judge to place him under formal investigation today.