Quand j'etais Superman

By Dinesh Chandrasena

This book could very easily have become just another “Athlete turned author singing his own praises” scenario. A “Rugby to Riches” collection of heroic tales, highlighted by sporting accolades that would read like a dictionary of memorabilia, score cards, and staggering statistics.

Instead we get a narrative of realism courtesy of Raphael Poulain, who in his no holds barred debut offering to the literary world, ”Quand J’etais Superman” (when I was superman), slices open his life to the very core, revealing, reveling, and re-examining the steps that brought him to where he is today.

Born in the town of Amiens, 75 miles north of Paris, in 1980, Raphael’s physicality and passion for rugby brought him initially into the professional clubs of beauvais, and to the ultra prestigious Stade Francais, in Paris. With his many sporting triumphs punctuated with physical injuries, it almost seems like the “too much too soon” adage rang loud, and Raphael was sidelined only too often, making his physical fallibility in a world that seems almost infallible, blaringly obvious.

As ancient Greek myth suggests “Hubris is followed by nemesis,” so did Triumph and tragedy walk hand in hand. Youthful stamina and the healing powers that come with it, could only achieve and overcome so much, and as fate would have it, with national representation within his grasp, Rapheal was put on a different path.

December 2011, looking in the rear view mirror of life, Rapheal not only sees a mass of sporting achievements, but also his turn as a thespian, treading the theatrical boards with Isabel Adjani in “La Dernière Nuit pour Marie Stuart” and roles in films such as “Munera”, 6H24” and “La vent T’emortera”. He also saw the launch of his book, and numerous TV offerings speaking passionately on his sport. Raphael who could easily rest on his laurels, is still the fair minded, clear thinking “sportsman” at heart.

He looks at issues objectively, is mellow and moderate, while keeping a sense of mischievous humour always at the ready. As Proust said “Not necessarily for their age or beauty, but what really motivates the civilized Man is the curiosity aroused by mystery and obstacles”.

Raphael Poulain truly embodies this. He has seen his share of highs and lows, hills and valleys, the blinding bright light of fame, and the darkest shadows of disappointment, but with all the knock out punches that life threw his way...he picked him self up, stronger from his life lessons, and even more endowed with cerebral clarity. Raphael Poulain is still standing tall, figuratively and metaphorically, looking at the future with anticipation of things to come. So are we!