{{Short description|French rugby union player (born 1986)}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}} {{infobox rugby biography | name = Fulgence Ouedraogo | image = ST vs MHR - 2012-05-12-01 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Ouedraogo in 2012 | alt = | birth_name = Fulgence Ouedraogo | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1986|7|21}} | birth_place = [[Ouagadougou]], Burkina Faso | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{height|ft=6|in=1.5}} | weight = 15 st 4 lb (98 kg) | school = | university = | spouse = | children = | relatives = | occupation = | ru_currentteam = | ru_position = [[Flanker (rugby union)|Flanker]] | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2005–2022 | clubs1 = [[Montpellier Hérault|Montpellier]] | apps1 = 340 | points1 = 105 | ru_clubupdate = | repyears1 = 2007–2015 | repteam1 = [[France national rugby union team|France]] | repcaps1 = 39 | reppoints1 = 10 | ru_ntupdate = }}
'''Fulgence Ouedraogo''' (born 21 July 1986) is a former French [[rugby union]] player.<ref>[http://www.aib.bf/spip.php?page=imprimer&id_article=1404 Le Rugbyman burkinabè, naturalisé français, Fulgence Ouédraogo] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130219204744/http://www.aib.bf/spip.php?page=imprimer&id_article=1404 |date=19 February 2013 }} 2012</ref><ref>[http://fr.afrikinfos.com/2012/12/12/linternational-franais-fulgence-oudraogo-veut-valoriser-le-rugby-burkinab/ L’international français Fulgence Ouédraogo veut valoriser le rugby burkinabè] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616014948/http://fr.afrikinfos.com/2012/12/12/linternational-franais-fulgence-oudraogo-veut-valoriser-le-rugby-burkinab/ |date=16 June 2015 }} 2012</ref> He played the entirety of his 17 year career for [[Montpellier Hérault RC]] in the [[Top 14]] championship. His usual position was as a flanker.
Ouedraogo started playing rugby at the age of six, meeting future teammate [[François Trinh-Duc]] at the Pic-Saint-Loup rugby school near [[Montpellier]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sixnations/Old-friends-new-blood.3738991.jp |title=Old friends, new blood |publisher=Scotland on Sunday |date=2 March 2008 }}</ref> They both entered the club's youth teams at "Cadet" level (U-13/14). The two are said to be inseparable friends.
Ouedraogo and Trinh-Duc, together with [[Louis Picamoles]] and [[Julien Tomas]], are considered part of the talents embodying the success of Montpellier's attempt at "shaking up the old order" of French rugby in the [[Septimanie]] ''terroir'' which had always been historical rival [[AS Béziers Hérault|Béziers]]'s stronghold.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/article3382162.ece|work=The Times|location=London|title=Montpellier shaking up the old order|first=Nick|last=Cain|date=17 February 2008|access-date=3 May 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
Ouedraogo is the current captain of Montpellier, and was a key player in the club's outstanding 2010–11 season. He fractured his hand in the 26–25 semi-final win, causing him to miss the final,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/francetop14-2010-11/rugby/story/140706.html|work=ESPN Scrum|title=Montpellier's Ouedraogo to miss final|date=30 May 2011|access-date=9 February 2012}}</ref> which was won by [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]].
==International career== {{BLP sources section|date=September 2017}} [[France]]'s coach [[Bernard Laporte]] acknowledged Ouedraogo's outstanding club form by including him in [[France national rugby union team|France]]'s mid-year Test squad for a two-game series against the [[All Blacks]] in New Zealand in 2007. Ouedraogo made his international debut as a replacement in the second test in [[Wellington, New Zealand|Wellington]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/france/rugby/match/25452.html|title=New Zealand v France at Wellington|publisher=ESPN Scrum|access-date=7 December 2013}}</ref> but ended up not making the cut for the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]] squad. He was later called up by new coach [[Marc Lièvremont]] for the [[2008 Six Nations Championship]].
Ouedraogo was named in France's squad for the [[2011 Rugby World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/14606783 |title=Rugby World Cup 2011: France omit Marconnet & Domingo |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=21 August 2011 |accessdate=13 March 2021}}</ref> He was an unused replacement as New Zealand beat France in the [[2011 Rugby World Cup final|final]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/15405316 |title=2011 Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand 8-7 France |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=23 October 2011 |accessdate=13 March 2021}}</ref>
Ouedraogo was selected by new coach [[Philippe Saint-André]] in the initial 30-man squad for the [[2012 Six Nations Championship]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gUQ-EkfNEb96M1NUeNbuBn42i4gQ?docId=CNG.08f2687788540a4bb338bc3dd1b72f1c.511|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124182656/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gUQ-EkfNEb96M1NUeNbuBn42i4gQ?docId=CNG.08f2687788540a4bb338bc3dd1b72f1c.511|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2013|title=France add Attoub in squad for Six Nations opener|date=26 January 2012|access-date=9 February 2012}}</ref> but was not chosen for the first two matches. He was later selected for France's [[2012 end of year rugby union tests|2012 Autumn Internationals]], and was in the starting line-up for all three test matches.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}
===International tries=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result (France-...) !! Competition |- | 1. || 14 February 2009 || [[Stade de France]], [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]], France || {{ru|SCO}} || {{center|22–13}} || [[Six Nations Championship]] |}
== Personal == Ouedraogo is a cousin of the famous [[Mixed martial arts|MMA]] fighter and long-time [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] veteran [[Cheick Kongo]]. He has the initials of his sister, mother and brother (MBG) tattooed on his left shoulder in [[hindi]].<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1008590366839205888|user=vhavnal|title=@FufuOuedraogo @jesse_mogg...|date=18 June 2018}}</ref>
== Honours == During his club career with [[Montpellier HSC|Montpellier Hérault RC]], Ouedraogo won the Top 14 championship in 2021–22 and claimed the [[European Challenge Cup]] twice, in 2015–16 and 2020–21. He was also part of the squad that reached the Top 14 final in 2010–11, though he missed the match due to injury. Ouedraogo holds the club record for most appearances, having played 340 matches across his 17-season career with Montpellier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fulgence Ouedraogo |url=https://www.startnplay.com/personnalite/celebrite-sportive/fulgence-ouedraogo/ |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=StartnPlay |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
At international level, Ouedraogo was part of the France squad that won the 2010 Six Nations Championship with a Grand Slam. He also earned a runners-up medal at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, where France were defeated by New Zealand in the final.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Six Nations {{!}} Six Nations Union {{!}} RugbyPass |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/six-nations/history/2010/ |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=www.rugbypass.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Post-retirement == Following his retirement at the end of the 2021–22 season, Ouedraogo briefly returned to play for Montpellier during the 2022–23 season as an additional player to help the squad cope with injuries. He has since transitioned into an off-field role with the club, working as Head of Brand Identity and Development, where he focuses on the club's brand strategy and identity while emphasizing human-centered approaches, collective performance, and knowledge transmission.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-11 |title=Retour sur la carrière et la nouvelle vie de Fulgence Ouedraogo - ICI |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/emissions/100-mhr/retour-sur-la-carriere-et-la-nouvelle-vie-de-fulgence-ouedraogo-8402926 |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=ICI, le média de la vie locale |language=fr}}</ref>
Beyond his work with Montpellier, Ouedraogo has pursued several ventures in media and business. He worked as a rugby consultant for M6 television during the 2023 Rugby World Cup and is available for corporate speaking engagements, seminars, conferences, and team-building events. He has also co-founded Fake Real Love, a family-oriented clothing brand built on values of authenticity, simplicity, and tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Monteil |first=Lucas |date=2023-10-13 |title=EXCLU. ''Est-ce qu’ils cachent leur jeu ?'' Fulgence Ouedraogo méfiant avant le quart de finale du XV de France |url=https://www.lerugbynistere.fr/news/exclu-est-ce-quil-cache-leur-jeu-fulgence-ouedraogo-mefiant-avant-le-quart-de-finale-du-xv-de-france-1310231717.php |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=Le Rugbynistère |language=fr}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{World Rugby Sevens Series player|mens/30357}} * {{ESPNscrum|15681}} * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110524054944/http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/france/1434.php?player=71082&includeref=dynamic RBS 6 Nations profile]}} * [https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/RugbyFicheJoueur6000000000005031.html Profile] at L'Equipe.fr * {{ItsRugby profile|1667}}
{{Navboxes |title=France squads |bg=#0055A4 |fg=#FFFFFF |bordercolor=#EF4135 |list1= {{France Squad 2011 Rugby World Cup}} {{France Squad 2015 Rugby World Cup}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ouedraogo, Fulgence}} [[Category:1986 births]] [[Category:French rugby union players]] [[Category:Burkinabe emigrants to France]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Ouagadougou]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:French sportspeople of Burkinabe descent]] [[Category:Rugby union flankers]] [[Category:Montpellier Hérault Rugby players]] [[Category:France international rugby union players]] [[Category:20th-century Burkinabe people]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Montpellier]] [[Category:Black French sportspeople]] [[Category:2011 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:2015 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:21st-century French sportsmen]]