France
Dumoulin reveals Cécillon is his father
ESPN Staff
January 30, 2015
Dumoulin speaks to the press ahead of his France debut in the autumn Tests © Getty Images
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Racing Metro and France back Alexandre Dumoulin has revealed that his father is disgraced former national captain Marc Cécillon, who murdered his wife.

Dumoulin revealed the news in the French papers on Friday, believing the time is right to make the news public.

Cécillon played for France at both the 1991 and 1995 World Cups, winning 46 caps and captaining the side on five occasions. When he retired from the game, however, he battled alcoholism and depression.

In August 2004 he shot his wife five times in front of 60 people after she refused to leave a party with him. he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, reduced to 14 years on appeal. He was freed on parole in 2011 and is rarely seen in public.

Dumoulin learnt the news of his father's identity when aged 17, after what his agent Jeremy Bouhy described as "a happy childhood in a normal blended family, with love, friends and rugby", with his mother and step-father. He has never met or communicated with his biological father.

"Alexandre wished to speak on the subject to close any debate," said France coach Philippe Saint-André. "You have to respect his approach. Let him build his life, including his rugby playing career. His name is Alexandre Dumoulin."

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