Martin Méliande
| Date of birth | December 20, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Orthez, France | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Martin Méliande (born 20 December 2001) is a French rugby union player who plays as a fly-half or fullback for Lyon OU in the Top 14, on loan from Racing 92.
Early life
Martin Méliande was born in Orthez, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of southwestern France. He is the twin brother of professional footballer Paul Méliande. The Méliande brothers grew up in Béarn, in a sports-oriented family: their father played football, and their mother played basketball.[1]
Martin started playing rugby union at the age of five with US Orthez, while Paul pursued football with Élan Béarnais Orthez. In 2015, Martin joined the academy of Section Paloise, while Paul joined Pau FC; the brothers boarded at the sports-focused Prytanée in Pau.[1] Martin left the Section Paloise academy after one season and returned to US Orthez.[2] Paul later became a professional footballer with Pau FC.[3]
In 2020, Martin joined the Espoirs (under-23 squad) of Biarritz Olympique.[4]
Club career
Méliande began his professional rugby career with US Bressane during the 2021–22 season in Pro D2, the second division of French rugby. He played a role in helping the club avoid relegation.[5]
In 2022, he signed with Racing 92 and played in the Top 14. During the 2023–24 season, he appeared in eleven Top 14 matches, starting four, and scored 23 points. He also made an appearance in the Champions Cup.[6]
Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Méliande joined Lyon OU on loan from Racing 92.[7] In December 2024, he announced that he would remain with Lyon permanently starting in the 2025–26 season.[8]
Personal life
Martin is the twin brother of Paul Méliande, a professional footballer for Lorient FC.
References
- ^ a b "Pau FC : Paul Meliande, de la cité Fébus à la Ligue 2". SudOuest.fr (in French). 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ Grégory, Letort (2024-11-29). "Rugby - Top 14 : « Je me disais, c'est bon, je reste avec mes potes, je ne vais plus batailler avec le rugby », les confessions de Martin Méliande". La Republique des Pyrénées (in French). Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ "Après 6 mois chez les pros, Paul Méliande, le milieu du Pau FC, nous raconte son quotidien, dans 100% Club ! - ici". ici, le média de la vie locale (in French). 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ "La fiche rugby de : Martin MÉLIANDE". www.allrugby.com (in French). Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ "Rugby. Martin Méliande ou l'éloge de la polyvalence au LOU". www.leprogres.fr (in French). 2024-09-01. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ "Top 14 : le jeune Martin Méliande enchaîne avec le Racing 92 face à Toulouse". Le Figaro (in French). 2024-01-27. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ "Martin Méliande (Racing) prêté à Lyon". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ "Prêté à Lyon, Méliande annonce y rester définitivement". rugbyrama.fr (in French). Retrieved 2025-05-22.
External links
- Martin Méliande profile at allrugby.com