He retired as the most-capped lock for any nation in rugby history, with 100 of his 118 France appearances at that position, a record later broken by South Africa's Victor Matfield.

He proved himself an inspirational captain for France after succeeding Fabien Galthié ahead of the 2004 RBS 6 Nations and enjoyed immediate success, leading Les Bleus to the Grand Slam in his first year and followed that up with a second-placed finish in 2005.

However, he was handed a nine-week ban in the aftermath of that victory after being found guilty of elbowing Australia hooker Brendan Cannon.

Pelous helped Toulouse win the European Cup twice,[8][9][10] and the French Championship also three times[8] before retiring from the game in 2009.

[12] In his spare time, Pelous is involved in a winemaking venture that he started in 2002 with France football international Djibril Cissé.