A self-consistent elastic-plastic model has been developed for the analysis of the behaviour of rolled samples of zirconium 702 during mechanical loading. The thermal residual stresses produced by cooling from the annealing temperature to room temperature have been determined and compared to X-ray diffraction results. The elastoplastic behaviour of zirconium in tensile tests along the rolling and transverse directions has been simulated and compared to the experimental results. The influence of texture and of existing thermal stresses on the response of the material could be studied and explained by this approach.