Pierre Berbizier
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Pierre Berbizier (born 17 June 1958) is a French former rugby union footballer, and currently a coach. His usual position was at scrum-half. He played 56 times for France, and is the current head coach of Italy.
Berbizier was born in Saint-Gaudens.
He made his international debut for France as a 22 year-old on January 17, 1981 in a test during the Five Nations against Scotland in Paris, which France won 16 points to nine. He played in the remaining Five Nations matches that season; earning caps against Ireland, Wales and England. He was capped twice more after the Five Nations that year, in two matches against the All Blacks, which France lost.
He was capped twice the following year; once during the Five Nations against Ireland in Paris, which France won 22 points to nine, and then against Romania in Bucharest, which France lost. He played in two Five Nations matches in 1983, and one the following year. Appearing just once in the 1984 Five Nations, he was then capped twice against the All Blacks in Christchurch and Auckland, both of which the All Blacks won. He played twice for France in 1985; in a two test series against Argentina.
After appearing for France on various occasions throughout the early 1980s, he was capped 11 times during the 1986 season; including all the Five Nations matches, as well as three games against the All Blacks. The following season he led France to a grand slam victory at the 1987 Five Nations. 1987 was also the year of the first-ever Rugby World Cup, which France were invited to compete at, as they were an IFRB member. France played Scotland in the first World Cup match, drawing 20-all in Christchurch. he led them to subsequent victories over Romania and Fiji, which saw them enter the finals, defeating the Wallabies to enter the first World Cup final. They went down to hosts, the All Blacks, 29 to nine at Eden Park. He last cap for France was at Twickenham on the 16th of March, 1991. In 1992 he became the head coach of France, and led them to the semi-finals at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. He was sacked after falling out with French Federation president Bernard Lapasset.
He went onto coach at Narbonne, and since worked as a television pundit. After the Federazione Italiana Rugby sacked head coach John Kirwan after a poor Six Nations tournament, Berbizier was revealed to be the next coach, until after the 2007 Rugby World Cup. On the new appointment, FIR president Giancarlo Dondi commented: "I believe we have signed one of the best coaches in Europe".
- Pierre Berbizier on sporting-heroes.net
- Italians name Berbizier as coach