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Serge Blanco
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Serge Blanco | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 31, 1958 (age 48) | ||
| Place of birth | Caracas, Venezuela | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Position | Fullback or Wing | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| 1974-1992 | Biarritz Olympique | ||
| correct as of 5 March 2007. | |||
| National team(s) | Caps | (points) | |
| 1980-1991 | France | 93 | (233) |
| correct as of 5 March 2007. | |||
| Other Information | |||
| Occupation | President: Ligue Nationale de Rugby Owner of Groupe Serge Blanco Partner of Quinze Serge Blanco Administration council of Biarritz Olympique |
||
Serge Blanco (born 31 August 1958 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a former rugby union footballer who played fullback for Biarritz Olympique and France, gaining 93 caps, 81 at fullback. His alternative position was wing.
He was born in the Venezuelan capital Caracas but brought up in France. He famously smoked 60 cigarettes a day throughout his career. Blanco made his French debut against South Africa at Newlands in 8 November 1980. The French lost 37-15. Blanco’s elegant running style, his creativity and inventive spirit epitomised the flamboyance for which French rugby is admired. He is considered one of the greatest exponents of his country and of the international scene of the 1980s. He owes his popularity also to his fair conduct on the field.
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Sydney became the venue of his career highlight, where he scored the late and deciding try in the epic semi-final France won 30-24 in dramatic fashion against host Australia in the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.[1] Second to this achievement was winning Grand Slams with France in the Five Nations Championship in 1981 and 1987.
Serge Blanco captained the French side in the 1991 Rugby World Cup before retiring after their quarter-final defeat by England on 19 October 1991. He won a total of 93 caps and a French record 38 tries. One unfulfilled ambition of his, other than not winning a world championship with France, is failing to win the national championship with his club Biarritz Olympique, despite making a final appearance in 1992.[2] This match against Toulon was his last first-class rugby union match.
After retiring as a player, he continued serving Biarritz Olympique as their president. In this function he saw his club become French champions in 2002 and 2006. [2] He is now the president of France's national professional league, Ligue Nationale de Rugby, while still serving on the administration council for Biarritz Olympique.
- ^ Home side get Rugby World Cup off to a flyer. rwc2003.irb..com. Retrieved on November 29, 2007.
- ^ a b Histoire du BOPB, un siècle de rugby dans le Pays Basque. bo-pb.com. Retrieved on November 29, 2007.