Serge Blanco

Serge Blanco (born 31 August 1958) is a former rugby union footballer who played fullback for Biarritz Olympique and the French national side, gaining 93 caps, 81 of them at fullback. His alternative position was wing. He was generally nicknamed by French rugby fans as the Pelé of Rugby.

Serge Blanco
Date of birth (1958-08-31) 31 August 1958
Place of birthCaracas, Venezuela
Occupation(s)President: Biarritz Olympique
Owner of Groupe Serge Blanco
Partner of Quinze Serge Blanco
Administration council of Biarritz Olympique
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback or wing
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1974–1992 Biarritz Olympique ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1980–1991 France 93 (233)

Blanco was born in Caracas, Venezuela, to a Venezuelan father and a Basque mother, but was raised in Biarritz, France. He made his international debut against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on 8 November 1980, which France lost 37–15.

Career

He scored the deciding try in the semi-final of the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, France winning 28–24 against hosts Australia.[1] He also won Grand Slams with France in the 1981 and 1987 Five Nations Championship.

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 (a record at the time) and still holds the record for the most tries scored for France (38). Despite his international success he has failed 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. In 1997 Serge Blanco was among the inaugural set of rugby players inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. In 2011, he was also inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame.[3]

After retiring as a player, he continued serving Biarritz Olympique as their president. In this role he saw his club become French champions in 2002 and 2006.[2] He was president of France's national professional league, Ligue Nationale de Rugby, until December 2008.[4] Outside of rugby he is a successful businessman, owning three hotels and a brand of sportswear.

In March 2009 he suffered a heart attack but recovered after surgery.[5]

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See also

References and notes
  • Bath, Richard, ed. (1997). Complete Book of Rugby. Seven Oaks Ltd. ISBN 1-86200-013-1.
  1. "Home side get Rugby World Cup off to a flyer". rwc2003.irb.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2006. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
  2. "Histoire du BOPB, un siècle de rugby dans le Pays Basque". bo-pb.com. Archived from the original on 11 December 2006. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
  3. "Five French legends into IRB Hall of Fame" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 19 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  4. "French Top 14 / Photo". scrum.com. 4 December 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
  5. "Blanco revering after heart attack". ercrugby.com. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
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