Serge Blanco

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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.

1 Career
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Career

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. ^[2] He is now the president of France's national professional league, Ligue Nationale de Rugby, while still serving as Biarritz president.