Serge Blanco

French rugby player, born in Caracas, Venezuela. Arrière offensif, he held the record for the number of tries he made while in the French team. He won the Grand Slam (1981, 1987) and was voted best rugby player (1982, 1983, 1989–92). He retired in 1992.

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.

He was born in the Venezuelan capital Caracas but brought up in France. Blanco’s elegant running style, his creativity and inventive spirit epitomised the flamboyance for which French rugby is admired.

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.

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. 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.

After retiring as a player, he continued serving Biarritz Olympique as their president. He is now the president of France's national professional league, Ligue Nationale de Rugby, while still serving as Biarritz president.