The 5 Best French Rugby Players of All Time
The 5 Greatest French Rugby Union Players of all-time
When you think of French Rugby, you think of flair, of scoring tries that involve running from deep, long passes and courage to run with the ball rather than kick.
This, of course, is all true, but the French have also had their fair share of incredible forwards. Think of Chabal, Basterau and Betson!
If not these iconic monsters, then who does make the list of France’s all-time top 5 players? Rugby journalist Daniel Cullinane picks the best players he has seen play for France.
Read on to find out about the stars of one of the most popular sports in France.
1. Thierry Dusautoir: Flanker
Number of Caps: 80
Test Points: 30
Test Tries: 6
Thierry Dusautoir played international rugby for France from 2006 until 2015. Not only was he quick to the breakdown, but he was also known for his decision-making and clarity of thought.
A natural leader, he started out life as a very good Junior Judoka before concentrating on Rugby full-time at age 16.
He was known for being a powerful and forceful ball carrier and was relentless in the tackle.
Perhaps his finest, yet most disappointing moment was in the 2011 World Cup Final against the All Blacks, where he scored a try yet France was beaten by a solitary point.
2. Serge Blanco: Fullback
Number of Caps: 93
Test Points: 233
Test Tries: 38
Serge Blanco was born in Venezuela but went on to become a legend in France, for whom he excelled in the back line.
Blanco was known for his daring runs from deep, which epitomised the French team of the 80s and early 90s.
Serge Blanco
In many ways, he was ahead of his time as a player. As a back, he was tall, and had real pace to burn, and looked more like a player from the modern-day than the 80s.
He also wasn’t afraid to use his feet to chip balls over the top, again something we take for granted now, but that was not as common at the time.
His long-legged style made him hard to tackle, and his solid upper-body strength also allowed him to break tackles as effectively as his legs allowed him to avoid them.
3. Fabien Pelous: Lock
Number of Caps: 118
Test Points: 80
Test Tries: 8
At 6ft 6in and weighing in at 242 pounds, Fabien Pelous was the epitome of what a lock should look like as a physical specimen.
However, it was possibly his technical ability that made him stand out more than his size and strength.
He was known for his meticulous practice in the line out, and was an expert at disrupting the opposition line without stepping over the mark.
At one point he was the most capped lock in Rugby history and also captained the French side 43 times, a true legend of the sport, he was inducted into the Rugby Hall of Fame in 2017.
4. Philippe Sella: Centre
International Caps: 111
Test Points: 125
Tries: 30
Although he started out in Rugby League, Philippe Sella converted to Rugby Union and made his debut for France in 1982.
Philippe Sella
Full if natural pace, and evasive in the tackle, he wasn’t just a talented runner but also relished putting in big hits in the tackle. He had a natural level of fitness that came from a rural upbringing where nothing was given, and everything earned.
He was the complete centre and is one of only 5 players to score in every match of a 6 Nations tournament, which he did in 1986.
5. Philippe Saint-Andre: Wing
International Caps: 69
Test Points: 152
Test Tries: 32
Philippe Saint-Andre may not have as many caps as the others on this list, but his try-to-game ratio is undeniable. He scored a try in almost every other match he played for France.
Le Goret (the piglet) played for France for 7 years in which he was perhaps the most productive player on the planet aside from Jonah Lomu.
He was also an astute tactician and went on to have a successful coaching career.
1994 - France 🇫🇷 Vs New Zealand 🇳🇿 Jean-Luc Sardourney scores one of the great all time tries
He is possibly best known for coining the name of one of the all-time great tries in 1994 against the All Blacks at Eden Park, known forever as “The try from the end of the world” after he watched compatriot Jean-Luc Sadourney complete a try that Sait-Andre had begun from his own try line.
Check out who Daniel thinks are the 5 best players to have played for England, and also his piece on the greatest Irish players of all time.
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