Biography
Pierre Berbizier, born on June 17, 1958, in Saint-Gaudens, Haute-Garonne, France, is a celebrated former rugby player and coach. Standing at 1.69 meters and weighing 70 kilograms, Berbizier is best known for his role as a scrum-half. He made his professional debut in 1976 with FC Lourdes and retired in 1991 with SU Agen.
Teams and Years Played
- FC Lourdes (1976-1985)
- SU Agen (1985-1991)
International Caps
Berbizier was called up to the French national team, Les Bleus, in 1981 and played for a decade until 1991. He earned 56 caps during his international career.
Career Highlights
- Club Career: Pierre Berbizier debuted in the first team of FC Lourdes at the age of 18. In 1985, he transferred to Sporting Union Agen, where he won the league in 1988 and concluded his playing career in May 1991.
- World Cup Participation: Berbizier participated in the 1987 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. He was part of a strong French squad that made it to the finals. France performed exceptionally well throughout the tournament, winning their group and defeating Fiji in the quarter-finals and Australia in the semi-finals. They ultimately finished as runners-up, losing to New Zealand in the final. Berbizier scored the only try for France in the final.
- Coaching Career: After retiring as a player, Berbizier transitioned to coaching. He was appointed the coach of the French national team after the 1991 World Cup and led the team until the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, where France secured third place. His tenure included a notable victory against England after four years.
In 1998, Berbizier embraced the professional era of rugby by coaching Rugby Club Narbonne for three seasons. In 2005, he took on the role of head coach for the Italian national team, a position he held until the 2007 World Cup in France. Although Italy was eliminated in the group stage, Berbizier’s influence was significant.
His final coaching position was with Racing Métro 92, where he served for five seasons until his retirement in 2012. During his last season, he hired Gonzalo Quesada as the kicking coach. In 2017, he joined Aviron Bayonnais.
Conclusion
Pierre Berbizier’s contributions to rugby, both as a player and a coach, have left an indelible mark on the sport. His strategic mind and leadership qualities have inspired many in the rugby community, cementing his legacy as one of the greats in rugby history.