Serge
Betsen

Serge Betsen was a hard-hitting flanker who represented France, Biarritz and London Wasps.

Serge Betsen Bio

Serge Betsen was a giant of French rugby who represented the national team 63 times. A formidable flanker, his tackles were so fearsome that he gained the nickname ‘the grim reaper’. Serge Betsen was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.

Although he was born in Cameroon, Serge Betsen moved to France when he was nine. Soon after, he began playing rugby for Club Sportif de Clichy. Here, he rose through the ranks quickly. As a result, he was signed by French giants Biarritz when he was just 17.

Between 1996 and 2008, Serge Betsen represented Biarritz a whopping 172 times. During this time, he helped the club win the French Championship three times (2002, 2005 and 2006). Plus, he finished as a runner-up in the Heineken Champions Cup (2006).

In 2008, Serge Betsen announced that he was leaving Biarritz in order to sign for London Wasps. He then stayed with the side until he announced his retirement from all forms of rugby at his ‘Jubilee’ game in Biarritz in 2012.

In addition to this, between 1997 and 2007, Serge Betsen represented France 63 times. But, although he made his debut for Les Bleus in 1997, he had to wait another three years for his second cap.

However, by the early 2000s, Serge Betsen had become a regular for the side. In 2002, he was an integral part of the French team that won the Six Nations Championship Grand Slam. A year later, he scored France's only try in the Rugby World Cup semi-final loss to England. Following a successful career with France, he retired from international rugby in 2008.

Since retiring from rugby, Serge Betsen has stayed connected to the game. Immediately upon retiring, he moved into coaching with London Scottish. Since, he’s established several academies and charitable foundations that are connected to the game.