Roland BERTRANNE

Biog of Roland BERTRANNE :

Roland Bertranne is the highest-ranked pre-1980s player to appear in the list of France’s most capped players. This in itself is already a record; however, Bertranne, who was selected 69 times between 1971 and 1981, held other records during his career and still retains one today: for the number of consecutive appearances in a French shirt (46 from 1973 to 1979). Even Sella, with 111 caps, could not do better (45).

Sella, moreover, says of Bertranne “Roland is a legend”… and with good reason! Bertranne played in the centre for France before Sella and did so for eight consecutive years. A product of the Stade Bagnérais rugby school, he flattened anyone who came his way – this was rare at the time - but he also knew how to play tactically, scoring 17 tries at international level. “He was nicknamed the angry little bull because of his tremendous speed and ability to react rapidly”, adds Sella. “Anyone who tried to take him around the shoulders just bounced off. I first saw Roland on television in 1979 in the semi-final victory against Agen in the Championship. I only played against him once, in 1981, at the legendary Bagnères-de-Bigorre ground where, along with Roland, other glamorous players such as Jean-Michel Aguirre and Jean-François Gourdon rose to fame”.

1981, like 1979 and 1977, were great years for Bertranne. He won two Grand Slams with France (1977 and 1981) and captained Stade Bagnérais to two French Championship finals (1979 defeat against Narbonne and the 1981 defeat against Béziers). For the 1977 Grand Slam, the same 15 players were used for the entire four-match campaign. Bertranne partnered François Sangalli from Narbonne in the centre and did so for a total of 15 matches between 1975 and 1977. Sangalli was Bertranne’s first regular partner, and the one he played with the longest. Until 1974 Bertranne had mostly played on the wing alongside such illustrious fullbacks as Pierre Villepreux, and his club mate, Jean-Michel Aguirre. From 1971 to 1974, the centres Jo Maso, Jean Trillo, Claude Dourthe and Jean-Pierre Lux, were also regular members of the backline. After 1977, Christian Bélascain and the “Little Prince” Didier Codorniou were Bertranne’s two principal partners in the centre (for 10 matches and 8 matches respectfully, the latter notably during the 1981 Grand Slam).

In 1981, Roland Bertranne established two new records. First he became, along with Jean-Pierre Rives and Robert Paparemborde, one of only three Frenchmen to have won two Grand Slams. Next he overtook the great Benoît Dauga’s appearance record (63), a number Bertranne would eventually extend to 69. His record stood until 1989 when Blanco, whose debut on the wing Bertranne witnessed in 1980, overtook him.

Today, Bertranne is an elected member of the Armagnac-Bigorre rugby committee.