Serge Betsen 1874849 219307670 2008-06-14T16:27:53Z 86.134.76.139 Change of club {{Rugger | name = Serge Betsen | image = | caption = | birthname = Serge Betsen Tchoua | nickname = ''La faucheuse'' | dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1974|3|25|df=yes}} | placeofbirth = [[Kumba]], [[Cameroon]] | dateofdeath = | placeofdeath = | height = {{height|m=1.83}} | weight = 98 kg (15 st 6) | ru_currentclub = [[Biarritz Olympique]] | ru_position = {{Flanker|capital=yes}} | ru_amateuryears = 1985-1996 | ru_amateurclubs = [[CS Clichy]] | ru_amupdate = 7 August 2006 | ru_nationalteam = {{nrut|France}} | ru_nationalyears = 1997-2007 | ru_nationalcaps = 63 | ru_nationalpoints =(45) | ru_ntupdate = 7 August 2006 | ru_clubyears = 1996-2008 2008- | ru_proclubs = [[Biarritz Olympique]] [[London Wasps]] | ru_clubpoints = | ru_clubcaps = | ru_clubupdate = 7 August 2006 | other = yes | occupation = Professional Rugby Footballer; Owner of the Kemana spa in Biarritz | spouse = | children = | relatives = | school = | university = | url = http://www.sergebetsen.com }} '''Serge Betsen Tchoua''' (born [[25 March]] [[1974]] in [[Kumba]], [[Cameroon]]) is a [[France|French]] [[rugby union]] footballer who plays as a {{Flanker}} for [[London Wasps]] at club level and formerly for {{nrut|France}} internationally. He is generally considered to be one of the top flankers of the professional era (post-1995) of rugby union. ==Career== Betsen moved to France with his parents when he was nine, and played for Biarritz since he was 17. Unlike many flankers, he plays on both sides of the scrum with equal vigor. He is also regarded as one of the strongest tacklers in the game, and is renowned for his high work-rate on the field. Betsen made his first appearance for France in 1997, as a replacement against {{nrut|Italy}}, but did not receive his second call-up until the [[2000 Six Nations Championship]]. Thereafter he became a regular starter in the national team. Nicknamed ''la Faucheuse'' (''the Grim Reaper''), Betsen's finest moment came during the [[2002 Six Nations Championship]], in the match against {{nrut|England}}, when his relentless man-marking of [[Jonny Wilkinson]] eventually resulted in the {{fly-half}}'s replacement and paved the way for a 20&ndash;15 victory. Later, England's coach, [[Clive Woodward]], said of Betsen: "“He is the only player that I can say was the single-handed reason we lost a match." <ref name="Barnes">{{cite news | last=Barnes | first=Stuart | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/article3216345.ece | title=Master of mayhem Serge Betsen will be sorely missed | date=[[20 January]] [[2008]] | publisher=Times Online}}</ref> France went on to win the [[Grand Slam (rugby union)|Grand Slam]] <ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3052709,00.html | title=Betsen confirms his retirement | date=[[16 January]] [[2008]] | publisher=Planet-Rugby.com}}</ref> and Betsen was named France's International Player of the Year. He was an automatic selection for the [[2003 Rugby World Cup]] and scored France's only try in the semi-final loss to England, but he was cited for kicking {{scrum-half}} [[Matt Dawson]] and was subsequently banned for six weeks. In 2005 he was cited following an incident during Biarritz's [[Heineken Cup]] match against [[London Wasps]] in which Wasps {{Rugbycentre}} [[Stuart Abbott]] suffered a broken leg; the complaint was dismissed after a disciplinary hearing found that "the trip, while intentional, was not premeditated" and had happened "in the heat of the moment". <ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2005/02/10/1299714.htm | title=Betsen free to play against England | date=[[10 February]] [[2005]] | publisher=ABC News}}</ref> Betsen was renowned as a fearless tackler, <ref name="Barnes" /> but with increasing age he started to pick up more frequent injuries and he missed the 2005 [[Autumn internationals]] after fracturing his cheekbone in a match against [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]. Despite this, he continues to be a formidable tackler: in the [[2007 Six Nations Championship]], which France won, he completed 56 tackles, 12 more than any other player in the tournament. Toward the end of the 2005 season, Betsen held talks with [[Guinness Premiership|English]] club [[Leicester Tigers]] about a possible move from France, but in the end he decided to stay at Biarritz and signed a new three-year contract. On 16 January 2008 Betsen announced that he would be retiring from club rugby at the end of the 2007&ndash;08 season, when his contract with Biarritz ends, and was retiring from international rugby with immediate effect. <ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7188528.stm | title=Betsen calls time on France duty | date=17 January 2008 | publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>. On 11 May 2008, it was revealed that reports of his retirement were premature. He is to sign for [[London Wasps]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article3908583.ece | title=Sackey worry for Wasps | date=11 May 2007 | publisher=Times Online}}</ref><ref name="Wasps sign French ace">{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12321_3596348,00.html|title=Wasps sign French ace|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2008-05-22|accessdate=2008-05-22}}</ref> Amongst some supporters this has [http://www.wasps.co.uk/bbsview.ink?topicid=802758&st=0&view=S&board=1&storytype= caused consternation] given his previous history with the club, including being cited in 2005 by Wasps following the breaking of [[Stuart Abbott]]'s leg<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/wasps-cite-betsen-over-abbotts-fractured-leg-487115.html | title=Wasps cite Betsen over Abbott's fractured leg | date = 12 May 2008 | publisher=The Independent}}</ref>. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *{{fr icon}} [http://www.sergebetsen.com Official site] *[http://sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1611 List of caps, 1997-2002] *[http://sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1612 List of caps, 2003] *[http://sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=2031 List of caps, 2004-present] {{France Squad 2007 World Cup}} {{France Squad 2003 World Cup}} {{Biarritz Olympique squad}} [[Category:1974 births|Betsen, Serge]] [[Category:French people of Cameroonian descent|Betsen, Serge]] [[Category:French rugby union footballers|Betsen, Serge]] [[Category:Living people|Betsen, Serge]] [[Category:Rugby union flankers|Betsen, Serge]] [[Category:Biarritz Olympique players]] [[br:Serge Betsen]] [[fr:Serge Betsen]] [[it:Serge Betsen]] [[ja:セルジュ・ベッツェン]]