Philippe Bernat-Salles
Encyclopedia
Philippe Bernat-Salles is a retired French
Rugby Union
player, usually playing as a wing. His main skill was a blinding speed, while he was also visually striking due to his unruly mop of gray hair.
In 1987, while working as an apprentice electrician, Bernat-Salles joined the high-level club closest to where he lived, Pau
, where he gained his first international caps and remained until 1996, at the start of the professional era, when he moved to Bordeaux-Bègles
.
After one season at Bordeaux, Bernat-Salles moved back to Pau. Again after one year, he joined Biarritz
, where he remained for seven seasons.
In 2005, after it had been announced that he would join the ambitious second division
side Tarbes
, Bernat-Salles surprised everybody by joining lowly US Capbreton
in Fédérale 3
(that is, the fifth division of French rugby). In 2006-07, finally, while acting as US Capbreton's backs coach, he was a part of Tarbes's roster alongside his old Pau and France teammate Philippe Carbonneau
, but ended the season having played only one first XV game and retired from active rugby.
on November 14, 1992 against Argentina
.
Although he was not considered during the 1993 Five Nations Championship
, he went on to win his next six caps in the following summer and autumn tours. He played only one game (against Ireland
) in 1994 and two in 1995, and was not considered for that year's World Cup
. Again in 1996 he was selected only once, while in 1997 he was ignored for the Five Nations but played three games in the summer tour to Romania
and Australia
.
In 1998 he finally became a constant feature of the French XV, scoring in the process the first try ever scored at the Stade de France
. He maintained his position in 1999, being selected for the World Cup
where he played five games, including the historical semifinal win against New Zealand, in which he scored a try and the final against Australia
.
He then played four internationals in 2000 (two in the Six Nations
and two, against New Zealand, during the summer tests) and concluded his international career in 2001, when he won his last five caps.
His final international tally is of 41 caps with 26 tries, summing up to 130 points scored.
as a consultant and sometimes commentator
, he owns a camping site in Labenne
-Ocean.
He had planned to compete in the 2008 Dakar Rally
alongside Gilles Lafeuillade on a Bowler
, but the race was canceled at the eleventh hour due to the fear of a terrorist attack.
Bernat-Salles competed in the 2009 edition of the race
, again alongside Lafeuillade and on a Bowler, in the Équipe Team 100% Sud Ouest, ending the race in 73rd place.
In June 2010, Bernat-Salles has been elected President of the French Handball
National League (Ligue Nationale de Handball
).
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player, usually playing as a wing. His main skill was a blinding speed, while he was also visually striking due to his unruly mop of gray hair.
Club career
Bernat-Salles went through the youth teams of Bizanos before joining AS Idron-Lee, in which first XV he debuted at the age of 16.In 1987, while working as an apprentice electrician, Bernat-Salles joined the high-level club closest to where he lived, Pau
Section Paloise
Section Paloise is a French rugby union club from Pau in Pyrénées-Atlantiques currently competing in Rugby Pro D2, the second level of the French league system.-History:...
, where he gained his first international caps and remained until 1996, at the start of the professional era, when he moved to Bordeaux-Bègles
CA Bordeaux-Bègles Gironde
Club Athlétique Bordeaux-Bègles Gironde are a French multisports club, established in 1907, based in Bègles, in the southern suburbs of Bordeaux. Their rugby union section, Union Bordeaux Bègles is their flagship...
.
After one season at Bordeaux, Bernat-Salles moved back to Pau. Again after one year, he joined Biarritz
Biarritz Olympique
Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup...
, where he remained for seven seasons.
In 2005, after it had been announced that he would join the ambitious second division
Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second level of domestic club rugby union in France, below the first division, Top 14. The competition was introduced in 2000. There is relegation and promotion between both the Top 14 and Fédérale 1, the third-level competition...
side Tarbes
Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby
Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby is a French rugby union team that currently takes part in Pro D2, the second level of the country's professional league system....
, Bernat-Salles surprised everybody by joining lowly US Capbreton
Capbreton
Capbreton is a commune of around 7500 inhabitants in the Landes department in Aquitaine in south-western France. Located at the mouth of the Boudigau and Bourret rivers, the town is situated about 40 km to the north of Biarritz.The town is a popular holiday destination for sailers, surfers,...
in Fédérale 3
Fédérale 3
Fédérale 3 is the fifth division of rugby union in France. The competition involves 226 clubs in 21 pools of 8, and winners can progress up into higher division of competition. The competition above Fédérale 3 is Fédérale 2 and above that, Fédérale 1...
(that is, the fifth division of French rugby). In 2006-07, finally, while acting as US Capbreton's backs coach, he was a part of Tarbes's roster alongside his old Pau and France teammate Philippe Carbonneau
Philippe Carbonneau
Philippe Carbonneau is a retired French rugby player.He was a utility back.His usual positions were Scrum-half and fly-half, although he started his career as a centre ....
, but ended the season having played only one first XV game and retired from active rugby.
International career
Bernat-Salles won his first cap for the French national teamFrance national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
on November 14, 1992 against Argentina
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
.
Although he was not considered during the 1993 Five Nations Championship
1993 Five Nations Championship
The 1993 Five Nations Championship was the 64th series of the Five Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition between the major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams. The tournament consisted of ten matches held between 16 January and 22 March 1993.The tournament was the 64th...
, he went on to win his next six caps in the following summer and autumn tours. He played only one game (against Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
) in 1994 and two in 1995, and was not considered for that year's World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
. Again in 1996 he was selected only once, while in 1997 he was ignored for the Five Nations but played three games in the summer tour to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
In 1998 he finally became a constant feature of the French XV, scoring in the process the first try ever scored at the Stade de France
Stade de France
The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for...
. He maintained his position in 1999, being selected for the World Cup
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
where he played five games, including the historical semifinal win against New Zealand, in which he scored a try and the final against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
.
He then played four internationals in 2000 (two in the Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
and two, against New Zealand, during the summer tests) and concluded his international career in 2001, when he won his last five caps.
His final international tally is of 41 caps with 26 tries, summing up to 130 points scored.
Outside of rugby
Before starting his professional career, Philippe Bernat-Salles worked as an electrician. After his retirement, besides working for Canal+Canal+
Canal+ is a French premium pay television channel launched in 1984. It is 80% owned by the Canal+ Group, which in turn is owned by Vivendi SA. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming, mostly encrypted...
as a consultant and sometimes commentator
Sports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
, he owns a camping site in Labenne
Labenne
Labenne is a commune in the Landes department in Aquitaine in south-western France....
-Ocean.
He had planned to compete in the 2008 Dakar Rally
2008 Dakar Rally
The 2008 Dakar Rally would have been the 30th running of the annual off-road race. The rally was to start in Lisbon, Portugal on 5 January 2008, running through Europe and Africa until the finish in Dakar, Senegal on 20 January...
alongside Gilles Lafeuillade on a Bowler
Bowler Offroad
Bowler Off Road is the manufacturer of off road racing vehicles based on the Land Rover Defender and Range Rover chassis. The company is located in the village of Hazelwood, Derbyshire, in the United Kingdom....
, but the race was canceled at the eleventh hour due to the fear of a terrorist attack.
Bernat-Salles competed in the 2009 edition of the race
2009 Dakar Rally
The 2009 Dakar Rally was the 30th running of the Dakar Rally. In addition to motorcycle, automobile, and truck categories, a separate quad class was added for the first time. The race began on January 3, 2009, and took place across Argentina and Chile...
, again alongside Lafeuillade and on a Bowler, in the Équipe Team 100% Sud Ouest, ending the race in 73rd place.
In June 2010, Bernat-Salles has been elected President of the French Handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
National League (Ligue Nationale de Handball
Ligue Nationale de Handball
The French National Handball League is the name of the national professional handball league system of France. It is divided into two divisions:-Men's:*LNH Division 1*LNH Division 2-Women's:*LNH Division 1*LNH Division 2-President:...
).