Sella
Philippe Sella is a giant of French rugby and one of the greatest centres to ever play the game.
Philippe Sella Bio
Philippe Sella was a powerful and quick centre who had an impressive knack for scoring important tries. A giant for Agen and the French national team, he’s widely regarded as one of the greatest centres to ever play the game. Philippe Sella was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.
Born 14 February 1962, Philippe Sella began playing rugby league in Tonneins. However, he joined Agen in 1982, where he stayed for the majority of his career. Between 1982 and 1995, he was a stalwart for the side and he helped guide them to several honours, including two French Championships and two Challenge Yves du Manoir titles.
In 1996, Philippe Sella then joined Saracens alongside Michael Lynagh. An up-and-coming club at the time, the presence of Philippe Sella alone was enough to convince other players to join the project. Although he only stayed with the club until 1998, he had an immediate impact, helping the side finish as runners-up in the Premiership and helping them capture the Anglo-Welsh Cup in the 1997-98 season.
As well as enjoying an impressive domestic career, Philippe Sella was also a force on the international stage. Between 1982 and 1995, he was capped 111 times by France, which was a world record at the time of his retirement. He was also one of only five players to score a try in every game of a Five Nations Championship tournament.
After retiring from the game in 1998, Philippe Sella has returned to France with his family. Since, he has become a regular face on French TV, where he works as a pundit. He’s also been inducted into both the International Rugby Hall of Fame and the IRB Hall of Fame.
