Sébastien Viars

Who is Sébastien Viars?

Sébastien Viars is a former French rugby union footballer. He was nicknamed "The Compass". He played as a centre and as a wing.

Viars was born at Aurillac. He played at Stade Aurillacois, CA Brive, where he won the Cup of France, in 1995/96, Stade français Paris, winning once more the Cup of France, and ASM Clermont, where he would finish his career. He won the Heineken Cup, in 1997, with CA Brive, scoring an anthological try in the 28–9 win over Leicester Tigers, from England.

Even in a short international career, he's usually considered one of the best French players of his generation. Viars held 17 caps for France, from 1992 to 1997, scoring 9 tries, 17 penalties and 17 conversions, 127 points in aggregate. He played two times at the Five Nations, in 1992 and 1995, scoring 4 tries, 6 conversions and 4 penalties, 41 points in aggregate. He scored a record of 21 points, 2 tries, 5 conversions and 2 penalties, in the 44-12 win over Ireland, at 21 March 1992. He was also one of the top try scorers of the competition with 3 tries.

Viars was selected for the 1995 Rugby World Cup finals, playing a single game, in the 54–18 win over Côte d'Ivoire and scoring a try.