Bordeaux-Begles finally at the big boys' table says skipper

REACTION: Bordeaux-Begles captain Maxime Lucu said on Saturday they have joined the “big boys” of club rugby after lifting their first Champions Cup with a breathless 28-20 win over Northampton Saints.

The victory in Cardiff came 11 months on from their first major Final, when they were hammered 3-59 to Toulouse in the Top 14.

“We’ve wanted to sit at the big boys’ table for two years now,” scrumhalf Lucu told reporters.

“Last year we failed, this year we’ve put a star on the shirt,” he added.

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Bordeaux-Begles were only founded in 2006 after a merger of two clubs and featured in the top-tier of continental rugby for the first time in 2015.

They also moved into the 32,000-capacity Stade Chaban-Delmas and have become the club in Europe with the highest average crowd.

“The title validates the work done by the club around 10 years,” head coach Yannick Bru said.

“Bordeaux-Begles are on a positive journey, we’ve gone from being a start-up to and outsider and now we’re credible outsiders,” the former France hooker added.

‘Limelight’

Bru’s outfit have been fuelled by some superb individual performances by the likes of flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert and clinical winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud.

Penaud crossed twice in the final and was named Champions Cup player of the season having taken his tally to a record 14 tries in the campaign.

“It’s hard to focus on one person because he finishes off moves,” Bru said.

“Damian and Loulou are adorable guys.

“It also embarrasses me to put the limelight on them and make them superstars.

“Bordeaux-Begles are lucky to have guys like that,” he added.

Bordeaux-Begles became the 14th side to win the trophy since its inception in 1995.