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Champions Cup stars suffer travel hitch ahead of big showdown

Bordeaux-Begles' French flanker Cameron Woki (back) is congratulated by Bordeaux-Begles' French wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey (C) during to the French Top14 rugby union match between Union Bordeaux Begles (UBB) and Lyon Olympique Universitaire (LOU) at the Chaban-Delmas stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern France, on October 3, 2026. (Photo by Philippe Lopez / AFP via Getty Images)

NEWS: Four Bordeaux-Begles players, including France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, were denied entry into the UK and stranded at Bristol Airport due to an administrative issue on the eve of their Champions Cup opener, a club source told AFP.

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Bielle-Biarrey, loose forward Romain Gardrat, loosehead prop Matis Perchaud and Tonga international tighthead prop Toma Taufa were unable to leave Bristol Airport and travel with the rest of the squad to the team’s hotel near Gloucester.

Bordeaux-Bègles are set to begin their bid for a record-equalling third straight Champions Cup away to Gloucester on Friday.

The five members of the travelling party, including a fitness coach, were found not to have valid Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) permits, which are required for entry into the UK.

According to the source, their ETAs were linked to previous passports that had since been renewed this year, with no new authorisations obtained.

The club sought help from the French embassy in London in a bid to resolve the issue, which was eventually cleared up, allowing the players to rejoin the rest of the team.

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