European Cup record

Bordeaux first featured in the European Cup in its inaugural season in 1995-96 but didn’t return to the elite continental competition until 2015-16, when they exited at the pool stage after finishing runners-up behind Exeter Chiefs. They suffered the same fate the following year, this time ending up second to ASM Clermont Auvergne. A semi-final appearance last season was their best showing in the tournament so far.

Last season

A 16-12 win at Northampton Saints and a 47-8 victory at home to Dragons saw Bordeaux progress to the knockout stage, before they triumphed 36-17 over Bristol Bears in the Round of 16 at Stade Chaban-Delmas. They reached the last four after a 24-21 win, also at home, against Racing 92 but went down 21-9 at eventual champions Stade Toulousain.

Head coach

Christophe Urios took the reins at Bordeaux in 2019, guiding the club to the Challenge Cup semi-finals in 2020 before last season’s Heineken Champions Cup last four appearance. He had previously taken Castres Olympique – for whom he played as a hooker between 1990 and 1999 - to the TOP 14 title in 2018.

Key players

France prop Jefferson Poirot and South African lock Jandré Marais are two experienced heads in the Bordeaux pack - as are back-row forwards Louis Picamoles, a summer signing from Montpellier Hérault Rugby, and Cameron Woki. The backs are spearheaded by the versatile trio of Matthieu Jalibert, François Trinh-Duc and UJ Seuteni, while Argentinian international Santiago Cordero is a threat on the wing.

Pool fixtures

Bordeaux kick off their Pool B campaign at home to Leicester Tigers on December 11 before visiting Scarlets in Round 2 on December 19. They then host the United Rugby Championship outfit on January 16 before travelling to Leicester for their final pool stage game on January 22.

Union Bordeaux-Bègles are the next team on the agenda as we continue our previews of this season’s Heineken Champions Cup contenders.