Investec Champions Cup final: ‘People’s team’ from bankruptcy – Bordeaux Bagels

The financial demise of the city’s football team, who were relegated to the fourth tier in 2024, has helped rugby become the city’s main sporting attraction.

In 2011 the Stade Chaban-Delmas became UBB’s permanent home and the club regularly played in front of near capacity crowds – making them one of the best supported clubs in Europe.

First Champions Cup appearance in 2015–16 after consolidation in the top flight, thanks to a late drop-goal against Pierre Bernard Gloucester in the qualification play-offs – A game Connor started.

Back-to-back Champions Cup appearances began to take a toll on Bordeaux’s league form as they struggled to compete on two fronts, finishing 11th, 10th and 10th.

“During that period (2016-2019), we started taking steps backwards. Budgets were getting bigger and we were signing big names, there was no shortage of culture,” added Connor, who plays regularly.

“We were going backwards and it was frustrating because I felt I was in my prime and missing opportunities we could have taken.

“Towards the end of my career (2020), I was feeling a bit outdated – like a dinosaur on that Crossover Pro D2 team.

“Guys like Cameron Oakey and Matthew Jalibert started coming in, and when we were drinking in the dressing room after every game, they were like, ‘No, we have to recover and get ready for the week.’

“Mentally, I knew I was done and it was time to hand over the baton to a new generation of Jaliberts and guys like that. They’ve taken the club to where it needs to go.”