Investec Champions Cup final: From bankruptcy to ‘people’s team’ – Bordeaux Begles

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.

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

Consolidation in the top flight was followed by a first Champions Cup appearance in 2015-16, thanks to Pierre Bernard’s late drop-goal against Gloucester in a qualification play-off – 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. The budget was getting bigger and we were signing bigger names, the culture was not gelling,” added Connor, who played regularly.

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

“Near the end of my career [2020], I felt a bit outdated – like a dinosaur from that crossover Pro D2 team.

“Guys like Cameron Woki and Matthieu Jalibert were starting to come through, and while we used to drink in the dressing room after every game, they were like, ‘No, we need to recover and get ready for the week.’

“Mentally, I knew I was done and it was time to hand over the baton to the new generation of Jalibert and those sort of guys. They took the club where it needed to go.”