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Report: Louis Picamoles to join Bordeaux Begles

01 Feb 2021

Louis Picamoles /Getty

Veteran French No.8 Louis Picamoles will leave Montpellier at the end of the season to link up with high-flying Bordeaux Begles, it is being widely reported in France.

According to French media, Picamoles understood that Montpellier were not particularly eager to keep on the back row at the end of the season, leaving the 34-year-old searching for a new challenge in the autumn of his career.

Bordeaux are set to lose back rows Marco Tauleigne and Beka Gorgodze, and head coach Christophe Urios was looking for a high-quality replacement, and Picamoles is certainly that.

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Picamoles made 82 Test appearances in an on-off relationship with various French head coaches over the span of 11 years between 2008 and 2019. The 6’4, 116kg Parisian started his professional career in the MHR academy before becoming a talisman for the Toulouse packs of the early to mid-noughties.

He signed for Northampton Saints in 2016, and despite performing well for the English side, was bought out of his contract by Montpellier in 2017, and he departed mid-season.

His signing also effectively ends the link between Bordeaux and Munster No.8 CJ Stander. Stander had been linked to the Top 14 outfit, but were said to have gone cold on the Munsterman who – according to the French press – wanted too much money.

The Ireland stalwart is currently negotiating his contract with the IRFU.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Tom 13 minutes ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

George was an absolute super sub in the 6N. Felt for sure he had cemented his place but Faz obviously knows Kelleher well and he's a great player in his own right. Neither are likely test starters so who'd you rather having coming on at the death? I'd take the man with a hundred caps and arrows like William Tell.

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DH 14 minutes ago

Red Bull to give Newcastle Falcons wings

Hopefully the North East has a rich rugby history

1 Go to comments

Tom 17 minutes ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

Lawes would have gone for sure if he was still in the UK. Fair play to big Faz he's decided to avoid les joueurs en France y compris son fils et monsieur Willis du granit rose… and if he's not taking either of them there was no way he was taking someone playing D2. Plenty of excellent tens and backrow playing at home, Kinghorn was unavoidable. Lawes would have added a lot though and given a point of difference.

69 Go to comments

NB 44 minutes ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

I think the first theory makes more sense than the second Ed - boltholes for the likes of Doris and maybe Owen!

69 Go to comments

NB 47 minutes ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

That doesn’t make them the better team though, since they patently weren’t but it did provide a necessary confidence boost

You’re ansering your own question there Ed. Confidence does make a team and the ppl in it better. It creates room to explore more of your potential.

69 Go to comments

NB 48 minutes ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

No worries.👍

69 Go to comments

NB 49 minutes ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

More point of diff than ay of those bar Jack Willis, which is why I would have both!

69 Go to comments

RR 51 minutes ago

Farrell puts his reputation on the line knowing tougher challenges lie ahead

One thing not getting much mention- 5 backs selected who I don’t think have a British or Irish passport. Residential qualification may be acceptable for individual countries , but not for the British Lions. Darcy Graham is a genuine man from Hawick. The winger picked before him is a South African, who will almost certainly return ‘home’ when he stops playing.

Surely Farrell could pick a fine winning Lions team made up of genuine Brits. It should be made a requirement. Re residency, imagine another Sella playing in England and qualifying to play against France. There would be outrage in France!

8 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

Agree but look at AWJ, who was out then back, albeit by sidestepping surgery. I can’t recall a Lions squad being announced with open slots previously so there is clearly something afoot!

If it’s not OF/CD then the only other reason I’ve come up with is that AF sees certain players as a ‘dual risk’, i.e. it would need two to replace them, so players such as Marcus or Tadgh?

It would not surprise me at all if these places were ultimately there for OF & CD though, one is his son and the other will be his WC captain. There are no greater vested interests for a coach…

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BH 1 hour ago

Chiefs make championship statement in Christchurch heavyweight bout

Clinical and surgical performance by the Chiefs in the home of the champion dynasty. What a brilliant game. Crusaders were great in the first half with excellent defence and strategy, and the Chiefs absolutely steamrolled the second half.

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Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

The two points are true but not necessarily connected. The law of averages says England were due to catch a break and vs France and Scotland, they really did. That doesn’t make them the better team though, since they patently weren’t but it did provide a necessary confidence boost and this was clear when they kicked on vs the teams that finished 5th and 6th overall.

69 Go to comments

Andrew Nichols 1 hour ago

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Even as a Chiefs fan..that surprised me after last week. The forwards just muscled up big time in the second half and really dominated a whole bunch of ABs.Also I think the Saders were really unnerved losing Jordan.