Bordeaux Bègles lock says Champions Cup holders are primed for Sunday’s clash of cultures against Bath
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here are in truth few Bordeaux Bègles players better qualified to explain just how it feels to be in the eye of the storm with European rugby’s newest force quite like Adam Coleman. Three years ago their paths collided in almost perfect timing, with Bordeaux mid-table and Coleman unceremoniously dropped into rugby purgatory.
Coleman’s career looked to be over when London Irish went out of business in the summer of 2023 before a move to France with Bordeaux. It has proven to be an inspired decision for both parties, with Coleman playing a pivotal role in UBB’s rise to the top of the club game, culminating in their Champions Cup final triumph over Northampton last year.
As a dual-international with both the Wallabies and Tonga, as well as experiencing rugby in almost all corners of the sport’s geographical footprint, Coleman is used to the unconventional. So being one of the few non-French speakers in the Bordeaux squad will hardly feel too challenging: and it is something the 34-year-old lock has taken in his stride to give his career fresh impetus.
