• François Trinh-Duc has decided to offer himself a last adventure by signing this season at Union Bordeaux-Bègles

  • The opener has found his lifelong friend Louis Picamoles and since the takeover has discovered a club that suits him well.

  • He will bring all his experience to a group and in particular support Matthieu Jalibert as the opening half.

He is there every morning from 8 am to make the video according to Christophe Urios. "Others do not, especially at his post," adds the manager of Union Bordeaux-Bègles in passing about François Trinh-Duc as if to send a small spade to his other forerunners including his nugget Matthieu Jalibert. Of course, this is only a detail, but it proves to what extent the former racingman did not join his lifelong friend Louis Picamoles to experience a peaceful early retirement in the Arcachon basin.

Moreover, he can count on his coach to remind him that before talking about "pleasure" as he repeats it a lot, he was recruited "to play rugby" with the UBB.

“I feel good since my arrival, I continue to take my marks in a very good atmosphere.

It's a last great challenge for me, I want to have a lot of fun ”.

At 34, the man with 66 selections with the XV of France "shoots these last cartridges" as Christophe Urios emphasizes.

Even if a second season is not excluded today, FTD has only signed for one year with the Gironde club for the moment.

A role of guide with Matthieu Jalibert

Passed by Montpellier, Toulon and Racing 92, the one who had been voted best player of the Top 14 in 2011 will find a club on a size, perhaps, more human with the UBB. “I come to a club that is growing every season. From the outside, we have the image of a team that does not have stars at all levels but which plays very well together with great collective strength. I find it very good not to be dependent on 2 or 3 players, ”he explains about his new club. His personality, "very humble and a lot in sharing" as described by his manager, seems to fit perfectly with the Union Bordeaux-Bègles.

On the ground, François Trinh-Duc will have a bit of the same role as in Racing. As with Finn Russell for the Ile-de-France residents, he will be a luxury understudy for the UBB behind Matthieu Jalibert. The latter is often retained by the XV of France, whether in the fall for the tour or in the spring for the Six Nations Tournament. He will play a big brother role with the young and talented Bordeaux opening half, even if he doesn't really like this qualifier: “I don't know if that's the right word. But yes I will try to accompany them (with the very young Matteo Garcia). Try to save them time with some advice. Passing on, I like that ”.

“It was not always easy for François, especially in the French team, recalls Urios, he lived through difficult times.

On that side, he can bring things to Matthew ”.

Like Louis Picamoles, the boss of Union Bordeaux-Bègles also expects a lot from the collective experience of a player like Trinh-Duc to reach a new level when his team stumbled three times in the semi-finals last season.

The goal is to do just as well this season, if not better.

And with François Trinh-Duc in charge, that can only be an additional asset ...

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  • Aquitaine

  • Bordeaux

  • UBB

  • Louis picamoles

  • Francois trinh duc

  • XV of France

  • Rugby

  • Top 14