Union Bordeaux-Bègles faces Montpellier this Saturday (9 p.m.) in the semi-final of the Top 14.
Author of a huge performance in the play-off against Racing, Maxime Lucu continues to grow, on and off the field, at 29 years old.
Today, he gives more than reason to Fabien Galthié to trust him as Antoine Dupont's understudy with the XV of France.
This is the story of a player who could never have worn the Union Bordeaux-Bègles jersey to finally become the boss three years later.
The story of a player who chained Pro D2 matches in a certain anonymity until 2019 before becoming the number 2 of the XV of France as a scrum half behind the best player in the world, Antoine Dupont.
This story is of course that of Maxime Lucu.
The Basque has indeed been living a real “waking dream” in recent seasons, as he says himself.
A dream that the former captain of Biarritz Olympique could never have lived.
The fault of a certain… Christophe Urios.
It was the UBB manager who confided this week before the Top 14 semi-final against Montpellier this Saturday in Nice: "When I signed for Bordeaux in November [2018], I asked to the president if Maxime Lucu had already signed his contract.
I didn't want it.
I didn't like the way he played, I thought he lacked speed.
But Laurent [Marti] replied that it was already signed.
“Conclusion of the boss of the Union:
Today, I probably would have done the biggest bullshit of my career if I could not have brought him!
»
A player who is very rarely missed
Today, Christophe Urios even hints that his scrum half could be his captain next season.
It must be said that the man from Saint-Jean-de-Luz has become an indispensable element of the UBB.
On the ground where Maxime Lucu, a real "transmission belt" according to his manager, continues with very high level performances like his XXL match against Racing in the play-off.
“He was excellent on the initiatives even if it is not his first quality.
Then he was very strong on his kicking game.
Defensively, he rarely finds a hole.
I don't know if it's a summit for him because I have often seen him in the summits and rarely in the hills”, continues Urios.
To the point of having the right to a standing ovation at its exit.
A very strong moment for those who maintain a relationship particularly with the public.
“I use him a lot during the matches [with furious punches], he admits.
These are things that are good to see these atmospheres.
Well, sometimes I do a little too much.
(
smiles
) “At 29, Maxime Lucu is one of his players who took a long time to get their career off the ground and who today are hungry for titles, with the UBB and the XV of France.
“A leader by example”
But if the Basque has taken on a new dimension this season, it is above all for his contribution outside the field, like last week.
"We weren't well.
Everyone was upside down.
But we managed to tighten up via Max Lucu, François Trinh-Duc who took things in hand.
They took over the group.
They organized the week, the videos, ”explains full-back Romain Buros.
Why ?
“The staff worked for ten months, now it's up to us to take matters into our own hands and get the trick.
This role, I could perhaps have taken it earlier like others elsewhere in the group.
Sometimes we expect too much from the staff, ”says the main interested party.
🔴🏉 We must put out the start of the fire at @UBBrugby
👉 "There, I have to stop talking" - @ChristopheUrios
👉 The very risky closed fist
👉 Beware of the hamburger effect...
👉 With very good @denistroch👌 #Bordeaux #UBB https://t.co/GJi58o70Z3
— Clement Carpentier (@clementcarpet) June 15, 2022
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An initiative that Christophe Urios more than appreciated:
He is a real guy.
That, you can write!
He doesn't shit himself on it when it gets hot.
»
He brings "this rebellion" which the Union Bordeaux-Bègles needed after a second part of the failed season.
“Max is a unifier.
A leader by example.
I really like his way of speaking.
I find myself in him.
Besides, he often has the last speech in the locker room before entering the field.
He leads the others and above all, it's the most important thing for me, he gets things done.
Until you drop a Shield of Brennus?
Sport
Top 14: “There, I have to stop talking”… Urios tries to put out the fire at UBB
Top 14: UBB crushes Racing and joins Montpellier in the semi-finals... Relive the Bordeaux victory with us
Sport
Bordeaux
UBB
Top 14
Rugby
Montpellier Rugby
XV of France
Aquitaine