Maxime Lucu to captain Bordeaux-Begles in Champions Cup final in Bilbao

Scrum‑half Maxime Lucu, 33, will start for Bordeaux‑Begles in the European Rugby Champions Cup final against Leinster in Bilbao on Saturday. Lucu, who grew up in the Basque village of Saint‑Pee‑sur‑Nivelle, first watched the final at San Mamés in 2018 and has said his dream was to play the decider in the Basque city.

Having risen through Biarritz’s academy and spent five seasons at Stade Aguilera before joining the ambitious Bordeaux side, Lucu signed a new contract that keeps him at the club until 2029. The French international, who earned his first cap in 2021 as a replacement for Antoine Dupont, will be looking to fulfill his personal goal while leading Bordeaux‑Begles in their first major title showdown.

Leinster, the Irish province, will be the opponents, making the final a clash between French and Irish rugby powerhouses on Spanish soil.