Union Bordeaux Bègles players detained at Bristol Airport

Four players from the Union Bordeaux Bègles (UBB) rugby club and a strength and conditioning coach were detained at Bristol Airport for several hours on Thursday due to administrative issues regarding their Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETA).

The group, which includes winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Romain Gardrat, Matis Perchaud, Toma Taufa, and coach Manu Espiasse, was blocked by British authorities because their ETAs remained linked to their expired passports rather than their newly issued ones. Despite efforts from the club to resolve the matter through the Mayor of Bordeaux and the French Embassy in London, the group remained stuck for several hours.

A resolution was eventually reached late Thursday evening, allowing the players to rejoin the rest of the team near Gloucester. The incident occurred on the eve of UBB's Champions Cup match against Gloucester.