The champions are coming! European Rugby Champions Bordeaux Begles are set to storm into action at the London City 7s tournament in September, bringing a fresh dose of French flair and international competitiveness to the capital. The Top 14 powerhouse, who clinched their second consecutive European title with a nail-biting win over Leinster in May, will be sending their sevens squad to take on the best English clubs have to offer.
This is massive news for the London City 7s, which is rapidly establishing itself as one of the top events on the rugby sevens calendar. Last year's inaugural tournament was a huge success, with Harlequins emerging victorious and demonstrating their dominance over Saracens in the final. But this time around, Bordeaux Begles will be bringing a new level of international expertise to the table – and that can only mean one thing: the competition is about to get even fiercer!
Bordeaux Begles' head coach Laurent Ferreres, a former French international with a reputation for producing top-class rugby teams, is clearly thrilled at his side's participation. "We're delighted to be competing against English clubs and proudly representing Bordeaux Begles," he exclaimed, underlining the club's commitment to success in all forms of the sport.
London City 7s founder Dan James, a World Rugby veteran with a deep understanding of the game, is equally excited about the reigning European champions' involvement. "Bordeaux Begles are back-to-back Champions Cup winners – their sevens side has the talent and experience to take on all comers," he observed. And with global stars like Marcos Moneta already featuring in their sevens squad, James knows that this year's competition will be one for the ages.
The London City 7s is just one of several tournaments vying for attention after the World Rugby Sevens Series relocated its London leg to Paris. But with nine top-class men's teams and four women's sides set to clash at Honourable Artillery Company, this event promises to be a cracker – especially with Bordeaux Begles leading the charge.