Ben Tameifuna starts at lock as Bordeaux reshuffle for Gloucester

Bordeaux-Bègles have named prop Ben Tameifuna at lock and moved Maxime Lucu to fly-half for Friday’s Champions Cup opener against Gloucester.

The defending champions begin their bid for a third successive European title at Kingsholm on Friday 16 October, with kick-off at 8pm BST.

Ben Tameifuna makes season debut in second row

Bordeaux’s official team announcement confirms Tameifuna will make his first appearance of the season wearing the number five shirt alongside Cameron Woki.

Jefferson Poirot, Maxime Lamothe and Sipili Falatea retain their places in the front row following the Top 14 meeting with Clermont.

Yoram Moefana and Nicolas Depoortere reunite in midfield, while Salesi Rayasi starts at full-back. Bordeaux have selected six forwards and two backs among their replacements.

Lucu switches to fly-half

With Matthieu Jalibert absent, regular scrum-half Lucu takes the number ten shirt, partnering Martin Page-Relo.

The changes give Bordeaux an unfamiliar combination in two important areas as they open their title defence away from home. UK viewers can watch the match on Premier Sports.

Gloucester turn to European competition after their defeat at Leicester, where they surrendered an early 14-point lead but collected two bonus points.

They nevertheless finished the third Premiership round top of the table, as detailed in our weekend rugby roundup. Bordeaux now provide a different test of that encouraging start.

Gloucester’s confirmed European fixtures list Friday’s encounter as their opening pool match.