1
France wing Arthur Retiere quits European champions for Top 14 rivals
By Josh Raisey
Former France wing Arthur Retiere has swapped Top 14 champions Toulouse for last season's beaten finalists Bordeaux-Begles.
The 27-year-old has been released by the reigning Investec Champions Cup winners a year before his contract was due to expire in order to join Yannick Bru's side on a three-year deal.
The one-cap France international saw his playing time decrease since his arrival from La Rochelle in 2022 as he fell further down the pecking order at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.
Then again, in a back line boasting Damian Penaud, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Yoram Moefana, the former France Sevens international is not going to find it any easier breaking into Bordeaux's starting XV.
The move will see Retiere represent his fourth Top 14 side having started his career with Racing 92.
Retiere had been a part of the France team that won gold in sevens at the Youth Olympic Games in 2014, a feat the men's team emulated at the Paris Olympics recently.
The winger has one cap for France 15s to date, which came from the bench against Ireland in the 2020 Six Nations.
After reaching the Top 14 final last season, where they lost 59-3 in the final, Bordeaux will reconvene next week for preseason training, with Retiere expected to undergo his medical.
Bordeaux get their new season underway against Stade Francais on September 7 in a repeat of last season's semi-final.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Wallaby reacts to the return of All Blacks enforcer Ethan de Groot
3
URC title-winning boss Franco Smith predicts this season's dark horses
4
Why South Africans are so sought after around the world
5
Latest Comments
Nah hes a journeyman. Right call
Go to commentsAgreed for the most part. And perhaps Dmac needed a period were he is the 'Hobson's choice' too.
Yes and no, they main concern I had from the situation is Razor didn't really explain why they had developed differing opinions, had he? I've seen too many things happen in life to jump the gun. Fall all we know it was a locked in choice before they found the difference last year and played out this year to see if they were recoverable. I can certainly see where it would be a valid criticism to suggest he spent too much time reviewing his players tripping overseas and not enough work with his team at that time. But things like Tony Brown not even being contacted in the lead up to the naming of the squad are endemic in the union, and for much just as much blame should be laid on someone like Wayne Smith. Some like Mitch would have been aval at the same time too I'd think.
Ultimately I see MacDs time at the Blues much as I saw Ian Fosters time at the Chiefs. Heavily overshadowed by their successors but you could find something good in there if you wanted. Same here. This will play out.
Go to comments