Top 14 preview - Bourgoin

Welcome to Stade Pierre-Rajon

We take an in-depth look at the runners and the riders of the 2005/06 Top 14 ahead of the new season. Today we tackle Bourgoin-Jallieu...

Last time around:

A bizarre season for les Berjalliens, who maintained a domestic home record stretching back to April 2002 (Biarritz were the last to storm fortress Pierre-Rajon in France's top flight), which carried them through to the semi-finals of the championship. Pitted against any team outside of France though, and they seemed too awe-struck to cope. They shipped 92 points in Dublin in the Heineken Cup, and then fell to the minnows of Treviso at home, conceding 34 points without reply. On the road domestically they weren't too clever either, losing eight of fifteen away games. But finishing second in the world's most draining club competition is a success, despite any of those negatives.

This time?

Bourgoin have lost their coach Laurent Seigne to Castres and captain Pierre Raschi to retirement, but accosted former Castres coach Christophe Urios travelling the other way. They have also snared an excellent club player in Guillame Boussès from Biarritz, not to mention Italy's Carlo Del Fava and the exciting New Zealander Roger Randle on the wing. They pride themselves on rarely having any major stars, and yet continually punch above their weight. Given Castres' reputation for doing similar, Urios ought to be able to pick up where Seigne left off in the league and deliver another successful season at home. In Europe they have some additional motivation from being drawn against two of last years pool opponents, Bath and Leinster. Pierre-Rajon is harsh enough on a normal day, but imagine what it must be like when a whole town is baying for revenge...

Captain: With the inspirational Pierre Raschi looking on from the stand, Julien Frier takes the reins of the team, and will share responsibility with Urios for knitting the team as tightly together as Seigne and Raschi did in times past.

One to watch: Guillame Boussès can count on a little more game-time over in Isère than he had in the Basque country with Biarritz, and will be able to show off and develop his talents. The European stage now beckons for the 24-year-old.

In: Christophe Urios (coach - Castres), Guillaume Boussès (Biarritz), Laurent Baluc-Rittener (Narbonne), Pablo Cardinali and Davit Khinchagishvili (Béziers), Carlo Del Fava (Parma, Italy), Roger Randle (Waikato, New Zealand), Wessel Jooste (Aix, France), Nicolas Carmona (Grenoble).

Out: Laurent Seigne (coach) and Patrick Chassaing (coach - Castres), Bernard Faure (coach), Pierre Raschi (retired), Laurent Soucaze (Béziers), Renaud Boyoud (Dax), Grant Estherhuizen (Golden Lions, South Africa), Frederico Pucciarello, Christopher Ruiz and Hecke (Bayonne).

Colours: Sky blue and maroon

Club info:

Stade Pierre-Rajon (9,441 seats)
Avenue Professeur Tixier
38300 Bourgoin-Jallieu

Tickets: ¬10-25

Travel connections: Lyon's is the closest airport - only a 45-minute drive away - and is well-served by low-cost airlines, as is Grenoble. Both have excellent TGV links with Paris.