Extended less than a year ago, his contract ran until June 2025. Christophe Urios will however leave Union Bordeaux-Bègles prematurely, after the disappointing start to the season for the ambitious Girondin club, 11th in the Top 14 after 10 days, six points behind 2nd, La Rochelle. This Tuesday, a few legal and financial details were to be settled before the departure of the 56-year-old manager, who previously passed through Bourgoin, Oyonnax and Castres, where he was champion of France in 2018.
Arrived in Bordeaux in the summer of 2019, Urios allowed the club to play in two Top 14 semi-finals (2021 and 2022), one in the Champions Cup (2021) and another in the European Challenge (2020). But the technician’s relationship with certain executives became strained a few months after his extension, as shown by the surprise departure of 3rd or 2nd international line Cameron Woki to Racing 92 this summer.
The defeat too many in Pau
The disappointment suffered in Pau on November 6 (33-7), before the international break, with a team cut off from internationals and many injured executives, ended up convincing President Laurent Marti who explained himself Monday with Urios. During this exchange, the Girondin leader criticized the sporting situation of the UBB, as well as the management methods of Urios, of which he also pointed out the activities outside rugby (RMC consultant, vines, seminars in companies).
The rumor of a possible separation before the hour had been revealed last week by the regional daily South West. This Tuesday, The Team estimated its cost at 1.2 million euros due to the two and a half years of contract that remained at Urios.
To replace him, the name of Yannick Bru, former manager of Bayonne and currently consultant for the Durban Sharks franchise that President Marti met last week, is circulating insistently. The next match of the UBB will take place on November 26 in Perpignan, in Top 14.