Ben Tameifuna's Surprising Move to Lock Highlights Key Changes in Gloucester v Bordeaux-Bègles Clash

Gloucester and Bordeaux-Bègles have finalized their lineups for the highly anticipated Investec Champions Cup opener at Kingsholm this Friday evening, with both teams showing strong form early in their respective seasons.

Currently perched atop the Premiership standings with two wins from three matches, Gloucester will be eager to leverage home advantage against their rivals from France. Meanwhile, Bordeaux-Bègles — last season's Investec Champions Cup champions after overcoming Leinster in the final — sit third in the Top 14 with four victories from their first six outings, indicating a promising season for both teams.

England International Makes a Comeback for Gloucester

In a key development for the Cherry and Whites, head coach George Skivington welcomes back England international Arthur Clark, who returns to the starting XV after missing their recent 38-31 loss to the Leicester Tigers due to injury. His impact could prove decisive as Gloucester looks to rebuild momentum.

Skivington's squad features notable changes, including George Barton stepping in at full-back, flanked by Will Joseph and Ben Loader on the wings. In the midfield, Test players Max Llewellyn and Seb Atkinson are paired together, while the half-back duo comprises Charlie Atkinson and Dan Robson. This revamped backline, combined with a formidable pack, presents a challenge for visiting teams.

The presence of Clark in the second row alongside renowned Springbok World Cup winner Jean Kleyn strengthens Gloucester’s forward defense. Anchored by Ciaran Knight, captain Dewi Lake, and Dian Bleuler in the front row, the forwards will have their work cut out against Bordeaux’s powerful pack, aiming to assert dominance at the set-piece.

Notably, new signing Elliot Salt is poised for his debut on the bench, alongside a list of promising replacements including Seb Blake, Val Rapava-Ruskin, Freddie Thomas, Will Trenholm, Lewis Ludlow, Caolan Englefield, and Will Knight, all ready to make an impact if called upon.

A Surprising Move for Tameifuna in Bordeaux's Lineup

The key headline from Bordeaux-Bègles’ lineup is the unexpected repositioning of Tongan international Ben Tameifuna. Known for his robust performances in the front-row, the 35-year-old will switch gears and take up a position as a lock for this match — a bold maneuver that raises eyebrows and sparks curiosity about his adaptability and impact on the game. This shift comes as a significant test of Tameifuna's skills, considering that most players in his position typically stay consistent throughout their careers.

Bordeaux's lineup also includes Salesi Rayasi at full-back, supported by Pablo Uberti and Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the wings. In the midfield, Yoram Moefana partners with Nicolas Depoortere. The half-back pairing of Maxime Lucu and Martin Page-Relo is expected to influence the flow of the game significantly.

Tom Willis, who makes his first return to English soil since his departure from Saracens, features at number eight, pairing with Temo Matiu and Marko Gazzotti in the back row. Tameifuna’s partnership with Cameron Woki in the second row will require synergy to handle Gloucester’s physicality up front, especially in scrums and lineouts.

The bench for Bordeaux is rounded out with solid options like Connor Sa, Matis Perchaud, Lasha Pkhakadze, Adam Zapedowski, Pierre Bochaton, Elyjah Ibsaiene, Xan Mousques, and Romain Buros, all of whom can provide fresh legs and strategic depth during the match.

Full Team Lineups for Gloucester vs. Bordeaux-Bègles

Gloucester: 15 George Barton, 14 Will Joseph, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Jack Clement, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Deain Gwynne, 5 Arthur Clark, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Ciaran Knight, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Dian Bleuler
Replacements: 16 Seb Blake, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Eliot Salt, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Will Trenholm, 21 Lewis Ludlow, 22 Caolan Englefield, 23 Will Knight

Bordeaux-Bègles: 15 Salesi Rayasi, 14 Pablo Uberti, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Maxime Lucu (c), 9 Martin Page-Relo, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Temo Matiu, 6 Marko Gazzotti, 5 Ben Tameifuna, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Sipili Falatea, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Connor Sa, 17 Matis Perchaud, 18 Lasha Pkhakadze, 19 Adam Zapedowski, 20 Pierre Bochaton, 21 Elyjah Ibsaiene, 22 Xan Mousques, 23 Romain Buros

Venue: Kingsholm
Kick-off: 20:00 UK & IRE / 21:00 FRA, ITA & SA
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (ITA)
Assistant referees: Franco Rosella (ITA), Dario Merli (ITA)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (ITA)
Live on: Premier Sports, beIN Sports, France.TV, SuperSport, FLO Rugby, EPCR.TV

For additional insights and coverage, click the link: Investec Champions Cup, Round One: Match officials, kick-off times and how to watch details confirmed