Bordeaux's injury list grows ahead of decisive finale

Bordeaux-Begles will head into their final game of the regular Top 14 season against ASM Clermont-Auvergne on Saturday without tighthead prop Ben Tameifuna, after the Tonga international underwent shoulder surgery this week.

After starring from the bench in Bordeaux-Begles’ Investec Champions Cup final victory over Leinster in Bilbao, the 34-year-old followed that up with a try-scoring display as a substitute in his side’s 27-22 defeat to Toulon in the Top 14 recently, but was a surprise omission from the Tonga squad that was announced on Tuesday.

It has since been revealed that the former Chiefs prop has had his season cut short by a procedure on his shoulder. In a post on Instagram, Tameifuna revealed that he tore two tendons in his shoulder earlier in the season, but continued to play in order to help his side defend their European crown.

Though Bordeaux may potentially only have one more game remaining this season, the decision has been made to end his season prematurely, which will also rule him out of Tonga’s Nations Cup fixtures against Zimbabwe, Spain and Portugal in July.

Tameifuna now joins Matthieu Jalibert – who has sustained a calf injury – on the sidelines ahead of a crunch fixture against Clermont, which will secure their place in the play-offs with a victory, but will likely see them drop out of the top six with a defeat. Bordeaux currently cling on to sixth place, with 69 points, but are just a solitary point ahead of La Rochelle and hold a two-point cushion ahead of Clermont.

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“T3 checking out for the 2025/26 season,” he wrote online.

“Tore two tendons in my shoulder a couple of months ago, but I wanted to push through and do my part to help the team get that second star.

“Thank you for all of the kind messages, see you next season.”