Key clause missing as Yannick Bru extends Bordeaux stay

Union Bordeaux-Bègles have announced that head coach Yannick Bru has extended his contract by a further two years, keeping him at the European champions until 2029.

Crucially, the deal contains no release clause should the French Rugby Federation (FFR) come calling.

The 18-cap former France hooker originally signed a four-year contract in 2023 after a season as assistant coach with the Sharks in South Africa.

Two years into that deal, discussions between Bru and club president Laurent Marti quickly led to an agreement to extend through to 2029.

“Already linked to the club until 2027, president Laurent Marti and Yannick Bru wanted to further inscribe the UBB project in the long term with the shared ambition of continuing to grow the club,” Bordeaux-Bègles said in a statement.

Since arriving, the 52-year-old has transformed UBB into genuine contenders. Under his guidance they have reached three finals in two years: back-to-back Top 14 defeats to Toulouse and, most significantly, the 2024/25 Champions Cup victory over Northampton – the club’s first major title in its 19-year history.

But while Bru’s reputation has risen sharply, particularly after delivering a European crown, his new deal closes the door to any short-term return to the national team set-up.

According to Sud Ouest, the contract does not include a release clause for the French national team, meaning that even if the FFR move to replace Fabien Galthié when his mandate ends in 2028, Bru will not be available without Bordeaux’s agreement.

Bru previously served as forwards coach under both Philippe Saint-André and Guy Novès between 2011 and 2017 before leaving following Novès’ dismissal. That history, coupled with his success in Bordeaux, had made him an outside contender for a future Test role.

Instead, Marti hailed the extension as a statement of intent: “Yannick and I share the same vision: building over time to take UBB even higher. His extension until 2029 sends a strong signal to our players, our supporters and all our partners.”

Bordeaux-Bègles will continue their pre-season with matches against Angoulême and Montauban before opening their Top 14 campaign at Chaban-Delmas against La Rochelle on September 6.