Union Bordeaux Bègles trained Wednesday at Bègles with a reduced squad as several injured players returned to the pitch ahead of the Top 14 match against Vannes, rugbyrama.fr reported.
The session was held without nine French internationals — Lucas Poirot, Thomas Lamothe, Baptiste Falatea, Cameron Woki, Maxime Lucu, Baptiste Depoortere, Yoram Moefana, Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey — and without fly-half Hugo Reus, who will miss several weeks with a wrist injury.
With Reus sidelined, the club recalled Joseph Laharrague from his loan at Béziers, leaving him as the only specialist scrum-half available, though Arthur Retière can play both half-back positions.
Palu and Moon Return to Training
Second-rowers Boris Palu and Alexander Moon returned to the pitch, Palu after a shoulder injury that kept him out since October 3 and Moon after recovering from an ankle problem. Hooker Clément Malinowski, who made his first-team debut against Bayonne, also trained with the group alongside academy players called up to fill out the numbers.
Tameifuna Available for Vannes Before Tonga Duty
Prop Ben Tameifuna trained and appears available for the trip to Nantes to face Vannes, with UBB having secured permission from Tonga to keep him for the Top 14 fixture before he joins his national team for their match against Romania this weekend. Georgian prop Lasha Pkhakadze also trained and is expected to be available for the match.
Coleman Absent for Tonga Call-Up
Lock Adam Coleman did not train, having been called up by Tonga for the Romania match while nursing a slight shoulder injury. Adam Zapedowski was also absent from the session, though he was seen around the training ground in civilian clothes.
McNamara Prepares for Leinster Departure
The session was led by coaches Shaun Sowerby and Aurélien Cologni, with head coach Noël McNamara present as he oversees his final weeks at the club before joining Leinster at the end of the season.