Bout yez lads ! As you know Ulster drew Bourgoin in the ERC and you lot have already been there and wrecked the place once or twice [img]smileys/wink.gif[/img]Any info on travel (probably flying in to Geneva) to Bourgoin, where to eat, stay etc would be much appreciated.
Stay in Lyon as its just half an hour up the road. Bourgoin is a bit of a kip but there are a few decent bars for matchday.
Unless they move the match to Geneva again ! Though that was nice too.
Ding Dong - We stayed in Bourgoin for the match in Geneva. Really the only reason was because I know some people there. TBH it was a mistake. Grand little hotel - hotel des dauphins - very close to the centre. But as Max said it really is a bit of a kip during the winter months, and is as dead as a door nail. The only bar you will find any appreciable action in is the one frequented by the expat CSBJ players, and then only because it is run by one of the former expat players. Take the advise of many others and stay in Lyon, or if they move to Geneva, stay there.
BTW, there is only a handful of restaurants in the town worth eating in, and they are usually well booked at the weekends.
Originally Posted by Corker
I hope it's not below-par ....
Can't see them moving any games to Geneva.It didn't go down particularly well with their supporters and unless there are 7-8,000 Ulster supporters coming, I don't think they'll move it.
Bourgoin is one of the most depressing towns I've ever visited in France. (And I'm living here nearly 4 years)
Not a bad little bar actually, if you like a solid wall of fag smoke ........
I hope it's not below-par ....
I think my head still hurts from that night out with the CSBJ boys !!!
Cheers lads
CSBJ (Bourgoin) filed for bankruptcy today. A black day in the history of a great French club.
No flowers please.
Sad news.
Interesting article on Bourgoin here
http://www.espnscrum.com/france-top-...ry/168358.html
"Amid all this sadness, it's pertinent to remember that Bourgoin's relegation has saved one the great old clubs of French rugby from their second relegation from pro rugby in three years. AS Beziers remain one of the illustrious names in French rugby but they are just another former great clinging onto the coat-tails of the big city clubs.
Castres supporters should savour their time at the top - their Berjallien friends won't tire of telling them that time is running out for France's small big-time clubs."
And you could probably add the likes of Narbonne, Brive and Agen to that list over the next decade. The future looks pretty gloomy for French clubs from the smaller municipalities - unless they can find a sugar daddy, they may well be doomed (and the situation of some pro clubs in England and Wales probably isn't much better).
How right you are OD unless they can find someone with the sense of Rowe at Exeter chiefs.
Local big wigs spending money that they do not have on players that they cannot afford, and overpay anyway, then pleading to be rescued to save the sport in their town - exactly the same business model as League of Ireland soccer.
French workmate of wifes came to Montauban match at TP with us a few years ago, and she was mesmerised that they were in H Cup at all - she said that they could not possibly afford their panel of players, which as a rugby-mad native of Toulouse she was familiar with. She rightly predicted that they would be bust in a year.
Sad to see Bourgoin in this state, as they are a hardy and enthusiastic Northerly outpost of rugby and have a fine history. Castres only still in touch because of sugar daddy who is, if I am correct, a multi-millionaire from health foods, herbal remedies etc, and whose total passion is Castres Olympique.
Das ist nicht nur nicht richtig, es ist nicht einmal falsch! "Not only is it not right, it's not even wrong!"[Wolfgang Pauli]
Half right, let's say 50%!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratoires_Pierre_Fabre
I vaguely recall an article from last season which suggested those smaller clubs (and more), recognising the writing on the wall, were in talks to amalgamate in some fashion and create a few regional teams, thus with combined resources. It seems the logical way to go if they are to keep top rugby in their area, in the long term.
We'll see. The Chiefs are still on the crest of a wave, with bandwaggoners and sponsors eagerly scrambling aboard. The next couple of seasons will be the acid test. (That said, I wish them well and hope that they'll flourish.)
That's way above my usual percentage, OD.
Das ist nicht nur nicht richtig, es ist nicht einmal falsch! "Not only is it not right, it's not even wrong!"[Wolfgang Pauli]
Stayed in Bourgoin first time round. Had a great time. Cheap and cheerful hotel bang in the center called Mister Bed. You may laugh but it was perfect - not much worse than an IBIS but cheaper. Perfectly clean, rooms really basic but had bed and bathroom - what more do you want on a rugby weekend. People were great craic. Whole town new about the match and they had a big marquee after the match were we stayed for hours mising with the locals. Then back into town - live music in pubs - can't remember the names of any of them but there isn't many there so easy to find!! I'd love to go back - second time we stayed in Geneva - no comparison if its craic you want. Enjoy and good luck!
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