Bayonne

One to watch: Remy Martin

- 2008/9 Season Preview -

Club Details

Aviron Bayonnais Rugby Pro

Stade Jean-Dauger

Rond point Saint Léon

64100 Bayonne

Stadium capacity: 15,000

Website: www.avironbayonnaisrugby.fr

Founded: 1904

Last time around: 9th Not a great season for Bayonne as they went one place worse than in 2007 when they finished eighth. The Basques fell short of their goal of qualifying for the Heineken Cup in an up-and-down year best characterised by eight days at the end of the season that saw them lose to relegation candidates Albi, only to beat table-topping Clermont by 28 points a week later.

This time? Bayonne have made a few astute acquisitions in the off-season, including former Wallaby prop Rodney Blake and newly-capped French international Thibault Lacroix from Albi. They have the same ambition as last year: make it into Europe. Unfortunately just about every club in the Top 14 is aiming at the same thing. New coaches and a new style of play could take a while to get used to, meaning they'll probably fall a little short again.

Coaches: Former player Richard Dourthe has taken up the role of Directeur sportif and will be calling the selection shots. Jean-Philippe Coyola (backs) and Thierry Mentieres (forwards) are new at helm of Bayonne and have used the pre-season to put a host of changes, in the set pieces and organisation of the defence, in place.

One to watch:Former Stade Français loose forward Rémy Martin will be the star of the show. The France international will have the weight of expectation on his shoulders, but has moved South in search of a new challenge.

Final 2008/9 league position prediction: 12th

In: Thierry Mentières (coach, Blagnac), Jean-Philippe Coyola (coach, Dax), Denis Avril (prop, Biarritz), Thibault Lacroix (centre, Albi), Cédric Garcia (scrum-half, Montauban), Fall (Bordeaux), Julien Puricelli (loose forward Castres), Rodney Blake (prop, Queensland), Mathieu Maillard (fly-half, Albi), Rémy Martin (loose forward, Stade Français).

Out: Jean-François Beltran (coach), Xavier Péméja (coach, Bourgoin), Jean-Marie Usandisaga (prop, retired), Anthony Salle-Canne (scrum-half, Colomiers), Shaun Hegarty (centre, Narbonne), Henri-Pierre Vermis (centre, Bordeaux).

Colours: Sky blue and white

Tickets: www.ticketpass.fr/aviron-bayonnais/

Travel connections:

By car: From the A63 highway, take exit No. 6 "Bayonne nord". Turn left toward "Bayonne Centre Ville" and continue 2km on the N 117.

By air: Fly to the airport in Biarritz. Check www.biarritz.aeroport.fr from schedules. You can catch a bus to the stadium from the airport, check www.bus-stab.com for details.

By train/bus: From Bayonne station catch bus line 1 to "Biarritz Mairie" and stop at "St Leon" station. (7 mins)

From Biarritz, catch Line 1 towards "Navarre" at the "Marie" and get off at "St Leon" station. (45 mins)