Brive

One to watch: Alexis Palisson

- 2008/9 Season Preview -

Club Details

Club Athlétique Brive Corrèze

Parc Municipal des Sports

16 avenue du 11 Novembre

19100 Brive

Stadium Capacity: 15,000

Website: www.cabrive-rugby.com

Founded: 1912

Last time around: 11th After a wobbly start to the season that saw les Corréziens lose five of their first six games, Olivier Magne stepped up as coach and managed to keep his troops in the Top 14. The highlight of the 2007/2008 season was undoubtedly the fantastic run of form in May that saw both Stade Français and Toulouse beaten in Brive in the space of three weeks. Those late-season heroics saved Brive from relegation and uncovered the precocious talent of 21-year-old full-back/wing Alexis Pallison, who went on to win two caps for France on the June tour to Australia.

This time? Olivier Magne has stepped down as coach after being warmly thanked for his efforts by the Brive hierarchy, who have gone on a major recruitment drive. With a list of new players as long as former Albi lock Arnaud Méla's arm, Brive harbour serious ambitions of making it into the Heineken Cup. Skimming through that list of imports and one can understand why the fans in Brive are so looking forward to this season. The white and black jerseys' progress this year will be most interesting to watch.

Coaches: Brive have signed up two new coaches in the form of former France international Ugo Mola (backs), and former Leicester scrum-half Christophe Laussucq, who takes up his first coaching role in charge of the forwards.

One to watch: There's no lack of big-name imports - South African loose forward Gerhard Vosloo has built an outstanding reputation for himself in France and Andy Goode will provide an experienced head at fly-half. It's in the back three where the stars might shine the brightest though: Lachlan McKay has been shipped in from Australia and local boy Alexis Pallison is the latest exciting young wing to come out of France. He has real pace and isn't afraid to have a run at anyone, from anywhere.

Final 2008/9 league position prediction: 6th

In: Ugo Mola (coach), Christophe Laussucq (coach, Brive), Daniel Browne (lock, Northampton), Gerhard Vosloo (loose forward, Castres), Arnaud Méla (lock, Albi), Pascal Idieder (prop, Auch), Arnaud Pic (scrum-half, Clermont), Pablo Henn (prop, Montauban), Alix Popham (loose forward, Llanelli), Horacio Agulla (wing, Dax), Lachlan McKay (centre, Western Force) Régis Bianco (wing, Albi), Andy Goode (fly-half, Leicester).

Out: Olivier Magne (coach), Maxime Petitjean (fly-half, Dax), Farid Sid (wing, Perpignan), Damien Neveu (scrum-half, La Rochelle), Benjamin Dambielle (fly-half, La Rochelle), Jérôme Bonvoisin (loose forward, retired), Terry Fekitoa (centre, Bordeaux), Scott Franklin (prop, Cornish Pirates), Ryno van der Merwe (loose forward, Cheetahs), Nicolas Le Roux (full-back, Mont-de-Marsan), David Bory (centre, Saint-Junien).

Colours: Black and white

Travel connections: The town of Brive-la-Gaillarde is best reached from Limoges or from Toulouse (which has a large airport) by train.

By car: From Paris or Limoges take the A20. Take the "Brive Centre" exit and follow the signs to "centre commercial Leclerc". You reach the stadium via a foot bridge from the "Leclerc" shopping centre.

By train: The Gare SNCF de Brive-La-Gaillarde is around 2,5 km from the stadium.