Champions Cup: Pau’s young stars host Leicester Tigers on intriguing opening weekend

Leinster travel to France on the opening weekend of the Champions Cup but so too do pool one contenders Leicester Tigers as they make the journey to a Pau team that includes French international wing-cum-fullback Théo Attissogbe the 2024 “La Révélation” breakthrough player of the year at the famous French awards night La nuit du Rugby.

The French club, who led the Top 14 at one point this season, boast another young gem in centre Fabien Brau-Boirie and three Pumas in Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Grondona and Facundo Isa. The Tigers have prop Archie van der Flier, a cousin of Leinster and Ireland’s Josh, summer signing Mako Vunipola and Joseph Woodward, a son of England World Cup-winning coach Clive, also in the matchday 23.