Bourgoin request final change

Bourgoin have written to European rugby’s governing body requesting the date and venue of their European Challenge Cup final against Northampton be changed.

The ERC on Sunday announced the final will be held in Gloucester on Friday, May 22, a decision which has left Bourgoin seething.

A statement released by the French club read: “Our disappointment is clearly immense.

“The final will take place less than a week after a decisive (Top 14) match against Brive.

“Our supporters are forced to make a long, complex and costly trip on a Friday.

“And Gloucester is situated less than 150 kilometres from Northampton – the fans of our opponents couldn’t ask for much more.

“It is also the ninth successive final to take place in England.”

Unhappy with this “clear lack of equality which is heavily prejudicial to our club”, Bourgoin have sent a letter to the French Rugby Federation, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby and the ERC, asking them to re-examine the situation.

Bourgoin, who qualified for the final by beating Worcester 22-11 on Saturday, are third from bottom in the Top 14 with two rounds of fixtures left.

They play relegation rivals Castres this weekend and then Brive the following Saturday as they look to secure their top-flight status.