For its first Top 14 final, Union Bordeaux-Bègles will discover the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. Maxime Lucu (31 years old) already knows this stadium. The scrum-half played there twice with the French XV, during a match of the November 2022 tour against the Springboks, and during a…
For its first Top 14 final, Union Bordeaux-Bègles will discover the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille. Maxime Lucu (31 years old) already knows this enclosure. The scrum half played there twice with the French XV, during a November 2022 tour match against the Springboks, and during a 2023 World Cup group match against Namibia. The place is close to his heart. And for good reason. A big fan of OM, he has already taken a seat in the stands on several occasions to enjoy the “crazy atmosphere” and support his favorite football team.
A few years ago, he went to see a Marseille – Lille match with his brother and friends. In 2021, he even went alone on a whim, and took a seat on a bend in the middle of the ultras for a Marseille – Saint-Etienne match. After UBB’s victory in Bayonne in the Top 14 last May, the French international took advantage of the week off to attend OM’s Europa League semi-final first leg against Atalanta Bergamo. “We were supposed to go with my brother, except that it was on Thursday and he had to work the next day.” So he invited Nans Ducuing, the Bordeaux full-back, and Alban Roussel, the former Girondin second row who now plays for Lyon.
“I follow football, but from afar,” smiles Nans Ducuing. “Max had been bugging me for a long time to come to the Vélodrome. Having been a fan since I was little, he told me that the atmosphere was extraordinary. The opportunity arose because we were on holiday. Three of us went. I didn’t know a single player on the pitch, but I had a great time (laughs). It’s true that on the bend with the supporters, the atmosphere is incredible.”
No more wig
The presence of the three rugby players almost went unnoticed. In any case, more than the Instagram story posted by Nans Ducuing, where we could see the trio giving voice, decked out in wigs, hats and sunglasses. “The first time I went to the Vélodrome, there were quite a few people, I was a bit hassled. But this time, Nans had planned everything. It was even a little too much,” laughs the scrum-half.
“He said that jokingly, but I know very well that he had it in the back of his mind.”
Despite the festive atmosphere and the lightness of this evening at the Vélodrome stadium, Maxime Lucu did not lose sight of his objectives. “He whispered in my ear: you’ll see Nans, we’ll see each other there in the final,” confides the full-back. I told him, I really believe it. We kissed and the evening continued. I didn’t even know that the final took place in Marseille (laughs). But obviously, we had this ambition to take this further step. He talked to me about it all weekend. He said that as a joke but I know very well that he had that in the back of his mind.”
A little over a month later, Maxime Lucu is preparing to return to the Vélodrome stadium for the Top 14 final with the UBB. And this time, it’s no longer about the wig.
