Wales No.8 Alix Popham has been handed the Brive captaincy for the new Top 14 season.
Wales No.8 to lead Brive
Wales No.8 Alix Popham has been handed the Brive captaincy for the new Top 14 season.
The 29-year-old, who has been capped 33 times, is in the second year of a three-year deal with the former Heineken Cup champions.
And he will now use his best "pigeon French" in an attempt to lead a cosmopolitan band of players - featuring English quartet Rike Flutey, Andy Goode, Shaun Perry and Steve Thompson - to glory.
"It is a massive honour for me and I was pretty shocked to get the job," Popham told the
Western Mail.
"The club has a massive history, they've been European champions and have been finalists twice in the Heineken Cup.
"So to be asked to be captain for our first season back in the European Cup is really special.
"I have enough pigeon French to get by. But we have a few Brits, Irish South Africans and Aussies in the squad and rugby phrases are the same in any language really.
"I do speak enough French to get by, but I am taking French lessons to make sure I improve and I am understood by all the players."
