Gabriel Ogre: Bristol and England’s hooker in the Bordeaux-Beagles encounter

Although both teams qualify for the round of 16, victory will guarantee home advantage in the knockout stages.

Last season, the Purdue Beagles showed just how important this is.

The team topped their group by scoring 40 or more points in each game, before sweeping their first European title with a victory over Northampton in Cardiff in May.

Oghre was never part of that race.

Despite a successful five-month spell with Bordeaux Beagles, he signed a contract to return to England with Bristol.

“I certainly enjoyed my time in the top 14 and at Bordeaux, but I had big ambitions to play in England, and you can’t do that playing in France,” he says.

“I wanted to come back and try to push for some personal goals.”

In July, he did just that.

After touring New Zealand and Japan with England in 2024, but not getting any playing time, Ogre made his debut off the bench against the United States in a match that was delayed and then interrupted by thunderstorms.

“It was a bit of a weird game,” he recalls. “I sat on the bench and every time we had to go on, I was thinking, ‘Is this game going to be cancelled? Will I be able to get on the pitch?’

“But it was a really special moment to win my first match.”

It is difficult to predict when another will arrive.

England has a good supply of bitch. But with Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie, 35 and 32, nearing the end of their careers, there could be vacancies.

Leicester’s Jamie Blamire (28), Saracens’ Theo Dunne (25) and Sale’s Nathan Gibollo (22) join 27-year-old Ogre among the younger generation.

Ugri’s energy amidst Bristol’s distinctive running style, combined with the accuracy of his set-pieces, makes a strong case.