- The club will look to emulate the success of their French rivals Toulon in contest
- La Rochelle last faced off with Leinster in this year’s final of the competition
- Alldritt is currently on leave from the team after his role in France’s World Cup
La Rochelle are targeting a Manchester United-style dynasty as they look to emulate their French rivals Toulon and win the European Champions Cup in three straight seasons.
The side coached by former Ireland fly-half Ronan O’Gara has dominated the cross-border competition in the last two campaigns, beating Irish giants Leinster in consecutive finals.
As European action returns this weekend, the two sides meet again on Sunday in a mouthwatering clash, only this time it comes at the start of the tournament and not the end.
‘It was a message from Ronan – to try to build a dynasty,’ said La Rochelle’s captain and star France back-row Gregory Alldritt. ‘It’s a bit presumptuous to say dynasty but at the moment we’ve won the first one, then the second one, and we are really taking an example from other sports.
‘When you see Red Bull in Formula 1 winning however many titles they have in a row, it’s just crazy and there is Manchester United as well. They were a great one.
France star and La Rochelle captain Gregory Alldritt is keen to see his side become a major sporting dynasty with a third successive Champions Cup win
Under the stewardship of Ronan O’Gara (centre) the French side has dominated the contest
La Rochelle defeated this weekend’s opponents Leinster in this year’s final in Dublin in May
‘We need to realise it is possible and to believe in the project. Of course it’s going to be really, really hard and maybe we have 10 per cent chance to win it three times in a row.
‘But if it’s only 10 per cent of chance, we will still give that 100 per cent.
‘Leinster are always really hard to play. We lost a lot of energy from the (2023) final. My parents were really stressed from it. I hope we can make it easier this time but I’m not sure!
‘It’s always difficult to be the champions.’
Under the guidance of legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, United dominated English and European football in the late 1990’s and 2000’s. Their success peaked with an historic treble in 1999.
In Formula 1, Red Bull have won the last three drivers’ titles with Max Verstappen.
Such dominance in any sport is hard to find. Toulon, in 2013, 2014 and 2015, are the only rugby side to date to win three straight European crowns.
La Rochelle will face Leinster without Alldritt who was given two months off to rest by O’Gara after France’s quarter-final exit from their home World Cup.
The team are keen to emulate other dominant sporting institutions, such as Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson (pictured after clinching the Treble in 1999)
‘It’s been tough but we have had some beautiful moments too,’ Alldritt said, reflecting on his country’s tournament departure earlier this year.
‘We had a nice meal all together after the South Africa game. It was important not to just say goodbye the next morning and be at home. We spent time together and after that I’ve just been back at home with my family and friends enjoying being at home because we had three months away.
‘I know you can also have some bad times like this. I’ve got two months off with my club. It was planned before the World Cup with Ronan understanding we need time to recover and to take care of my shoulder. Now my body feels fine.’
Alldritt expects to return to action at the start of 2024. He is a strong contender alongside Charles Ollivon to captain France in next year’s Six Nations.
Fabien Galthie’s usual skipper Antoine Dupont will miss the tournament as he begins to focus on playing sevens at a home Olympics.
Alldritt, 26, was last season named European player of the year. He believes France will bounce from losing to eventual champions South Africa in the World Cup’s last eight.
Alldritt (centre right) has been given leave from club duties following an intensive World Cup
The back-rower is one of the candidates in the frame to take over national team captaincy at the Six Nations from Antoine Dupont (pictured)
‘Of course we need to use it as a team. The closer we get to the next World Cup the more motivation we will have. We just need now to focus on the next Six Nations,’ he said.
‘We know this is the moment to do something. In the last three years I’m one of the international players with the most minutes. My average was more than 2,200 minutes per season.
‘Sometimes you need a break to heal all your little things like my knee and my hamstring. I can play with those but at some point there would have been an injury and some forced rest.
‘That’s not the best option for me.’
