Bory swaps Bath for Brive

David Bory will be returning to play in France’s Top 14 for Brive after the European Challenge Cup Final.

The wing, who has been at Bath Rugby for two seasons, has signed a contract with Brive, but before he leaves he hopes to put one over his countrymen by helping Bath to beat ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Stoop on May 19.

“The city is lovely, the people are magnificent,” Bory said.

“We have had some good and bad results: good in the European competitions – last season we made the semi-final in the Heineken Cup, this season a final which we hope to win.”

Bory made his Bath debut against Leicester in September 2005, which he marked by scoring a try, one of six he has scored in a total of 36 appearances, of which 34 were in the starting XV. Having joined from Castres-Olympique, Bory says that he will return to France a better player.

“I have made some good friends,” Bory said.

“When I came to England, I didn’t speak English very well, but I have learnt many things which I will take back to France: the language, the mentality, the discipline, to work very hard. I have greater experience, and can take this experience with me to Brive.

“My first game was very important. I played at Leicester away and it was after a long injury – I had a hernia in pre-season – and after eight weeks I played at Leicester.

“It was a very, very hard game, the hardest game of my time here. I scored an interception try, and I was very happy, and knew that my time at Bath would go well.”

The holder of eighteen caps for France, he has not ruled out challenging for more, but he says, “It’s not my main goal. I am 31 years old and I’m simply keen to enjoy the end of my career.”