Not many young English coaches would dare to leave Saracens or turn down a role at Northampton Saints. Even fewer would choose to walk away from a position under England head coach Eddie Jones. Rory Teague, however, has learnt the benefits of navigating the twists and turns of the road less travelled.

Released by his hometown club Gloucester at 19, retired by 27, Teague’s first ever coaching session was interrupted by police arresting a player for possession of a firearm. Yet here is Teague, just turned 33 and a few weeks into his role as manager of Top 14 Bordeaux-Begles, the youngest occupant of a top job anywhere in Europe.

The position became available when Jacques Brunel was appointed France’s new head coach. On Christmas Eve, president Laurent Marti told Teague to come in for a meeting on December 27. “On Christmas Day I was preparing a presentation so you can imagine how popular I was at home,” Teague said.

Teague was less experienced than fellow Bordeaux coaches Jeremy Davidson and Joe Worsley, but Marti’s mind was instantly made up. “It is like when you meet a girl and you feel she is going to be your wife,” Marti said. “His CV is not that long but he was the right one.”