Union Bordeaux-Bègles rugby manager Yannick Bru was assaulted and robbed of his Rolex watch outside a restaurant in Bordeaux on Wednesday, according to reports in France.
The former Stade Toulousain player attempted to chase his two attackers down the street, but the pursuit ended abruptly when he suffered a thigh muscle tear while running in slides.
Rolex stolen outside restaurant
The incident occurred in the Chartrons district of Bordeaux while Bru was having dinner at a local restaurant, French publication Le Figaro reported.
Two men targeted the rugby coach after he stepped outside the establishment into a poorly lit street to make a phone call. The assailants forcibly took his Rolex watch, which is estimated to be worth between 35,000 and 40,000 euros.
Following the mugging, the Gers-born manager attempted to run after the two men to retrieve his property. However, his choice of footwear hampered the chase, and he suffered a thigh tear shortly after giving pursuit.
Suspect identified on CCTV
Although Bru was unable to catch the thieves or recover his luxury timepiece, he subsequently managed to identify one of the attackers using video surveillance footage from the area.
The restaurant staff had previously flagged the same individual to the police anti-crime unit, known as the BAC, describing him as a suspicious person after he entered the venue to ask for a bottle of water.
Background on Yannick Bru
Yannick Bru is the head manager of Union Bordeaux-Bègles, a professional French rugby union team competing in the Top 14 and European competitions. A former hooker for Stade Toulousain and the French national team, Bru took charge of the club after extensive coaching experience across top-flight European rugby.
Union Bordeaux-Bègles are the two-time reigning European champions, having claimed back-to-back Champions Cup titles. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux, a major city in southwestern France known globally for its wine industry and regional sports heritage.
French authorities and local police have been alerted to the CCTV identification as investigations into the robbery continue.
