The French international and his team-mates are eager to wipe away the memory of last season’s final loss to Stade Toulousain and win their first European title.

“Last year we missed out and we still have a bitter taste in our mouths,” Alldritt said. “We want to get rid of it, so we are more motivated than ever.

“There are great players who have left us, like Keke (Kevin Gourdon, forced to quit during the season), Victor (Vito), and Jérémy Sinzelle, who is going to leave. We want to end on a high note for these guys.”

The EPCR 2022 European Player of the Year nominee underlined how much reaching the Heineken Champions Cup semi-finals for only the second time means to Les Maritimes.

“It's great for the club,” he commented. “As we often repeat among ourselves, it is not normal to be in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup. It's huge, especially for a club who are only playing in it for the fourth time.

“We have to realise what we are doing. Ronan (O'Gara, the head coach) told us that we have won the first of the three finals - now we have two left.”

Stade Rochelais No.8 Grégory Alldritt has warned Racing 92 that his club are “more motivated than ever” for Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final in Lens.