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Champions Cup

Bordeaux overpower brave Saints to take first Champions Cup title

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1 year ago

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Damian Penaud of Bordeaux scores a try during the Investec Champions Cup Final match between Northampton Saints and Union Bordeaux Begles at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom on May 24, 2025 (Photo by Andrew SURMA SIPA USA)

Union Bordeaux-Bègles claimed their first Champions Cup title with a hard-fought 28-20 victory over Northampton Saints at the Principality Stadium, ending the English side’s European dream despite a valiant performance that showcased their remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.

Key moments:
2′ – Alex Coles powers over from close range after sustained Northampton pressure in Bordeaux’s 22, Fin Smith converts (7-0)
3′ – James Ramm forced off with injury, replaced by Ollie Sleightholme in his first appearance since March
5′ – George Furbank stretchered off after accidental knee to head from Romain Buros, Tom Litchfield comes on as Tommy Freeman drops back to fullback
6′ – Damian Penaud crosses for simple finish in corner after clean lineout ball and quick hands, Matthieu Jalibert’s conversion hits post (7-5)
14′ – Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s try disallowed after TMO rules his pass to Damian Penaud went forward in build-up
21′ – Adam Coleman scores in corner after Matthieu Jalibert’s mesmeric run past multiple defenders and basketball-style pass, Jalibert converts (7-12)
25′ – Fin Smith kicks penalty from 40 metres after ball appears to miss before curling back through uprights (10-12)
29′ – Matthieu Jalibert adds penalty after Fin Smith penalised for going off feet at breakdown (10-15)
30′ – Mahamadou Diaby yellow-carded for head-on-head contact with Temo Mayanavanua, who fails HIA and is replaced by Ed Prowse
33′ – Fin Smith kicks penalty after deliberate knock-on by Cyril Cazeaux (13-15)
36′ – Tommy Freeman yellow-carded for taking out Damian Penaud in the air during promising Bordeaux attack
37′ – Damian Penaud scores his second try in corner after Matthieu Jalibert cleans up his own charged-down grubber kick, conversion missed (13-20)
40′ – Alex Coles claims his second try after excellent inside pass from Ollie Sleightholme, Fin Smith converts from touchline (20-20)
42′ – Henry Pollock’s try disallowed after TMO rules Alex Coles illegally obstructed Ben Tameifuna in build-up play
44′ – Ed Prowse yellow-carded for head-on-head contact with Yoram Moefana, leaving Saints with 13 men
45′ – Maxime Lucu kicks penalty to give Bordeaux first lead of second half (20-23)
49′ – Maxime Lamothe’s try disallowed after hooker drops ball over tryline, but Bordeaux awarded penalty for leg lift in lineout maul
56′ – Cyril Cazeaux powers over from close range after sustained pressure following Tommy Freeman turnover on halfway, Maxime Lucu’s conversion hits post (20-28)

The French side’s triumph marked the fifth consecutive year that a French club has lifted Europe’s premier trophy, but this victory was built on far more than the attacking flair that had characterised their route to Cardiff. When the match developed into a brutal arm-wrestle in the second half, Bordeaux demonstrated they possessed the mental fortitude and tactical nous to close out the biggest game in their history.

Saints burst from the blocks with the kind of intensity that had served them so well throughout their campaign. With barely two minutes on the clock, they had pinned Bordeaux deep in their own 22 through a combination of direct running and quick recycling. The pressure told when Alex Coles, who had been an injury doubt right up until kick-off, powered his way over from close range. The second row’s long arms stretched out to touch down despite the attention of three defenders, with Fin Smith’s conversion giving the English side the perfect start they craved.

The early euphoria was immediately tempered by a series of injury setbacks that would define Saints’ afternoon. James Ramm, still recovering from a knock sustained against Saracens the previous weekend, was forced off after just three minutes with visible distress etched across his face. Ollie Sleightholme’s introduction marked his first appearance since March, thrust into the biggest game of his career with minimal preparation.

The situation deteriorated further when George Furbank, making his return from injury specifically for this final, was stretchered off after taking an accidental knee to the head from Romain Buros during an aerial challenge. The England international had lasted just five minutes, his tournament over before it had truly begun. The crowd rose to applaud as he was wheeled away on a medical cart, but the loss forced an immediate backline reshuffle that saw Tommy Freeman drop back to fullback and Tom Litchfield enter the fray.

Bordeaux’s response came in the sixth minute through the kind of simple, effective rugby that had characterised their pool stage dominance. Clean lineout ball was transferred quickly to the backs, with some straightforward handling creating space on the right for Damian Penaud to cruise over virtually untouched. The France wing’s 13th try of the competition demonstrated the clinical finishing that had made him such a threat throughout the tournament. Matthieu Jalibert’s conversion attempt struck the upright and bounced away, keeping Northampton’s advantage intact at 7-5.

The pace never relented, with both teams committed to keeping the ball alive whenever possible. Bordeaux thought they had taken the lead in the 14th minute when Louis Bielle-Biarrey finished off a sweeping move that began from a scrum on their own 22. The flying winger had come off his own flank to take Jalibert’s pass before exchanging passes with Penaud and racing over in the corner. However, the Television Match Official intervened to rule that Bielle-Biarrey’s pass to Penaud in the build-up had drifted forward, denying the French side what would have been a spectacular score.

The reprieve proved temporary as Bordeaux’s attacking momentum continued to build. Jalibert was pulling the strings magnificently, and his brilliance was on full display for their second try in the 21st minute. After Yoram Moefana’s dropped ball from a lineout seemed to hand possession back to Saints, Jalibert gathered the loose ball and embarked on a mesmeric run that bamboozled the Northampton defence. The French fly-half’s dancing feet took him past at least five tacklers, stepping and sidestepping through traffic before delivering a basketball-style pass to Adam Coleman. The lock had the simple task of touching down in the corner, with Jalibert’s conversion from out wide extending Bordeaux’s lead to 12-7.

The intensity never relented during a frenetic middle period that saw both teams trading penalties as the contest entered its most chaotic phase. Smith reduced the deficit with a long-range effort from 40 metres that appeared to be missing before curling back between the uprights, the ball spiralling ungainly through the air before finding its target. Jalibert responded immediately with three points of his own after Northampton were penalised at a breakdown just five metres from their own line, Smith going off his feet in his attempt to secure possession.

The pivotal moment of the first half came in the 30th minute when Mahamadou Diaby was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Temo Mayanavanua. The contact was head-on-head but referee Nika Amashukeli deemed the force to be a low degree of danger, sparing Diaby a red card as he was moving backwards when the collision occurred. Mayanavanua failed his head injury assessment and was replaced by Ed Prowse, leaving Saints to navigate the remainder of the half with a disrupted pack.

Northampton’s numerical advantage was short-lived as Tommy Freeman joined Diaby in the sin bin after taking out Penaud in the air during a promising Bordeaux attack. The England wing had little choice but to make the challenge as Penaud looked certain to score after gathering Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s perfectly weighted kick, but the aerial tackle earned him a yellow card that left both teams playing with 14 men.

With parity restored, Bordeaux capitalised immediately through Penaud’s second try of the match in the 37th minute. The score came from a chaotic passage where Jalibert’s attempted grubber kick was charged down by Henry Pollock, but the French fly-half showed remarkable composure to clean up his own mistake. The ball eventually found its way to Penaud, who had the awareness to be in the right place at the right time, darting over in the corner for what appeared to be a crucial score with half-time approaching.

Just when it seemed Bordeaux would take a seven-point lead into the break, Northampton produced a moment of inspiration in the 40th minute that epitomised their never-say-die attitude. Sleightholme broke down the right wing after Saints had secured possession from a lineout in midfield, the replacement showing excellent vision to deliver a perfectly timed inside pass to the supporting Coles. The second row, who had been outstanding in both attack and defence, bulldozed over for his second try of the match. Smith’s excellent conversion from a difficult angle on the touchline ensured the teams would go into the interval locked together at 20-20.

The second half began with Northampton appearing to have found the breakthrough they desperately needed. From a lineout on the edge of Bordeaux’s 22, Saints executed a perfectly planned move down the blindside. Pollock and Curtis Langdon exchanged passes in a slick combination that sent the 20-year-old Lions tourist racing over in the corner. The starboy’s trademark celebration was already being planned, but the Television Match Official intervened to rule that Coles had illegally obstructed Tameifuna in the build-up, holding back the Bordeaux prop to create the space for Pollock’s run.

That disallowed try proved to be the turning point Bordeaux needed. The French side began to impose themselves physically, with their pack gradually taking control of the set-piece battle. The introduction of 148kg prop Ben Tameifuna at half-time provided additional ballast in the scrum, while the fresh legs of Marko Gazzotti added energy to their breakdown work.

Bordeaux’s territorial dominance was orchestrated by the masterful Lucu, whose tactical kicking kept Saints pinned deep in their own territory. The scrum-half’s box kicks became a weapon of attrition, consistently finding grass and forcing the English side into defensive scrambles that sapped their energy reserves. Each aerial battle was contested fiercely, but Bordeaux’s superior numbers in the pack began to tell as they won the majority of loose ball situations.

The pressure told in the 44th minute when Ed Prowse was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Moefana. The replacement lock’s challenge was eerily similar to Diaby’s first-half offence, with head-on-head contact that left the referee with little choice. The consistency of the officiating was noteworthy, but it left Saints with just 13 men and facing an uphill battle to stay in the contest.

From the resulting penalty, Lucu stepped up to take kicking duties from Jalibert and bisected the uprights from 30 metres to give Bordeaux their first lead of the second half at 23-20. The scrum-half’s accuracy under pressure demonstrated the composure that had made him one of the most reliable goal-kickers in European rugby.

The decisive moment came in the 56th minute when Cyril Cazeaux powered over from close range after sustained pressure that began with Tommy Freeman being isolated and turned over on halfway. The sequence demonstrated Bordeaux’s patience and game management, as they retained possession through multiple phases rather than forcing the issue. Cazeaux’s try was the culmination of intelligent play, with the lock showing remarkable determination to force his way over despite the attention of three defenders who appeared to have him held up.

Lucu’s conversion attempt struck the post and bounced away, but the eight-point lead proved sufficient as Bordeaux’s defensive discipline held firm. The French side’s ability to win crucial penalties at the breakdown disrupted any attempts by Saints to build momentum, with their fresh forwards proving particularly effective in slowing down ball at the contact area.

Freeman’s return from the sin bin after 10 minutes provided some relief for Saints, but they found themselves immediately back to 14 men as the numerical disadvantage continued to hamper their attacking ambitions. The constant disruption to their personnel meant they struggled to maintain the rhythm and continuity that had been so effective in the opening period.

Northampton’s defensive heroics during the closing stages will be remembered as some of the finest seen in a European final. Tom Lockett’s extraordinary intervention to prevent what seemed a certain try from Lamothe epitomised their refusal to surrender, the lock somehow managing to get his body in position to disrupt the hooker’s grounding attempt. Alex Coles continued to excel in the lineout, disrupting several Bordeaux throws when they threatened to extend their advantage through their traditional driving maul.

Despite these moments of inspiration, the accumulated fatigue and numerical disadvantage began to tell. Saints’ attacking patterns, so fluid in the first half, became increasingly laboured as players struggled to maintain their usual tempo. The loss of shape was most evident when they failed to capitalise on rare forays into Bordeaux territory, with handling errors and poor decision-making undermining promising positions.

Smith’s clearance kicks, usually so reliable, began to lack their customary distance and accuracy as the pressure mounted. The fly-half’s inability to find touch from one crucial clearing attempt allowed Bordeaux to maintain their territorial stranglehold, with Bielle-Biarrey and Penaud consistently putting Saints under pressure with their aerial skills.

The closing stages saw several crucial moments that could have changed the complexion of the contest. When Mitchell pulled down Penaud in an aerial contest, referee Amashukeli had no hesitation in awarding another penalty to Bordeaux, the decision reflecting the consistency that had characterised his performance throughout. Each penalty seemed to knock a little more wind from Saints’ sails as they were forced to defend deeper and deeper in their own territory.

As the clock ticked past 75 minutes, Bordeaux’s game management became increasingly evident. Rather than seeking the spectacular tries that had characterised their pool stage performances, they were content to control territory and force Saints into desperate measures that inevitably led to turnovers. Curtis Langdon’s knock-on from a pass that was not intended for him in the 78th minute summed up Saints’ desperation as they chased the game.

The final whistle brought scenes of unbridled joy from the travelling Bordeaux supporters, many of whom had made the journey on specially chartered flights that morning. Players collapsed to their knees in exhaustion and emotion, while Lucu was already being interviewed as the deserving recipient of the player of the match award.

For a club formed from the merger of Bordeaux and Bègles in 2006, this represented the pinnacle of their ambitions and justified their significant investment in building a squad capable of competing with Europe’s elite. The victory ensured that French clubs have now won the Champions Cup in five consecutive seasons, a period of dominance that reflects the depth and quality of the Top 14.

Penaud’s emotional reaction at the final whistle spoke to the significance of this achievement for a player who had moved to Bordeaux specifically to win the Champions Cup. His two tries in the opening period had showcased the finishing ability that makes him one of world rugby’s premier wings, while his defensive work and aerial skills proved equally valuable as the contest tightened.

For Northampton, the disappointment was profound but should not overshadow an achievement that few predicted at the start of the season. Director of rugby Phil Dowson and head coach Sam Vesty have built something special at Franklin’s Gardens, combining academy graduates with astute signings to create a team that plays with genuine attacking ambition.

The statistics reflected Bordeaux’s superiority in the crucial areas, with their dominance at the breakdown particularly telling in the second half. Where the first period had seen Saints match their opponents for clean breaks and metres gained, the latter stages belonged entirely to the French side as they controlled possession and territory through superior forward play and tactical kicking.

As Bordeaux celebrated their historic triumph with the trophy presentation, the magnitude of their achievement was clear. They had overcome the tournament’s form team, shown character when the pressure was greatest, and demonstrated that French rugby’s current supremacy in European competition shows no signs of diminishing.

For Saints, this final defeat will sting, but the foundations are in place for future success. With players like Pollock, Smith and Freeman still developing, and a coaching team that has proven capable of getting the best from limited resources, their European ambitions remain very much alive. The 2025 Champions Cup final will be remembered as a contest that showcased rugby’s capacity for drama, resilience and skill, providing a fitting climax to another memorable European season.

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Champions Cup

Pools revealed for Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup

EPCR confirms the 2026/27 Champions Cup and Challenge Cup pools with tightened qualification rules and a revamped bonus point system on the road to Lyon.

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4 weeks ago

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1st July 2026

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Pools revealed for Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup
2026-27 EPCR Investec Champions Cup & European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool Draws, Premier Sports Studios, Dublin 1/7/2026. Elma Smit, Stephen Ferrris, Benjamin Boyet and David Hurley after the draw. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

The pools for the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup have been confirmed following Wednesday’s draw at the Premier Sports studios in Dublin, with defending champions Union Bordeaux-Begles, newly crowned Top 14 winners Toulouse, URC champions Leinster and Gallagher Premiership title holders Northampton Saints placed in separate pools as the four Tier 1 clubs.

The draw was hosted by presenters Elma Smit and Benjamin Boyet, with former Ireland international Stephen Ferris serving as the official ball drawer and Legal Consultant David Hurley acting as independent scrutineer.

Two significant rule changes were also announced ahead of the new campaign, which gets under way on Friday 16 October and culminates at the OL Stadium in Lyon, where the Challenge Cup final takes place on Friday 21 May 2027 and the Champions Cup final follows on Saturday 22 May.

Pool 2 stands out as the draw’s toughest section. Six-time champions Toulouse, three-time winners Saracens, two-time winners La Rochelle and 2020 champions Exeter Chiefs will battle it out alongside the Lions and Connacht, who return to the premier club competition for the first time since the 2023/24 season. Stuart Lancaster’s Connacht side face an especially demanding assignment against three clubs who have all lifted the trophy.

Reigning champions Bordeaux-Begles headline Pool 3 alongside Munster, Racing 92, DHL Stormers, Bristol Bears and Gloucester. Clayton McMillan’s Munster will renew a rivalry with Gloucester that has produced some memorable European ties over the years, while also taking on the side that defeated Leinster in May’s Bilbao final to claim a second successive Champions Cup title.

Four-time champions and last season’s runners-up Leinster were the first club out of the drum and headline Pool 1, where they are drawn with Glasgow Warriors, Section Paloise, Sale Sharks, Leicester Tigers and ASM Clermont Auvergne. Leo Cullen’s final campaign as Leinster head coach will see him attempt to deliver a fifth European title for the province and end a sequence of five final defeats since their last success in 2018. Leicester and Clermont are familiar European opponents for Leinster, with both fixtures carrying significant history.

Pool 4 brings together Premiership rivals Northampton Saints and last season’s semi-finalists Bath, who contested a memorable quarter-final this season, alongside Cardiff, reigning Challenge Cup champions and Top 14 runners-up Montpellier, Stade Francais and the Vodacom Bulls. The two English sides will avoid each other during the pool stage under the draw rules preventing clubs from the same league from meeting in pool play.

Rule changes add jeopardy

EPCR confirmed two rule changes following consultation with the three leagues. The first tightens the qualification pathway into the knockout rounds. Previously, all four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualified automatically for the Round of 16. From 2026/27, only the top three teams in each pool will earn automatic qualification. The remaining four places will go to the highest-ranked clubs across all pools regardless of pool position, creating a wildcard ranking system.

EPCR said the changes were “designed to enhance the competitiveness and intensity of the pool stage fixtures by enhancing the battle for qualification to the Round of 16, and ensuring matches stay competitive for longer.”

The second change overhauls the try bonus point system. The familiar four-try bonus point has been replaced by a new requirement: teams must score three or more tries more than their opponents to earn the offensive bonus point. The defensive bonus point for losing by seven points or fewer remains unchanged. EPCR said the purpose is to “reward teams who continue to play attacking rugby and who remain resolute in defence once victory appears certain, effectively ensuring tournament matches stay competitive for longer.”

The shift also means a team can deny their opponents a bonus point through strong defensive effort even in defeat, keeping the status of the offensive bonus uncertain until the final whistle. Combined with the tightened qualification rules, EPCR’s changes are designed to discourage teams from fielding weakened sides in away fixtures, a criticism that has surfaced in recent seasons where it was possible to qualify with just one pool win.

If two clubs are tied on match points, the number of wins will now be the first tiebreaker rather than points difference, a further incentive for teams to prioritise victories over building large scorelines.

Challenge Cup pools

In the EPCR Challenge Cup, invited South African side the Toyota Cheetahs were the first club out of the drum and went into Pool 1 alongside 2026 runners-up Ulster, USAP, last season’s semi-finalists Dragons RFC, Aviron Bayonnais and Zebre Parma. Richie Murphy’s Ulster reached the final in Bilbao this season only to fall to a heavy defeat against Montpellier.

Pool 2 sees Benetton set to renew their rivalry with 2022 champions LOU Rugby after the sides also met in last season’s pool stages. They are joined by Newcastle Red Bulls, 2024 winners Hollywoodbets Sharks, Castres Olympique and Scarlets.

Pool 3 brings together Ospreys, Edinburgh, Georgia’s Black Lion, three-time Challenge Cup winners and the competition’s joint most successful club Harlequins, 2023 champions RC Toulon and RC Vannes, who return to the tournament after debuting in the 2024/25 season.

Black Lion and the Toyota Cheetahs were confirmed as the two invited clubs following a competitive tender process that attracted interest from multiple countries. Both clubs met EPCR’s participation criteria, including establishing a European home base.

Investec Champions Cup Pools

Pool 1: Leinster, Glasgow Warriors, Section Paloise, Sale Sharks, Leicester Tigers, ASM Clermont Auvergne

Pool 2: Stade Toulousain, Lions, Saracens, Stade Rochelais, Exeter Chiefs, Connacht

Pool 3: Union Bordeaux-Begles, DHL Stormers, Racing 92, Munster, Bristol Bears, Gloucester

Pool 4: Northampton Saints, Bath, Cardiff, Montpellier Herault Rugby, Stade Francais Paris, Vodacom Bulls

EPCR Challenge Cup Pools

Pool 1: Toyota Cheetahs, Ulster, USAP, Dragons RFC, Aviron Bayonnais, Zebre Parma

Pool 2: Benetton, LOU Rugby, Newcastle Red Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Castres Olympique, Scarlets

Pool 3: Ospreys, Edinburgh, Black Lion, Harlequins, RC Toulon, RC Vannes

2026/27 Match Weekends

Round 1: 16/17/18 October 2026

Round 2: 11/12/13 December 2026

Round 3: 8/9/10 January 2027

Round 4: 15/16/17 January 2027

Round of 16: 2/3/4 April 2027

Quarter-finals: 9/10/11 April 2027

Semi-finals: 30 April / 1/2 May 2027

EPCR Challenge Cup Final: Friday 21 May 2027, OL Stadium, Lyon

Investec Champions Cup Final: Saturday 22 May 2027, OL Stadium, Lyon

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Champions Cup

Bordeaux destroy Leinster to retain Champions Cup crown

Bordeaux Begles scored five first-half tries to demolish Leinster 41-19 in the Champions Cup final in Bilbao and claim back-to-back European titles.

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2 months ago

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23rd May 2026

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Bordeaux destroy Leinster to retain Champions Cup crown
RUGBY : Leinster vs UBB - Final of the Investec Champion Cup -Bilbao - 23 05 2026 The players of UBB celebrate with the Investec Champions Cup Bilbao Copyright: Thierry Breton (IMAGO / PsnewZ)

Union Bordeaux Begles retained the Investec Champions Cup with a ruthless 41-19 demolition of Leinster at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, producing a devastating first-half performance that effectively ended the final as a contest before the interval. Five converted tries in 28 minutes of first-half rugby left Leinster trailing 35-7 at the break in front of a sold-out crowd of 52,327, and while Leo Cullen’s side showed resolve in the second half with two further tries, the damage had long since been done on a sweltering afternoon where temperatures hit 30C at half-time.

Key moments

8 mins – TRY LEINSTER: Patient build-up through 19 phases sees Leinster grind into the Bordeaux 22 with carries from Henshaw, Doris and van der Flier. Quick hands from Garry Ringrose release Tommy O’Brien to dive over in the right corner. Harry Byrne converts from the touchline. (Leinster 7-0 Bordeaux)

11 mins – DISALLOWED TRY BORDEAUX: Cameron Woki dives for the right corner after a flowing move sparked by Bielle-Biarrey and Uberti. On-field decision is a try, but TMO Marius van der Westhuizen rules Woki’s left arm brushed the touchline. Penalty advantage to Bordeaux.

14 mins – TRY BORDEAUX: From the penalty advantage, Bordeaux kick to the corner. Carlu Sadie takes a tap and go from five metres and captain Maxime Lucu spots a gap and snipes under the posts from close range. Lucu converts his own try. (Leinster 7-7 Bordeaux)

18 mins – TRY BORDEAUX: Byrne kicks the restart dead. From the scrum, Bielle-Biarrey’s chip brushes Hugo Keenan’s fingertips and rolls dead, giving Bordeaux a five-metre scrum. Playing on penalty advantage, Matthieu Jalibert finds Salesi Rayasi who feeds Pablo Uberti to score untouched on the right. Lucu converts. (Leinster 7-14 Bordeaux)

25 mins – TRY BORDEAUX: Sweeping move from right to left. Louis Bielle-Biarrey receives on the left wing and steps inside Thomas Clarkson and Jamison Gibson-Park to score. Lucu converts. (Leinster 7-21 Bordeaux)

29 mins – KNOCK-ON LEINSTER: Jack Conan drops the ball with Leinster camped on the Bordeaux five-metre line after a sustained attacking sequence. A crucial missed opportunity.

36 mins – TRY BORDEAUX: Jalibert’s kick is blocked down and Damian Penaud reacts quickest to the loose ball, grubbering through. The bounce defeats Gibson-Park and sits up perfectly for Bielle-Biarrey, who swerves past Keenan to score his second. Lucu converts. (Leinster 7-28 Bordeaux)

40+2 mins – TRY BORDEAUX: With Leinster chasing a lifeline before the break, Harry Byrne’s pass is intercepted by Yoram Moefana just outside his own 22. The centre sprints 60 metres to score under the posts unopposed. Lucu converts for a fifth time. (Leinster 7-35 Bordeaux)

Half-time: Leinster 7-35 Bordeaux. A devastating 28 minutes from Bordeaux after O’Brien’s opening try. Five converted tries, all from Lucu’s boot, leave Leinster needing the greatest comeback in Champions Cup final history. Bielle-Biarrey’s double and Moefana’s intercept the highlights. Leinster made five handling errors to Bordeaux’s one.

42 mins – YELLOW CARD BORDEAUX: Maxime Lucu sin-binned for a horse-collar grab on Joe McCarthy, pulling the Ireland lock by his hair. Frawley and Furlong on for Byrne and Clarkson.

46 mins – TRY LEINSTER: Leinster capitalise on Lucu’s absence with sustained pressure inside the Bordeaux 22. Joe McCarthy drives over from close range from a ruck. Ciaran Frawley’s conversion strikes the post. (Leinster 12-35 Bordeaux)

50 mins – INJURY: Cameron Woki is helped off the field in tears with what appears to be a serious injury. Standing ovation from the Bordeaux supporters. Temo Matiu replaces him.

51 mins – INTERCEPTION: Tommy O’Brien works a two-on-one overlap but his pass to Rieko Ioane is intercepted by Salesi Rayasi. A golden chance to close the gap goes begging.

59 mins – PENALTY BORDEAUX: Lucu, back from the sin bin, kicks a straightforward penalty after James Ryan is penalised for a high tackle on Jalibert. (Leinster 12-38 Bordeaux)

64 mins – PENALTY BORDEAUX: Lucu lands a remarkable penalty from just inside his own half. Seven from seven off the tee. (Leinster 12-41 Bordeaux)

71 mins – TRY LEINSTER: Garry Ringrose forces his way over after Robbie Henshaw’s neat short pass from a quickly taken penalty. Frawley converts. (Leinster 19-41 Bordeaux)

73 mins – YELLOW CARD BORDEAUX: Ugo Boniface shown yellow for a needless clearout on James Ryan at a ruck.

Full-time: Leinster 19-41 Bordeaux

For Leinster, it is a fifth defeat in a Champions Cup final since their last triumph at this very stadium in 2018, and by far the most painful. Their previous final losses to Saracens, La Rochelle (twice) and Toulouse were competitive matches decided on fine margins. This was nothing of the sort. Bordeaux, who had to beat the champions of France, England and the URC in consecutive knockout rounds to reach the final, became the first side in EPCR history to win back-to-back titles with an unbeaten record across two seasons, winning all 16 of their knockout and pool matches in that span. It was also France’s sixth consecutive Champions Cup title.

The opening exchanges gave little indication of what was to come. Hugo Keenan spilled Maxime Lucu’s first kick of the day within 25 seconds, hinting at early Leinster nerves, but the four-time champions recovered and started with intent. Jamison Gibson-Park’s intelligent kicking pinned Bordeaux inside their own territory and a maul turnover gave Leinster the platform to attack. Big carries from Robbie Henshaw, Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier got them moving into the 22, and after 19 hard phases under the Bilbao heat it was quick hands from Garry Ringrose that sent Tommy O’Brien diving over in the right corner in the eighth minute. Harry Byrne landed an impressive touchline conversion from five metres in from the sideline and Leinster led 7-0.

It was the last time they would lead. Bordeaux’s response was immediate. Pablo Uberti made a surging break before the ball was swept wide to Cameron Woki, who dived for the right corner and appeared to ground the ball. However, TMO Marius van der Westhuizen overturned referee Karl Dickson’s on-field decision, ruling that Woki’s left arm had brushed the touchline. Bordeaux settled for the penalty advantage, kicked to the corner, and after Carlu Sadie’s five-metre tap and go set the tone, captain Lucu spotted a gap and sniped beautifully under the posts from close range in the 14th minute. He converted his own try to level the scores at 7-7.

What followed was a collapse that few could have predicted. Byrne kicked the restart dead, handing Bordeaux a scrum on halfway. Then came another contentious moment. Bielle-Biarrey’s chip over the Leinster defensive line ran over the dead ball line, but the TMO determined that Keenan had got the slightest of fingertip touches to the ball, giving Bordeaux a five-metre scrum rather than a goal-line dropout. Playing on penalty advantage from the resulting set piece, Bordeaux shifted the ball wide through Matthieu Jalibert, who found Salesi Rayasi with a perfectly weighted pass before the full-back fed Uberti, who ran in untouched. Lucu’s conversion made it 14-7 in the 18th minute. Two tries in four minutes and Leinster were suddenly chasing the game.

A water break at the end of the first quarter could not settle Leinster down. The tournament’s outstanding wing then took centre stage. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who would later be named Player of the Tournament, scored twice in 11 minutes to put the result beyond doubt. His first, in the 25th minute, came at the end of a sweeping move. Bordeaux moved the ball wide to the right touchline before coming straight back to the left, and Bielle-Biarrey stepped inside Thomas Clarkson and Gibson-Park to finish with the devastating footwork that has made him the most feared attacking player in European rugby. Lucu’s third conversion made it 21-7 with barely 25 minutes played.

Leinster came back down the pitch to earn a five-metre scrum in prime attacking position, but after a sustained block of phases Jack Conan knocked on, to an eruption of noise from the Bordeaux supporters. It was the province’s fifth handling error of the half, compared to just one for their opponents.

With five minutes left in the half, Bordeaux went for the knockout. Damian Penaud was quickest to react to a loose ball after Jalibert’s kick was blocked down, and his grubber bounced perfectly away from Gibson-Park and into the path of Bielle-Biarrey, who swerved past Keenan to score his second try and his 34th of the season in 30 games for club and country. Lucu’s fourth conversion made it 28-7.

The final blow before the break was self-inflicted. With Leinster pushing for a try that might have offered a lifeline, Byrne’s pass was intercepted by Yoram Moefana just outside his own 22. The centre had made a perfect defensive read and sprinted 60 metres to score under the posts unopposed, and Lucu’s fifth conversion from five attempts made it 35-7 at the interval. As Moefana touched down, Lucu turned to face the bank of Bordeaux supporters behind the goal, arms raised. The game was over. Bordeaux had equalled the record of five tries in a Champions Cup final, and they had done it inside 40 minutes.

“We’ve given away things just a little bit cheaply,” Cullen said of the first-half collapse. “On one hand, it’s an amazing thing to be part of, but on the disappointing side, I think there’s frustration there that we’ve created lots of opportunities in the game and haven’t been anywhere near as clinical as we would have liked to have been.”

Leinster at least came out with purpose after the break. Within two minutes of the restart, Lucu was sin-binned for a horse-collar grab on Joe McCarthy, the Bordeaux captain pulling the Ireland lock by his hair to drag him to the ground. Frawley replaced Byrne at fly-half and Tadhg Furlong came on for Thomas Clarkson as Cullen looked to inject new energy. Rieko Ioane sparked to life with a powerful break through the midfield and Leinster camped inside the Bordeaux 22. McCarthy dived over from close range from a ruck in the 46th minute for Leinster’s second try, though Frawley’s conversion struck the post. At 35-12, the deficit remained 23 points.

Leinster had a golden opportunity to score again moments later when O’Brien worked his way into a two-on-one overlap, but his pass to Ioane was intercepted by Rayasi to deny what would have been a crucial try before Lucu’s return from the sin bin. The Bordeaux captain re-emerged to a hero’s reception and promptly went back to work, kicking a penalty after James Ryan was penalised for a high tackle on Jalibert. A second penalty soon followed, a remarkable effort from just inside his own half, to extend the lead to 41-12 and extinguish any remaining hope.

Ben Tameifuna, introduced at tighthead after the break, was making his considerable presence felt, winning two turnovers to break up Leinster’s attacking momentum at critical moments. “Today, we played a perfect match,” Tameifuna said afterwards. “We wanted to play fast when we wanted to, and then we wanted to slow it down. So that was huge for the team.”

Cameron Woki’s departure in tears on the 50th minute was a sour note for the champions. The back-rower, who had been immense throughout the tournament, received a standing ovation from the Bordeaux supporters as he was helped from the field by physios. Temo Matiu, who had earlier replaced Pierre Bochaton for a brief stint, came back on permanently in Woki’s place.

Ringrose scored a consolation try in the 71st minute, forcing his way over after Henshaw’s neat short pass from a quickly taken penalty, and Frawley converted to make it 19-41. Replacement loosehead Ugo Boniface was then shown yellow for a needless clearout on Ryan at a ruck, but it did little to dampen the celebrations. Max Deegan made a strong carry evading Lucu’s tackle in the closing stages and Luke McGrath tried to generate pace, but Moefana timed another interception to perfection near the Bordeaux line, and the final minutes drifted away to a chorus of French celebration.

Lucu finished with a try, five conversions and two penalties for a personal haul of 19 points and was named Player of the Match for a second consecutive Champions Cup final. His kicking was faultless – seven from seven – and his control of the game from scrum-half allowed Bordeaux’s attack, coached by Clare native Noel McNamara, to operate at full throttle. The Leinster stats told their own story: 162 carries to Bordeaux’s 104 and the edge in both possession and territory, yet they lost 24 turnovers and could not convert pressure into points when it mattered.

“You have to credit them. Some of their attack in the first half was incredibly hard to deal with,” Leinster captain Doris said. “We left ourselves too tall a mountain to climb. Proud of the effort of our boys in the second half, trying to climb back. But we left ourselves a little too much to do.”

Cullen insisted his side were not a million miles away despite the scoreline. “It’s not like we’re a million miles away. I know there’s a decent gap in the scoreline today but I think if you reflect upon what’s gone on in the game, the stats in the game, that would maybe be a bit of a reflection in terms of how clinical Bordeaux were. The speed with the way they do things is very impressive. That’s the bit we need to get after.”

Asked whether reaching another final only to lose constituted failure, Cullen was philosophical. “If you lose a final, is that failure? Listen, you can have that argument. It’s failure for us today because we had strong ambitions to try to win the game. We weren’t good enough today. But nothing stays the same forever in sport, does it?”

McNamara, who once headed the Leinster academy and guided the Ireland Under-20s, revealed the squad had drawn inspiration from Rory McIlroy’s Masters victory in their pursuit of consecutive titles. “We spoke of not being a fleeting star, of making our star shine,” McNamara said. “One thing the players are very proud of is the route we took to do that – Leicester Tigers in the round of 16, Toulouse, Bath and today a fantastic URC champion in Leinster.”

Bielle-Biarrey, accepting his Player of the Tournament award, was characteristically humble. “It’s really special, but I’m a winger – if the forwards don’t do a great job, the backs don’t do a good job too. I don’t get good ball. It’s because of them I can be player of the year this year,” the 22-year-old said. His 10 tries across the tournament capped a remarkable campaign that also saw him named Player of the Six Nations, with 34 tries in 30 games for club and country this season.

Tameifuna, meanwhile, paid tribute to his captain. “What a leader. He’s not the biggest player, but he definitely shows up with heart. He puts his body on the line, and I’m grateful to have a player like that on our team,” he said before warning that celebrations would be intense. “It’s going to be a rough couple of days.”

For Leinster, the focus must now shift quickly to a URC quarter-final against the Lions next Saturday. Doris acknowledged some players will be moving on but vowed the province would return. “We’re going to stay together. There’s a special group of boys there. No doubt we’ll be back better again next year.” Bordeaux, meanwhile, can savour their status as the dominant force in European club rugby and will attempt to emulate Toulon’s 2013-15 run with a third successive title next season. At this precise moment, few would bet against them.

Scorers:

Leinster: Tries: O’Brien (8), McCarthy (46), Ringrose (71). Cons: Byrne (9), Frawley (71).

Bordeaux Begles: Tries: Lucu (14), Uberti (18), Bielle-Biarrey (25, 36), Moefana (40+2). Cons: Lucu (5). Pens: Lucu (59, 64).

Yellow cards: Lucu (Bordeaux, 42), Boniface (Bordeaux, 73).

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Rieko Ioane; Harry Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher (for Sheehan, 53), Paddy McCarthy (for Porter, 63), Tadhg Furlong (for Clarkson, 44), Diarmuid Mangan (for J McCarthy, 73), Max Deegan (for Conan, 59), Luke McGrath (for Gibson-Park, 74), Ciaran Frawley (for Byrne, 44), Jamie Osborne (for Henshaw, 51).

Bordeaux Begles: Salesi Rayasi; Pablo Uberti, Damian Penaud, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu (capt); Jefferson Poirot, Maxime Lamothe, Carlu Sadie; Boris Palu, Adam Coleman; Pierre Bochaton, Cameron Woki, Marko Gazzotti.
Replacements: Gaetan Barlot (for Lamothe, 54), Ugo Boniface (for Poirot, 48), Ben Tameifuna (for Sadie, 48), Lachlan Swinton (for Coleman, 41), Temo Matiu (for Bochaton, 10-17, for Woki, 50), Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer (for Gazzotti, 54), Arthur Retiere (for Uberti, 63), Hugo Reus (for Jalibert, 70).

Match details: San Mames Stadium, Bilbao. Attendance: 52,327. Saturday 23 May 2026, 2.45pm (Irish time) / 3.45pm (local time). Referee: Karl Dickson (England). Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland). TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa). Player of the Match: Maxime Lucu (Bordeaux Begles). Player of the Tournament: Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux Begles).

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Champions Cup

O’Brien starts as Leinster name unchanged XV for European final

Leinster have named an unchanged starting XV from their semi-final win over Toulon for the Investec Champions Cup final against Bordeaux Bègles in Bilbao.

Published

2 months ago

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22nd May 2026

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O’Brien starts as Leinster name unchanged XV for European final
Leinster v RC Toulonnais European Rugby Champions Cup Tommy O Brien of Leinster during the European Rugby Champions Cup Semi-final match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin 02 05 2026. (IMAGO / Focus Images)

Leo Cullen has named an unchanged starting XV for tomorrow’s Investec Champions Cup final against Bordeaux Bègles at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, backing the same fifteen that secured a 29-25 semi-final victory over Toulon. While the starting line-up remains untouched, there are five changes to the replacements, with Ireland loosehead Paddy McCarthy available for the first time since January following foot surgery.

Key team news:

  • Tommy O’Brien has been passed fit to start on the right wing after withdrawing from last week’s URC win over the Ospreys
  • Paddy McCarthy returns to the bench for his first appearance since injuring his foot against La Rochelle in January
  • Tadhg Furlong is named among the replacements, with Thomas Clarkson retaining the starting tighthead spot
  • Ciarán Frawley replaces Sam Prendergast on the bench, with James Lowe missing out on the matchday 23 entirely
  • Diarmuid Mangan and Max Deegan come in for Alex Soroka and Scott Penny among the forward replacements
  • Unchanged starting XV from the semi-final win over Toulon

The fitness of O’Brien had been a concern this week after the Ireland wing was forced to withdraw from the Ospreys match before kick-off, but he has come through the captain’s run at San Mamés and takes his place on the right wing. All Black Rieko Ioane continues on the left, with Hugo Keenan at full-back. The selection means James Lowe, who returned from injury last week, Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O’Brien all miss the matchday 23, with Jamie Osborne the only outside-back cover on the bench.

Cullen has placed his trust in Clarkson at tighthead after the 22-year-old’s impressive form throughout the season. The Leinster prop has played more minutes than any other tighthead at the province this campaign and was nominated for the supporters’ player of the season award. Furlong, who has dealt with injury issues throughout the year, provides considerable experience from the bench alongside Rónan Kelleher and the returning McCarthy, giving Leinster a formidable front-row reload for the second half.

The back row of Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier and captain Caelan Doris is unchanged, as is the second-row partnership of Joe McCarthy and James Ryan. Jamison Gibson-Park and Harry Byrne continue at half-back, with Sam Prendergast the notable omission. Frawley’s greater versatility across the backline has earned him the nod as the bench playmaker, with Luke McGrath providing scrum-half cover.

The centre partnership of Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose carries a sense of occasion. The pair started together in the 2018 Champions Cup final at this very stadium, when Leinster beat Racing 92 15-12 to claim their fourth European title. Cullen will be hoping for a similarly successful outcome as his side chase a fifth star, having lost their previous three finals to La Rochelle (twice) and Toulouse.

This will be Leinster’s fourth final in five years and their ninth overall. Both sides have won all their matches in this season’s competition, with Leinster seeing off Edinburgh, Sale Sharks and Toulon in the knockout rounds, all at home. They will now face a very different challenge in Bilbao, where temperatures are expected to reach 30°C for the 2.45pm Irish time kick-off. EPCR are monitoring the Heat Stress Index and may introduce three-minute water breaks during the match.

Bordeaux enter as defending champions and tournament favourites, having scored the most tries, most points and made the most clean breaks in this season’s competition. The final promises to be an intriguing tactical battle between Leinster’s renowned blitz defence and the free-scoring backline of the French champions.

Leinster starting XV:
15. Hugo Keenan (82 caps)
14. Tommy O’Brien (60 caps)
13. Garry Ringrose (148 caps)
12. Robbie Henshaw (120 caps)
11. Rieko Ioane (14 caps)
10. Harry Byrne (90 caps)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (170 caps)
1. Andrew Porter (147 caps)
2. Dan Sheehan (86 caps)
3. Thomas Clarkson (76 caps)
4. Joe McCarthy (62 caps)
5. James Ryan (108 caps)
6. Jack Conan (177 caps)
7. Josh van der Flier (172 caps)
8. Caelan Doris (105 caps) – captain

Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (92 caps)
17. Paddy McCarthy (15 caps)
18. Tadhg Furlong (165 caps)
19. Diarmuid Mangan (27 caps)
20. Max Deegan (157 caps)
21. Luke McGrath (253 caps)
22. Ciarán Frawley (122 caps)
23. Jamie Osborne (73 caps)

Match details: Leinster v Union Bordeaux Bègles, San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao. Saturday 23 May, 2.45pm (Irish time) / 3.45pm (local time). Live on Premier Sports 1 and ITV4. Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU).

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