Rugby-Bordeaux overpower Northampton to win Champions Cup
Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Northampton Saints v Bordeaux Begles - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 24, 2025 Bordeaux Begles' Maxime Lucu in action with Northampton Saints' Henry Pollock Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
CARDIFF -Bordeaux Begles were crowned kings of Europe for the first time on Saturday when they combined rapier finishing with relentless forward power to beat Northampton 28-20 in a tense and often chaotic Champions Cup final at the Principality Stadium.
Two tries for Damian Penaud and one for Adam Coleman had the French side ahead, but Alex Coles followed his third-minute score with another in the 40th to make it 20-20 at the end of a crazy first half full of tries, injuries and yellow cards.
Bordeaux, appearing in the final for the first time, tightened the screw in the second half and their forward power and driving mauls allowed them to forge eight points clear after a Cyril Cazeaux try and a penalty for man of the match scrumhalf Maxime Lucu.
Northampton showed admirable spirit to stay in the game but were unable to conjure the attacking backline moves that swept them to the final and instead the title went to France for the fifth year in a row.
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
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