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The Independent
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Bordeaux-Begles break Northampton Saints hearts to claim historic Champions Cup win
Northampton Saints suffered Investec Champions Cup final heartache as Bordeaux-Begles claimed an epic 28-20 victory at the Principality Stadium. A pulsating Cardiff contest saw the French club record their first Champions Cup success but Saints gave it everything after losing backs George Furbank and James Ramm to injuries inside the opening five minutes. Seeking a first Champions Cup title for 25 years, Northampton went toe to toe with their opponents as flanker Alex Coles' try double underpinned an outstanding Saints display. Fly-half Fin Smith added two penalties and two conversions, but Bordeaux 's superior finishing power delivered two tries for wing Damian Penaud, while locks Adam Coleman and Cyril Cazeaux also touched down. Matthieu Jalibert booted a penalty and conversion, and captain Maxime Lucu also kicked a penalty as Bordeaux made it five years in a row for French clubs to win the tournament. But Northampton could not have done much more, going the distance and making their opponents work for everything. Saints made a lightning-quick start, going ahead after just 107 seconds as they kept possession from kick-off and Coles crashed over from close range, with Smith adding the extras. That score was tempered, though, by an immediate injury blow when wing Ramm had to be helped off as England international Ollie Sleightholme replaced him for a first club appearance since December. Furbank's exit followed shortly afterwards after he took an accidental knee to his face from Bordeaux full-back Romain Buros, continuing a horrible run for him after playing just 57 minutes of rugby this year because of a broken arm and then aggravating that injury. Tom Litchfield took over from Furbank, and Bordeaux immediately scored an equalising try as Penaud crossed for his 13th try in this season's competition. Bordeaux should have gone ahead in the 15th minute, but Louis Bielle-Biarrey 's pass to Penaud was ruled forward and the disallowed score meant Saints enjoyed a huge let-off. But Bordeaux continued to press, and some magical footwork from Jalibert – which he followed with a superb floated pass – sent Coleman over in the corner, and the fly-half's conversion left Northampton five points behind. Smith quickly cut the gap with a long-range penalty, yet that was soon cancelled out by a Jalibert strike as Bordeaux led 15-10 midway through the second quarter. The French side had flanker Mahamadou Diaby yellow-carded following head on head contact with Saints lock Temo Mayanavanua, and Northampton looked to make their temporary one-man advantage count. A second Smith penalty kept his team firmly in contention, but Saints then saw wing Tommy Freeman receive a yellow card after an aerial challenge, and Penaud pounced for his second try, but Coles then claimed his own double. Smith's conversion made it 20-20 at the interval – a pulsating 40 minutes that produced the most first-half points scored in a Champions Cup final. Henry Pollock had a try disallowed within two minutes of the restart, and Saints briefly went down to 13 players when replacement lock Ed Prowse collected a yellow card, before Lucu's 44th-minute penalty edged Bordeaux back in front. Northampton continued to give it everything, but they could not halt Bordeaux's power game from close range, and Cazeaux went over to open up an eight-point gap. And that proved enough to thwart Northampton's brave bid, with Bordeaux closing out the contest and sparking wild scenes of celebration.
Washington Post
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Bordeaux wins its first Champions Cup rugby title after subduing Northampton
CARDIFF, Wales — Bordeaux-Begles won its first Champions Cup title after holding off Northampton 28-20 in the final at Principality Stadium on Saturday. Bordeaux delivered a French champion for the fifth straight year after dominating the second half from 20-20 at halftime. Two tries for wing Damian Penaud and one for lock Adam Coleman were countered by a pair from Northampton flanker Alex Coles in the most first-half points ever in a final.
Associated Press
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Bordeaux wins its first Champions Cup rugby title after subduing Northampton
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Bordeaux-Begles won its first Champions Cup title after holding off Northampton 28-20 in the final at Principality Stadium on Saturday. Bordeaux delivered a French champion for the fifth straight year after dominating the second half from 20-20 at halftime. Two tries for wing Damian Penaud and one for lock Adam Coleman were countered by a pair from Northampton flanker Alex Coles in the most first-half points ever in a final. Coles' tying second converted try just before the interval helped the Saints overcome losing backs George Furbank and James Ramm to injuries in the opening five minutes. Ramm had to be helped off and England international Ollie Sleightholme replaced him for a first club appearance since December. Furbank took an accidental knee to his face from Bordeaux fullback Romain Buros, continuing a horrible run for him after playing just 57 minutes of rugby this year because of a broken arm and then aggravating that injury. Northampton's Henry Pollock had a try disallowed within two minutes of the restart, and Saints briefly went down to 13 players when replacement lock Ed Prowse collected a yellow card. Bordeaux captain Maxime Lucu's 44th-minute penalty edged the French back in front. Bordeaux's superior finishing and power game from close range saw lock Cyril Cazeaux go over in the 55th to open an eight-point gap that held to the end as Saints flagged under pressure. 'We have put in a lot of hard work to get to this point, so to get the reward is unreal,' Coleman told broadcaster Premier Sports.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bordeaux wins its first Champions Cup rugby title after subduing Northampton
Northampton Saints' Alex Coles celebrates scoring a try during the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP) Northampton Saints' Tommy Freeman is tackled during the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP) Union Bordeaux-Begles' Damian Penaud, left, avoids a tackle to go onto score a try during the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP) Union Bordeaux-Begles lift the trophy after winning the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP) Union Bordeaux-Begles lift the trophy after winning the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP) Northampton Saints' Alex Coles celebrates scoring a try during the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP) Northampton Saints' Tommy Freeman is tackled during the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP) Union Bordeaux-Begles' Damian Penaud, left, avoids a tackle to go onto score a try during the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP) Union Bordeaux-Begles lift the trophy after winning the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP) CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Bordeaux-Begles won its first Champions Cup title after holding off Northampton 28-20 in the final at Principality Stadium on Saturday. Bordeaux delivered a French champion for the fifth straight year after dominating the second half from 20-20 at halftime. Advertisement Two tries for wing Damian Penaud and one for lock Adam Coleman were countered by a pair from Northampton flanker Alex Coles in the most first-half points ever in a final. Coles' tying second converted try just before the interval helped the Saints overcome losing backs George Furbank and James Ramm to injuries in the opening five minutes. Ramm had to be helped off and England international Ollie Sleightholme replaced him for a first club appearance since December. Furbank took an accidental knee to his face from Bordeaux fullback Romain Buros, continuing a horrible run for him after playing just 57 minutes of rugby this year because of a broken arm and then aggravating that injury. Northampton's Henry Pollock had a try disallowed within two minutes of the restart, and Saints briefly went down to 13 players when replacement lock Ed Prowse collected a yellow card. Bordeaux captain Maxime Lucu's 44th-minute penalty edged the French back in front. Advertisement Bordeaux's superior finishing and power game from close range saw lock Cyril Cazeaux go over in the 55th to open an eight-point gap that held to the end as Saints flagged under pressure. 'We have put in a lot of hard work to get to this point, so to get the reward is unreal,' Coleman told broadcaster Premier Sports.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Exhausted Saints fall short again as Bordeaux's colour and passion wins out
A new name is on the cup. They reckon Union Bordeaux Bègles are the best-supported rugby union club in the world. To be in Cardiff was not to be disabused of the notion. Rugby is massive in France, on a par with football, and bigger in the southern half of the country. It creates a different kind of animal. Northampton were proud, brave, inventive – but in the end overpowered. The narrative was wild and, Saints might say, liable to have gone either way. A raucous stadium – for Northampton are one of the best supported in England – was treated to crazy fluctuations in fortune, tries scored and overturned, penalties, knock-ons and high tackles subject to review after review. Advertisement Related: Spencer sparkles for Bath to overwhelm Lyon and win European Challenge Cup But when the dust settled, the reality of a top club in the sport's biggest market imposed itself on Northampton, champions of England maybe, but a side who have hit their straps this season only in this competition. What a job they have made of it. It has almost been tacitly accepted in English rugby that glory days in Europe may have to wait for a while, so much more powerful and deep are the squads in French and Irish rugby these days. Saints and Harlequins worked wonders to make the semi-finals last year, but to go a step further again was a triumph against all odds for the former, given their injuries and the vagaries in form. Alas, the echoes of their previous appearance in this final, here in 2011, were all too poignant. Back then they rattled up a 22-6 lead against Leinster by half-time, only to ship 27 unanswered points. No such indignity this time. Alex Coles scored tries at either end of the first half to level 20-20 at the break. But the spectre of a scoreless second half returned, despite Henry Pollock's dash to the line from a lineout early, chalked off for a tug by Coles. Bordeaux ground out eight unanswered points for the win. Advertisement Pollock's was but one of a number of incidents subjected to trial by TMO. He had another effort chalked off five minutes from the break, marginally offside when he touched down Fin Smith's chip ahead. Bordeaux had two of their own disallowed, one for a forward pass between their deadly wingers, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud, the latter adding another two tries to his tally and collecting the player of the tournament award. By the end Northampton were still swinging but exhausted. They had picked a team to take the match to the opposition, but it was shot through with risk, a statement of boldness or, some might wonder, a devil-may-care roll of the dice. One surprise recovery from injury is one thing, but to unveil five of them in your squad might not be the sort of gamble a club with a bigger budget would take. Alas, two of them, James Ramm and George Furbank, were off within the first five minutes, the latter on a stretcher. Suddenly, Northampton had used two of their three backs replacements and one of those was Ollie Sleightholme, out since the Six Nations after ankle surgery. He probably had not banked on playing more or less 80 minutes. Especially not against Bielle-Biarrey and Penaud, the world's deadliest wingers. Another surprise was to see Coles line up in the back row. He was another to take a knock against Saracens last week. He seemed to be struggling even in the captain's run on Friday, but there he was with heavy strapping on his knee. Happily, he left any struggles behind him to have the game of his life, one of those locks absolutely in his element in the extra space of life in the back row. Those tries showcased his talents, powering his way through defenders for the first, deftly handling and galloping in support for the second. Advertisement But there could be little argument with the result. Bielle-Biarrey played most of the match at full-back, after Romain Buros left for a head injury assessment, just as Tommy Freeman did after Furbank left. The pair of them were superb in their different ways, even if Freeman took a spell in the bin. But Bordeaux's half-backs were key. Maxime Lucu took the match award, continuing to show off how he deserves more than to be considered Antoine Dupont's understudy. And his partner, Matthieu Jalibert, was bewitching, particularly in that first half, central to Bordeaux's three first-half tries, beating seven men to set up the second, for Cyril Cazeaux. They all added to the colour of the occasion. The French fans took the streets of Cardiff by storm before the match, chanting, drumming, marching, the British standing around somewhat bewildered with their cameraphones out to record the pageant. So it continued throughout the match. Early in the professional era, one of rugby's grand old cities merged its two deadly rivals. They are a blueprint for how to negotiate the transition from rugby's amateur ways to a bold modern synthesis that harnesses rare energy for the sport. The new club's first trophy, secured in its first European final. They are colourful and passionate. Worthy winners of that other great product of the professional era. Call it what you will, Heineken, Champions, Europe, it continues to bring out the best in rugby. Union Bordeaux Bègles are just the latest.
