Latest news with #EuropeanChallengeCupFinal
The Star
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-List of European Champions Cup winners
Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Northampton Saints v Bordeaux Begles - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 24, 2025 Bordeaux Begles players celebrate with the trophy after winning the European Challenge Cup Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
List of European Champions Cup winners
Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Northampton Saints v Bordeaux Begles - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 24, 2025 Bordeaux Begles players celebrate with the trophy after winning the European Challenge Cup Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS Rugby's Champions Cup winners since the competition began in the 1995-96 season: 2024-25 Bordeaux-Begles 2023-24 Toulouse 2022-23 La Rochelle 2021-22 La Rochelle 2020-21 Toulouse 2019-20 Exeter Chiefs 2018-19 Saracens 2017-18 Leinster 2016-17 Saracens 2015-16 Saracens 2014-15 Toulon 2013-14 Toulon 2012-13 Toulon 2011-12 Leinster 2010-11 Leinster 2009-10 Toulouse 2008-09 Leinster 2007-08 Munster 2006-07 Wasps 2005-06 Munster 2004-05 Toulouse 2003-04 Wasps 2002-03 Toulouse 2001-02 Leicester 2000-01 Leicester 1999-00 Northampton 1998-99 Ulster 1997-98 Bath 1996-97 Brive 1995-96 Toulouse REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Bordeaux driven to glory by pain of French final drubbing
Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Northampton Saints v Bordeaux Begles - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 24, 2025 Bordeaux Begles fans react in the stands before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley REUTERS CARDIFF - When the Bordeaux-Begles players and staff trooped off the pitch having been crushed 59-3 by Toulouse in last year's Top 14 final, they vowed to return better and stronger this year and on Saturday, match-hardened, they finally tasted glory. Founded via a merger of clubs in 2006 and promoted to the Top 14 in 2011 they lifted their first major trophy in impressive style when they snuffed out the previously potent threat of Northampton to win the European Champions Cup with a 28-20 victory in Cardiff's Principality Stadium. Revenge against Toulouse had come in the semi-finals but it was not so much the sparkling backline attacking play they showed there that made the difference on Saturday as their forward power and defensive intensity that blunted a Northampton backline full of England internationals. Damian Penaud did score two tries to take his season's tally in the competition to 14 - earning him the player of the year award - but Bordeaux's relentless driving mauls and straight running sucked the energy out of a Northampton side who drained the tanks in trying to keep them at bay. Conductor-in-chief was scrumhalf and captain Maxime Lucu, who also took over the goal-kicking duties after some wobbles by Matthieu Jalibert. His penalty broke the 20-20 halftime deadlock and Bordeaux sealed the deal - the fifth title in a row for France - with Cyril Cazeaux's try. "It feels good to have this first trophy, it wasn't easy," said Lucu after being named man of the match. "We had some very tough moments, but we hung in there. "Honestly, it feels great - for the club, for the team, for the supporters. After defeat last year (in the Top 14 final) to come back this year, eliminate almost every team that had won this competition, and earn our first star, it's wonderful.' Penaud also referenced the Top 14 final defeat as motivation. "After last year's setback we said to ourselves that we never wanted to go through that again because we had taken a lesson," he said. "Maybe we had that extra bit of spirit tonight." Coach Yannick Bru was singing from the same hymn sheet. "We're really proud of them because last season ended in a nightmare," he said. "We felt the pressure of that first trophy coming on and we didn't want it to slip through our fingers." Saturday's victory meant that Bordeaux accounted for six former European champions in this season's run, with Northampton, winners in 2000, the last to fall. The English team showed remarkable spirit and fight but injuries, yellow cards and mistakes at key moments conspired against them as they struggled to build a consistent threat. "Bordeaux are deserved champions but we went toe-to-toe and I can't fault my side," said Northampton's director of rugby Phil Dowson, who played in the 2011 final defeat when Saints led Leinster 22-6 at halftime but lost 33-22. "The injuries were frustrating but the guys who came on were outstanding. It is difficult to see now but we must not lose the journey we went on to get here and we will celebrate that." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
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)
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Bath overwhelm Lyon to win Challenge Cup
Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Bath Rugby v Lyon - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 23, 2025 Bath Rugby's Max Ojomoh in action with Lyon's Leo Berdeu Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Bath Rugby v Lyon - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 23, 2025 Bath Rugby's Will Butt in action with Lyon's Baptiste Couilloud Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Bath Rugby v Lyon - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 23, 2025 Bath Rugby's Ben Spencer in action with Lyon's Mickael Guillard Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Bath Rugby v Lyon - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 23, 2025 Lyon's Ethan Dumortier in action with Bath Rugby's Will Muir Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS CARDIFF - Bath completed the second stage of what they hope will be a dream treble when they proved too good in all areas for Lyon and romped to a 37-12 triumph in the European Challenge Cup final at the Principality Stadium on Friday. Bath, who won the Premiership Cup this season and who will go into a home semi-final as the clear leaders of the English Premiership, were the better team throughout, but enjoyed the rub of the green in a controversial first half. Having ridden their luck when they were down to 13 men, however, the took command of the match. "We speak a lot about working hard for each other and the yellow card period is something we pride ourselves on," man of the match scrumhalf Ben Spencer, who scored the fourth and final try, told Premier Sports. "To not concede in that yellow card period I thought was outstanding. We spoke before the game about not playing the occasion, just playing the game. "I'm just so proud to be able to give the fans what they deserve after so many years of hurt." Bath, the former powerhouse of English rugby, had not won a trophy since their Challenge Cup triumph in 2008 but ended the drought with this season's Premiership Cup, though that is something of a development competition. Friday was a serious trophy, however, against a Lyon side who won it three years ago. The French team blasted out of the blocks to create an overlap on the right wing and Ethan Dumortier dived over to score after three minutes. PROLIFIC HOOKER Bath took a while to settle but, after a Finn Russell penalty, built up forward momentum that ended with prolific hooker Tom Dunn forcing his way over from close range. Spencer then took centre stage, following up a brilliant 50-20 kick with a zipped, miss-pass out to Max Ojomoh, who spun out of a tackle and touched down in one movement. With Russell converting both, Bath led 17-5, but after 28 minutes they lost England flanker Sam Underhill to a yellow card for a sickening head contact into the face of Davit Niniashvili that could easily have been red. Referee Hollie Davidson reduced Bath to 13 soon afterwards when winger Will Muir brought down the leaping Dumortier. Lyon thought they had hit back through Dumortier but his try was ruled out for obstruction and Bath were delighted to reach halftime 17-3 ahead with the Lyon fans jeering the officials. Lyon started the second half strongly and scored their second try through the strength of Arno Botha but, just as in the first, it was short-lived as Bath gained control. Beno Obano was bundled over and a scything run by Tom de Glanville gave Spencer the chance to cap an outstanding individual display with the fourth try under the posts. Bath then managed the game superbly, with Russell delivering a composed performance, converting all four tries and landing two penalties. Northampton will face Bordeaux Begles in another Anglo-French clash in the Champions Cup final at the same Principality Stadium on Saturday. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
