LIVE: Bordeaux vs Northampton

Winger Damian Penaud scored two tries as Bordeaux came back to beat Northampton Saints in the 2024-25 Champions Cup final at the Principality Stadium.

Flanker Alex Coles crossed in the third minute to give Northampton a 7-0 lead in the Cardiff final, but Bordeaux responded with Penaud crossing twice to level the scores at 20-20 at half time, and Man of the Match Maxime Lucu kicked a second-half penalty as the Top 14 contenders won 28-20.

A FIRST STAR ON THE JERSEY ⭐️@UBBrugby win 28-20 to claim the #InvestecChampionsCup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/SRNcPHq6Iw

— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 24, 2025

Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert was pivotal in three of Bordeaux’s four tries before lock Cyril Cazeaux’s crucial second-half score sealed a historic success.

Northampton’s hopes of a second Champions Cup crown were severely damaged as they suffered three key injuries in the opening half an hour including to fullback George Furbank.

The English club fired out of the blocks with a similar tempo to their surprise last four win over four-time winners Leinster and led 7-0 after just three minutes.

Coles crashed over and flyhalf Fin Smith, one of four British and Irish Lions squad members on show, slotted the simple conversion with the majority of the crowd being Saints fans in full voice.

The rip-roaring start slowed down briefly as Saints’ Furbank was carried off the field on a stretcher after an in-air collision with Penaud on two minutes after winger James Ramm had left the field with a leg issue.

When play resumed the French outfit cut the deficit to two points as Penaud strolled over but Smith’s opposite number Jalibert failed with the conversion.

After a rip-roaring first half the teams were level 20-20 as lock Adam Coleman scored and Penaud his second before Coles claimed a double of his own with the clock in the red.

Jalibert’s influence was highlighted in the build-up to Coleman’s try with a perfectly-timed turnover and his assist for Penaud’s later touchdown.

Both sides spent spells of the opening 40 down a man as Bordeaux-Begles lost Mahamadou Diaby to the sin bin for a high tackle Saints lock Temo Mayanavanua, who followed Furbank and Ramm of the field.

Ollie Sleightholme was yellow carded for Northampton, who were denied the chance to retake the lead two minutes after the break as a previously quiet Pollock had his effort chalked off for obstruction.

Just five minutes into the second-half Saints were shown another yellow card as Mayanavanua’s replacement Ed Prowse was binned for a high tackle on centre Yoram Moefana.

Jalibert kicked Bordeaux-Begles into 23-20 lead from the following penalty with Bru’s outfit pressuring the Saints’ line.

The extra man finally paid off just before the hour mark as Coleman’s second-row partner Cazeaux powered through to make it 28-20 and secure the title.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images