Ulster Falls to Bordeaux in Champions Cup

Ulster Rugby faced a disappointing defeat against Bordeaux-Begles, losing 40-19 in their Champions Cup match. After leading 19-14 at halftime with tries from Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, and Werner Kok, Ulster failed to score in the second half as Bordeaux unleashed a powerful performance, scoring 26 unanswered points. The visitors capitalized on their momentum, with tries from Tevita Tatafu and a series of late scores, including efforts from Damian Penaud and Guido Petti. This loss marks Ulster's second consecutive European defeat and their fourth straight loss across all competitions, raising concerns about their knockout stage prospects. With upcoming matches against Leicester and Exeter, Ulster's chances of advancing in the tournament appear to be dwindling rapidly. Assistant coach Dan Soper acknowledged the team's early effort but admitted they could not maintain their performance against Bordeaux's powerful bench.