Bordeaux Wins First Champions Cup, Claims Fifth Consecutive French Rugby Title

Bordeaux-Begles claimed their first European Champions Cup title with a 28-20 victory over Northampton in a tense final at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, marking the fifth consecutive French club win in the competition. After a heavy defeat to Toulouse in the previous Top 14 final, Bordeaux returned stronger, relying on relentless forward power and defensive intensity to overcome a Northampton side featuring several British & Irish Lions hopefuls. Damian Penaud scored two tries and was named player of the year, while captain Maxime Lucu contributed crucial penalty kicks and was man of the match. Northampton started strongly with early tries from Alex Coles but struggled after early injuries to key backs George Furbank and James Ramm, ultimately unable to match Bordeaux's forward dominance. The match featured multiple tries, injuries, and video refereeing reviews, highlighting the physical and chaotic nature of the contest. Despite Northampton's spirited performance and tactical play, Bordeaux's combination of skill and strength secured their maiden Champions Cup triumph.