A brace of tries by France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey helped Bordeaux Bègles retain their Investec Champions Cup title with a dominant win over Irish giants Leinster.
Bordeaux ran in five tries in their 41-19 win at a scorching San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, to become the sixth team to defend the trophy. Captain and Man of the Match Maxime Lucu bagged 21 points.
Despite opening the scoring after just nine minutes, Leinster failed to add to their four Champions Cup successes and lost a record-extending fifth straight final having last lifted the trophy in the Basque city in 2018.
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Bordeaux Bègles coach Yannick Bru was able to pick a full-strength side, including in-form Bielle-Biarrey and the controlling Lucu, who grew up barely a two-hour drive away the other side of the French border.
Leinster boss Leo Cullen chose to omit experienced winger James Lowe from the match 23 with New Zealand’s Rieko Ioane starting on the left flank instead.
In almost 30°C heat Leinster pounced on their first venture into Bordeaux’s 22m as winger Tommy O’Brien crossed out wide in front of a sold-out San Mames.
By the first quarter and the heat-enforced water break, the French side had re-taken the lead to 14-7.
LBB lighting up Bilbao for Union Bordeaux Bègles
#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/enCpGMUBpZ
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 23, 2026
It came thanks to efforts from Lucu and winger Pablo Uberti, two of Bordeaux’s five Basque players who this week received Athletic Bilbao shirts as gifts from the football club that are full-time residents of the San Mamés Stadium.
Bru’s side took full control of the match by the interval with three further touchdowns to cap a dominant first half with Leinster helpless.
Bielle-Biarrey claimed a 12-minute double and centre Yoram Moefana strolled over from 80m after intercepting a Harry Byrne pass with Lucu adding a further three conversions to make it 35-7 in a record half-time score for a Champions Cup final.
Bielle-Biarrey’s second effort illustrated his world-class finishing ability as he sidestepped two Leinster players in no space to find his way to the line, and the 22-year-old was named the tournament’s Player of the Season just before full-time.
During the break Bru warned on French TV a red card would be the major risk in his outfit losing the game and 90 seconds into the second half his warning almost came true.
Lucu was yellow-carded for grabbing hair as he tackled opposition lock Joe McCarthy by the collar of his shirt, which gave Leinster a short-lived boost on the field.
In the scrumhalf’s absence McCarthy jumped over to score to cut Bordeaux’s lead to 35-12.
Lucu returned to settle the ship with two penalties with a quarter of an hour to play to send the thousands of Bordeaux fans delirious.
Centre Gary Ringrose scored a consolation for Leinster, whose long wait for another Champions Cup crown goes on.
BORDEAUX BÈGLES – Tries: Maxime Lucu, Pablo Uberti, Louis Bielle-Biarrey (2), Yoram Moefana. Conversions: Lucu (5). Penalties: Lucu (2).
LEINSTER – Tries: Tommy O’Brien, Joe McCarthy, Garry Ringrose. Conversions: Harry Byrne, Ciarán Frawley.
BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS!
Union Bordeaux Bègles take the #InvestecChampionsCup title in Bilbao, beating Leinster Rugby 41-19
pic.twitter.com/TrKLOrUOkT
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 23, 2026
– AFP
Photo: James Crombie/INPHO
The post Bordeaux thump Leinster to go back-to-back appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
A brace of tries by France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey helped Bordeaux Bègles retain their Investec Champions Cup title with a dominant win over Irish giants Leinster.
The post Bordeaux thump Leinster to go back-to-back appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
