Bordeaux-Bègles Defeats Toulouse, Reaches First Final

Union Bordeaux-Bègles reached their first-ever Champions Cup final with a commanding 35-18 win over injury-hit defending champions Toulouse, ending Toulouse’s two-year unbeaten run. Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored two tries and Matthieu Jalibert provided decisive kicking and playmaking, while additional tries came from Pete Samu, Pierre Bochaton, and Ben Tameifuna. Toulouse briefly led after tries from Dimitri Delibes and Pierre-Louis Barassi, but Bordeaux’s superior pace and finishing prevailed. The victory avenged Bordeaux’s heavy defeat to Toulouse in last year’s Top 14 final and sets up a Champions Cup final against Northampton Saints in Cardiff on May 24. The final promises a key matchup between Bielle-Biarrey and Northampton’s Tommy Freeman, though Bordeaux may be without star Damian Penaud due to injury. Bordeaux’s players expressed pride in overcoming past disappointments and qualifying in front of home fans.