Northampton 20-28 Bordeaux-Bègles: European Rugby Champions Cup final – as it happened
Here’s Rob Kitson’s match report from Cardiff.A fitting tribute to a brilliant game of rugby.Sometimes this sport is a slog.But sometimes it’s a joy.This was a fitting final.
Saints played their part but the right team won it in the end.A wonderful occasion captured by some wonderful words.Thanks for keeping me company.Hope you enjoyed that as much as I did.Bordeaux scored 217 points in the pool phase to secure top seeds.
They then comfortably beat Ulster, Munster and Toulouse.In fact, this was their lowest scoring game across the competition.“Cardiff look out,” says Adam Coleman in some post match chat.They’re staying the night.I wonder how many of them will actually get some sleep.
Another good stat, this one from the South Africa rugby writer Jared Wright:Arthur Retière has won 3 Champions Cups with 3 different teams:La Rochelle – 2022Toulouse – 2024Bordeaux – 2025.An interesting stat from the stats wizard Russ Petty:“Winning captain won player of the match in 5 of last 7 Champions Cup finals, last time before that was 2000”Big players step up in big games.Maxime Lucu hoists the trophy with help from Jefferson Poirot.Bordeaux Begles are champions!Oh, some words from the losing skipper, Fraser Dingwall:That sums up our season.We were never going to go away but we gave them too many opportunities.
Frustrating when it comes down to small margins,We stayed in there and forced turnovers but against good teams you can’t keep giving them chances,As the Northampton players walk up and collect their silver medals, let’s consider how mighty French rugby is at the moment,The recent winners of the Champions Cup:2021 - Toulouse2022 - La Rochelle2023 - La Rochelle2024 - Toulouse2025 - BordeauxSaints took them close,They stayed in it.
They just couldn’t quite match Bordeaux’s grunt.Damian Penaud has been recognised as the Champions Cup player of the tournament.Here’s what he has to say about that:Tonight I am very proud of this team.We know that this competition is very difficult.We have to play in two competitions with the Top 14.
Tonight is an emotional moment.I’m proud of the team, the president and my family; it’s for them.This stadium is great, we can’t hear anything and it’s difficult to communicate with each other.[On the Top 14 double push] First tonight we will drink beer and celebrate.We’ll think of the Top 14 another night.
Here’s the player of the match, the victorious captain, Maxime Lucu:Thank you for all the support.Thank you for the title.It’s been a very big atmosphere.Thank you all.Northampton is a very good team.
When they win against Leinster, they keep the ball in play.For us we had to defend.We just had to try.He struggled through that chat in his second (third?) language.But he was clearly buzzing and processing what he’d just achieved.
Where did Northampton lose it?Denis O’Brien is pointing a stiff finger at their scrumhalf:“Sorry to say it but Mitchell has lost this final, bad passes and too slow a lot of the time,Amazing game of rugby though!”I think that’s harsh,I thought he had a really good first half and his kicking game was on point for most of the match,Losing Furbank early played a role in creating backline cohesion,Smith was quiet as well.
Agreed that it was an amazing game.I really enjoyed that.Bordeax are European champions! Northampton gave as good as they got, but when the game became an arm wrestle, Lucu and co just had too much grunt and nous.A masterclass is bossing the territory game, this swashbuckling outfit proved that they are more than show ponies.A first ever major trophy for a team that has lit up the competition.
No question the best team across the Champions Cup are deserving winners.80 min: Well, they don’t secure the ball and Northampton get to halfway with some slick running and passing.Sleightholme burns some ground and gets to the edge of the 22.A cross-field kick bobbles out and that’s it.Bordeaux-Begles are European champions!79 min: Sleightholme skews a kick off the side of his boot from his own 22 and Bordeaux will get the line-out throw.
Secure the ball, count to 30 seconds, kick it out and they are champions.79 min: Lucu gets the player of the match award.For my money he’s the second best 9 in the world, after Dupont, and would walk into any other Test team.79 min: Bordeaux are already celebrating.They’ve never won a major trophy.
They’re a minute out from claiming the ultimate prize in club rugby.78 min: A third consecutive scrum penalty for Saints has Smith kicking to touch to halfway.No or never.It’ll be NEVER! At least tonight.As Langdon knocks on in midfield trying to catch a pass that wasn’t meant for him.
77 min: This game, once fluid and entertaining, has become stodgy.Not that Bordeaux will mind.Another big kick puts the ball back in Saints territory.There’s a spill of the ball and Northampton have the scum feed, but they’re in their own half just beyond their 22.75 min: It’s a little stodgy from Northampton.
A spilled ball in midfield – though a Bordeaux player was surely off-side – disrupts their play,They keep the ball and Sleightholme on the right wing kicks upfield,It hits a Bordeaux leg and goe out,So Saints have the throw which is adjudged to be skew,74 min: Penalty for Northampton.
Quick ball off the scrum and then they go back into the pack of forwards, who are all off-side, and the Saints very cleverly milk an exit.73 min: Once again Northampton survive a scare! Coles climbs high at the line-out to disrupt Bordeaux’s ball and force the knock-on.So it’ll be a Northampton scrum rather than a Bordeax maul five out from the Saints’ line in the corner.Remarkable.They’re eight points down and 95 metres from where they need to be, but they’re hanging tough.
72 min: AH! Northampton lose their line-out after the penalty.Lockett just can’t reach the throw.Then from the resulting kick into Saints’ territory, Mitchell and Penaud go up for it.Mitchell pulls Penaud and this’ll be a penalty against Northampton inside their own 22.It’s kickable but Jalibert nudges it to the corner.
Those Lucu box kicks are winning this game for Bordeaux.He’s keot Saints pinned down.71 min: Another scrum penalty for Northampton.Bonface getting the back slaps.Incredible how Saints have stayed in this.
70 min: Bordeaux win a penalty five out from Saints line! They celebrate as if they’ve won the game.Well, sort of.It’s a high kick to the corner that is spilled backwards by the Saints.Penaud climbing up to disrupt Mitchell.He’s knocked it on! What’s going on!?Sanity prevails and rather than a Bordeaux penalty it’ll be a Northampton scrum.
They’re a long way from where they need to be but they’re still in this fight,69 min: Excellent off the line-out,Multiple phases and Saints are within five,Coles involved throughout,They’re keeping it tight.
Is that wise? No! Because Bordeaux turn them and Lucu clears.Litchfield has to mop up under immense pressure.He does well but that’s a missed opportunity for Saints who probably should have given it to their backs sooner.67 min: Bordeaux give away a penalty for tackling a Northampton player in the air.Moefana I think it was.
It’s all getting chaotic – even more so than it was before.So Saints kick it out inside Bordeaux’s 22 and will have the throw.They have to score here.66 min: Once again Saints show how blistering they can be from first phase play.Frm the scrum they explode into the open space, Freeman leaving his wing, Smith on the loop, it flies to Sleightholme in the right wing.
But Mitchell’s first pass from the second phase is loose and Northampton spill the ball on Bordeaux’s 22.65 min: Slick off the top of the line-out from Saints, they go down the line from coast to coast.Jalibert makes a get steal in the tackle, ripping the ball free.But Pollock returns the favour and rips it back from him.It ends with a knock-on and a Saints feed inside their own half towards the left
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