Union Bordeaux-Bègles delivered a landmark performance in Cardiff, defeating Northampton Saints 28–20 to capture their first-ever Investec Champions Cup title.
Sparked by the brilliance of Damian Penaud, Maxime Lucu, and Matthieu Jalibert, UBB overcame a fast Saints start and controlled the second half to seal the win.
Here’s the full recap and scoring summary from the 2025 Champions Cup Final:
HISTORIC NIGHT IN CARDIFF: BORDEAUX-BÈGLES CROWNED CHAMPIONS CUP WINNERS FOR THE FIRST TIME
Northampton Saints 20 – 28 Union Bordeaux-Bègles (HT: 20–20)
Union Bordeaux-Bègles etched their name into rugby history on Saturday, claiming their first-ever Champions Cup title with a thrilling 28–20 win over Northampton Saints at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. It was a pulsating final packed with attacking flair, tactical class, and individual brilliance—none more so than from Damian Penaud, Maxime Lucu, and Matthieu Jalibert. The match exploded into life with George Hendy’s early break leading to a first-minute try for Alex Coles. But UBB struck back almost instantly, Penaud finishing a wide attack to level the momentum. Soon after, Jalibert carved through the Saints defense and sent Adam Coleman crashing over to give the French side the lead. Despite injuries piling up on both sides, the tempo never dipped. Smith and Jalibert exchanged penalties, but a yellow card to Mahamadou Diaby allowed Northampton to claw back points, and another to Tom Freeman gave UBB a chance to pounce—Penaud doing just that to score his second before halftime. Yet the Saints were not done, as Alex Coles stormed in on the stroke of the break to send the sides in locked at 20–20. After the break, Bordeaux took control. Lucu nudged them back ahead with a penalty, and after relentless pressure and field dominance, second row Cyril Cazeaux drove over for a crucial try in the 56th minute to stretch the lead to 28–20. From there, the French club displayed composure and physical grit, holding off every Northampton surge with relentless defense and clever game management. The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes, as UBB lifted the Champions Cup for the first time, confirming their rise among Europe’s elite and capping a flawless campaign under head coach Yannick Bru.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
- Tries: Coles (1’, 40’)
- Conversions: Smith (2’, 40’)
- Penalties: Smith (24’, 32’)
UNION BORDEAUX-BÈGLES
- Tries: Penaud (5’, 36’), Coleman (20’), Cazeaux (55’)
- Conversions: Jalibert (21’)
- Penalties: Jalibert (28’), Lucu (44’)
Union Bordeaux-Bègles’ triumph marks a defining moment in club history—capping an unbeaten campaign with a composed, clinical performance on European rugby’s biggest stage.
For Northampton, it was a heartbreaking end to a strong run, but the Saints leave Cardiff knowing they pushed the new champions to the limit. With the 2025 Investec Champions Cup now complete, Bordeaux-Bègles stand tall as the kings of Europe.
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