The 2025 Investec Champions Cup semi-finals delivered two unforgettable clashes as underdogs rose to the occasion and title favorites fell.
Northampton Saints shocked Leinster in Dublin with a first-half blitz and a dramatic late stand, while Bordeaux-Bègles outplayed reigning champions Toulouse to secure their first-ever Champions Cup final appearance.
- Leinster 34 – 37 Northampton Saints
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles 35 – 18 Toulouse
Here are all the results and highlights from this weekend’s semi-final action:
NORTHAMPTON STUN LEINSTER TO REACH CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL
Leinster 34 – 37 Northampton Saints (HT: 15–27)
Northampton Saints pulled off one of the most dramatic upsets in Champions Cup history with a thrilling 37–34 win over Leinster at the Aviva Stadium, booking their place in the final for the first time since 2011. Tommy Freeman was the star of the show with a first-half hat-trick, while Henry Pollock and James Ramm added tries in a contest that featured 10 total scores and a last-minute defensive stand to seal the win. Leinster fought back from 12 points down at halftime, scoring five tries of their own through Tommy O’Brien, Josh van der Flier (2), Caelan Doris, and James Lowe. But despite a frenetic final phase where Saints were reduced to 14 men after a yellow card to Alex Coles, the English side turned the Irish giants over one metre from the line to clinch victory. With the win, Northampton advance to the Investec Champions Cup Final on 24 May in Cardiff, where they will face Union Bordeaux-Bègles.
LEINSTER
- Tries: O’Brien (17’), Van der Flier (25’, 58’), Doris (46’), Lowe (69’)
- Conversions: Prendergast (25’, 47’, 70’)
- Penalties: Prendergast (13’)
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
- Tries: Freeman (7’, 35’, 37’), Pollock (28’), Ramm (62’)
- Conversions: Smith (8’, 29’, 63’)
- Penalties: Smith (22’, 55’)
HISTORIC BORDEAUX-BÈGLES OUTCLASS TOULOUSE TO REACH FIRST-EVER CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL
Union Bordeaux-Bègles 35 – 18 Toulouse (HT: 18–11)
Union Bordeaux-Bègles produced a sensational all-round performance to defeat defending champions Toulouse 35–18 at a packed Matmut Atlantique, booking their place in the Investec Champions Cup final for the first time in club history. UBB ran in five tries, including a stunning brace from Louis Bielle-Biarrey, and held firm defensively in a clash played at unrelenting intensity. The hosts stormed out of the blocks with a clinical counter-attack sparked by Matthieu Jalibert, whose 50-meter break set up Mahamed Samu for the opening try (3’). Jalibert then added a penalty for a 10–0 lead before Juan Cruz Mallía’s efforts brought Toulouse back to 10–8. Bordeaux responded with sharp attacking rugby. Bielle-Biarrey touched down in the corner after a flowing move down the left (22’), and Maxime Lucu added a long-range penalty for an 18–11 halftime lead. UBB opened the second half in electric fashion with a 90-meter wonder try. Jalibert fielded the kickoff, fed Bielle-Biarrey, who sliced through the Toulouse line with a brilliant one-two with Samu before finishing under the posts (40’). Toulouse briefly responded through Pierre-Louis Barassi (54’) after a yellow card to UBB’s Gazzotti, but any hopes of a comeback were crushed when Antoine Bochaton powered over from close range (63’). Despite losing Damian Penaud to injury, UBB remained composed and dominant. Ben Tameifuna capped off the win with a late try from a rolling maul (77’), sending the crowd into a frenzy as Bordeaux-Bègles sealed a historic trip to Cardiff for the final.
UNION BORDEAUX-BÈGLES
- Tries: Samu (3’), Bielle-Biarrey (22’, 40’), Bochaton (63’), Tameifuna (77’)
- Conversions: Jalibert (4’, 41’)
- Penalties: Jalibert (8’), Lucu (28’)
TOULOUSE
- Tries: Mallía (14’), Barassi (54’)
- Conversion: Mallía (54’)
- Penalties: Mallía (10’, 20’)
(highlights coming soon)
FINAL OVERVIEW
With Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Bègles now set to face off in Cardiff on 24 May, the stage is set for a final packed with history, momentum, and attacking firepower.
After taking down two of Europe’s top teams, both finalists will arrive with confidence—and a shot at glory.
Who impressed you most in the Semis? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
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