Bordeaux Bègles have advanced to the Investec Champions Cup final, defeating Bath 38-26 in a semi-final match played today, May 3rd, 2026. The French side will now face off against Leinster for the European title on May 23rd in Bilbao.
Bordeaux secured their place by overcoming Bath in a hard-fought semi-final, maintaining their bid to defend the European crown they won last season. This marks Bordeaux's second consecutive appearance in the Champions Cup final.
The match saw several key moments, including tries from Matiu and Tameifuna for Bordeaux, alongside an early score from Gazzotti. Bath's efforts, which included a try from Louie Hennessey, ultimately fell short against the defending champions.
Maxime Lucu, who contributed 14 points and made numerous tackles, was named man of the match. The match kicked off at 4:00 PM CET, slightly delayed due to thunderstorms in the Bordeaux region. The attendance was at capacity, contributing to a fervent atmosphere at the Stade Atlantique.
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Background: Bordeaux Bègles entered the semi-final as the reigning champions, having defeated Stade Toulousain in the quarter-finals. Bath, the reigning English champions, had a strong run to the semi-finals, eliminating Northampton in a previous round. The French side had experienced recent mixed results in their domestic Top 14 league, with losses against La Rochelle and Montpellier. Their manager, Yannick Bru, was suspended for this fixture. Bath's lineup featured notable players such as Finn Russell, Sam Underhill, Ollie Lawrence, and Henry Arundell.
