Gloucester and Bordeaux share 36-36 draw in Champions Cup
English rugby union club Gloucester and defending European champions Bordeaux Begles drew 36-36 at Kingsholm in the opening round of the Champions Cup. Both sides had chances to win it late on, but neither took them.
Gloucester of England and French side Bordeaux Begles drew 36-36 at Kingsholm in the opening round of the new Champions Cup season, Europe's elite club rugby union tournament. Bordeaux are the holders and are bidding to win the competition for a third successive year. The result gives each side a share of the points in Pool Three.
Bordeaux had looked in danger of their first defeat in the competition since a quarter-final loss to Harlequins in April 2024.
How the game unfolded
Gloucester scored three tries in the first half, each owing a lot to their strength at the scrum. Bordeaux scrum-half Martin Page-Relo scored the opener inside five minutes, but the hosts replied through Arthur Clark and Max Llewellyn. Sipili Falatea levelled the score again, and Bordeaux captain Maxime Lucu put the visitors ahead with a penalty from inside his own half. George Barton then barged over from close range after a prolonged spell of Gloucester pressure and added a penalty, so the hosts led 24-17 at the interval.
In the second half, France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who had been quiet in the first 40 minutes, sent fellow winger Pablo Uberti over in the corner and then scored his own first try. Replacement Will Trenholm crossed twice midway through the half to put Gloucester ahead 36-29. Bielle-Biarrey quickly responded with his second try, converted by Lucu. Each side finished with five tries.
In the closing stages Gloucester chose to kick a penalty to touch rather than go for the posts and lost possession, while Bordeaux failed to capitalise on a scrum in Gloucester territory.
Tribute
Before kick-off, a moment's silence was held in memory of Lions lock Hyron Andrews, who died on Friday aged 31. The former Sale player died at the South African team's hotel a day before their Champions Cup match in La Rochelle. The Lions will play that fixture in his honour on Saturday, and further tributes are planned across the opening round.
