'Too high a mountain' for Leinster as Bordeaux triumph

Leinster faced Bordeaux-Begles in the Champions Cup final on 23 May 2026 at San Mames Stadium, Bilbao, hoping to win their fifth European title. The team aimed for redemption after their last victory in 2018 in the same city, having suffered four consecutive final defeats leading up to this match. However, Bordeaux delivered a stunning performance, particularly in the first half, which left Leinster struggling to keep pace.

Early in the match, Tommy O'Brien scored for Leinster, but Bordeaux quickly established dominance. The combination of Maxime Lucu's play-making, Mathieu Jalibert's kicking, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey's finishing overwhelmed Leinster's defenses. By the end of the first half, Yoram Moefana had intercepted a pass from Harry Byrne and scored, giving Bordeaux a commanding 35-7 lead.

Leinster showed some improvement after halftime, but it was not enough to overcome the significant deficit, and Bordeaux concluded the match with a 41-19 victory. Leinster's captain Caelan Doris remarked to BBC Radio 5Live, "we’ve been behind several times... despite a good effort in the second half, it was too high a mountain to climb."

Bordeaux’s triumph reinforced their status in club rugby, marking them as back-to-back Champions Cup champions. They are now part of an elite group of only six teams to successfully defend the title, showcasing their consistent performance throughout the tournament. Bielle-Biarrey, who scored nine tries during the competition, expressed pride in the team's camaraderie and stated, "This team is a big family. We are back-to-back champions and one of the best."

Following their victory, Leinster’s head coach Leo Cullen acknowledged Bordeaux’s superiority in crucial moments of the match, stating, "They were better than us... It was clear they were the favorites for a reason."

Despite the disappointment of the final, Leinster's season continues with an upcoming match against the Lions in the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals. Cullen noted that they have the chance to turn the page in their domestic campaign, saying, "We’ll not look too far ahead right now... It would still be a success if we could still win a trophy."

Reflecting on their performance against Bordeaux, Cullen emphasized the need for improvement, particularly regarding clinical execution and decision-making under pressure. "We weren’t good enough today... but every year there are things we will try and go after," he concluded.