Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s exceptional performance helped Bordeaux Bègles secure a 35-18 victory over Toulouse, booking their place in the Champions Cup final against Northampton. The match saw Bordeaux dominate with an impressive display, highlighted by Bielle-Biarrey’s two tries. Bordeaux’s early dominance was evident as they raced into a 10-0 lead, thanks to a try from Pete Samu and a Matthieu Jalibert penalty. Toulouse, however, responded with a fightback, edging ahead 11-10 after Juan Cruz Mallia kicked two penalties and Dimitri Delibes added a try.
But it was Bielle-Biarrey who provided the spark for Bordeaux. His first try was a sensational moment, as he somersaulted over the line after a powerful burst through the Toulouse defense from Romain Buros. The 21-year-old’s brilliance continued into the second half when he scored his second try just 19 seconds after the restart, putting Bordeaux in control with a 25-11 lead after Jalibert’s conversion.
Toulouse, though, weren’t done yet. They capitalized on a sin-bin for Bordeaux’s Marko Gazzotti, with Pierre-Louis Barassi pulling a try back for the French giants, momentarily stirring some nerves in the Bordeaux camp. However, Bordeaux responded with power and composure, as Pierre Bochaton crossed the line for a fourth try in the 64th minute. Ben Tameifuna added a fifth late on, sealing Bordeaux’s first-ever Champions Cup final appearance. The victory was particularly sweet for the team, who had suffered a heavy 59-3 loss to Toulouse in the previous season’s Top 14 final.
In the Challenge Cup, Racing 92 suffered a 29-15 defeat to Lyon, with Owen Farrell’s hopes of joining the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia hanging in the balance after he was forced off the field with a head injury. Farrell, playing at inside-centre for the first time this season, took a heavy blow to the head from Lyon’s Mickaël Guillard early in the match. The 33-year-old England fly-half was forced off after just 19 minutes with the score still 0-0, leaving Racing without their key playmaker for the rest of the game.
Farrell, a three-time Lions tourist, was seen as a potential selection for the summer tour, even though his debut season at Racing 92 had been disrupted by a groin injury. With the Lions squad set to be named soon, Farrell’s injury could affect his chances of being included, particularly as his fitness and availability have been called into question. Despite Farrell’s absence, Lyon took control of the match, with Léo Berdeu’s accurate kicking helping them edge ahead after his first penalty opened the scoring. Vincent Rattez then scored Lyon’s first try, and Racing’s Diego Escobar and Kleo Labarbe responded with two tries of their own.
But Lyon’s dominance was clear, and they sealed the victory with Beka Saghinadze’s try and Berdeu’s continued precision with the boot. The win for Lyon set up a Challenge Cup final clash against Bath, who had overcome their own set of challenges earlier in the competition. The defeat for Racing 92 marked a bitter end to their European campaign, with Farrell’s injury casting doubt on his future prospects for international duty.
Both Bordeaux and Lyon now turn their attention to their respective finals, with Bordeaux aiming to make history in the Champions Cup, and Lyon gearing up for a fierce encounter in the Challenge Cup. The next few weeks will be crucial for both teams, with their star players hoping to shine once again on the biggest stage.
