Gloucester and Bordeaux Draw Thrilling Champions Cup Opener
Holders Bordeaux Begles secured a 36-36 draw against Gloucester in a dramatic start to their Champions Cup campaign.
Gloucester and holders Bordeaux Begles began their Investec Champions Cup season with a thrilling 36-36 draw at Kingsholm.
Bordeaux, aiming for a third consecutive Champions Cup title, faced the prospect of their first competition loss since April 2024. The French side trailed 24-17 at halftime and fell further behind when Gloucester replacement Will Trenholm scored two tries midway through the second half, extending the English team's lead to 36-29. However, France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey responded quickly with his second try of the match, converted by Maxime Lucu, to level the score. Neither team managed to find a late winner in the closing moments.
Before the match, a moment of silence was observed in memory of Lions lock Hyron Andrews, who died on Friday at the age of 31. Andrews, a former Sale player, passed away at the South African team's hotel the day before their scheduled Champions Cup match against La Rochelle. The Lions are set to play that fixture in Andrews' honor, with further tributes planned throughout the opening round of Champions Cup games.
Gloucester: Barton; Joseph, Llewellyn, S Atkinson, Loader; C Atkinson, Robson; Bleuler, Lake (capt), C Knight, Kleyn, Clark, Gwynne, Morgan, Clement. Replacements: Blake, Rapava Ruskin, Salt, Thomas, Trenholm, Ludlow, Englefield, W Knight.
Bordeaux Begles: Rayasi; Uberti, Depoortere, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Lucu (capt), Page-Relo; Poirot, Lamothe, Falatea, Woki, Tameifuna, Gazzotti, Matiu, Willis. Replacements: Sa, Perchaud, Pkhakadze, Zapedowski, Bochaton, Ibsaiene, Mousques, Buros.
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)