• Bordeaux-Begles win their first Champions Cup title, overcoming Northampton 28-20.
• Two tries from Damian Penaud and a strong second-half performance sealed victory.
• Northampton fought back with two tries from Alex Coles but fell short.

Bordeaux Begles clinched their first Champions Cup title on Saturday, defeating Northampton 28-20 in a nail-biting final held at the Principality Stadium. Bordeaux's victory featured two tries by Damian Penaud, showcasing their combination of "rapier finishing" and relentless forward power, which allowed them to gain control in the second half after a chaotic initial period where the teams were tied 20-20 at halftime according to Channel News Asia, BBC, and Reuters.

Bordeaux started strong with Damian Penaud scoring his 13th Champions Cup try, responding to an early try from Northampton's Alex Coles. Despite suffering injuries to players James Ramm and George Furbank, Northampton managed to keep pace with Bordeaux, even leveling the score at 20-20 by halftime through Coles' efforts, which mirrored the dramatic back-and-forth nature of the match. However, this excitement came amid a series of injuries and yellow cards that disrupted both teams' momentum, as noted by BBC and Reuters.

The second half saw Bordeaux capitalize on their forward strength, with Cyril Cazeaux scoring the only try of the period shortly after Northampton lost Ed Prowse to a yellow card. Scrumhalf Maxime Lucu added a penalty, extending Bordeaux’s lead and demonstrating their dominance in the physical exchanges. Coach and players praised the resilience of their squad, with Penaud expressing pride in the team's performance, stating, "This competition is very difficult. This is so emotional," according to Channel News Asia.

Northampton captain Fraser Dingwall reflected on their missed opportunities, emphasizing the "frustrating" nature of such a close contest, and pointing out that "we gave them too many opportunities." Despite the heroic efforts to defend their line, the team ultimately could not regain the lead, suffering heartbreak similar to their experience in the 2011 final against Leinster, which was marked by a similar bout of injuries and setbacks, as characterized by Channel News Asia and BBC.

This victory marks a historic achievement for Bordeaux, who were founded in 2006, and it positions them as rising competitors in French rugby as they aim for further success in the domestic league, currently ranking second behind Toulouse. The triumph not only serves as a crowning glory for Bordeaux but also emphasizes the continuing strength of French rugby on the European stage, reflecting on their performance against English clubs, notably highlighted after Bath's victory in the Challenge Cup, as per Reuters.