It really doesn’t get more box office than this.

Defending champions Union Bordeaux-Bègles, bidding to go back-to-back, against a Leinster side hoping to put a string of near-misses and heartbreak behind them and finally claim their fifth European title, in the Champions Cup final.

The mercury’s hitting the high 20s in a sweltering Bilbao – and kick-off is a little over 20 minutes.

Stay with us and you won’t miss a moment.

TEAM NEWS: First up, the champions. Here’s how UBB will line out today. You may recognise a few of those names in the backs, and the red scrum cap of their number 11…

Union Bordeaux-Bègles

15. Salesi Rayasi
14. Pablo Uberti
13. Damian Penaud
12. Yoram Moefana
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
10. Mathieu Jalibert
9. Maxime Lucu (captain)

1. Jefferson Poirot
2. Maxime Lamothe
3. Carlú Sadie
4. Boris Palu
5. Adam Coleman
6. Pierre Bochaton
7. Cameron Woki
8. Marko Gazzotti

Replacements:

16. Gaetan Barlot
17. Ugo Boniface
18. Ben Tameifuna
19. Lachie Swinton
20. Temo Matiu
21. Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer
22. Arthur Retiere
23. Hugo Reus

TEAM NEWS: AND FOR LEINSTERRRRRR… Tommy O’Brien is fit to start on the right wing, and he’ll be the man tasked with containing Louis Bielle-Biarrey. Robbie Henshaw gets the nod in midfield, and it’s Thomas Clarkson over Tadhg Furlong at tighthead.

Leinster

15. Hugo Keenan
14. Tommy O’Brien
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Rieko loane
10. Harry Byrne
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Joe McCarthy
5. James Ryan
6. Jack Conan
7. Josh Van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (Captain)

Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher
17. Paddy McCarthy
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Diarmuid Mangan
20. Max Deegan
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ciarán Frawley
23. Jamie Osborne

The Leinster fans are certainly making their presence felt around Bilbao – let’s hope everyone has remembered the sun cream.

Nick Elliott / INPHO Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO

If you’re looking for a distraction while you’re counting down these final few minutes to kick-off, here’s Gavan Casey’s final pre-match preview from Bilbao:

AT THE TOP table following Leinster’s buoyant captain’s run at Estadio de San Mamés on Friday, Leo Cullen stresses that he has fond memories not only of the stadium but of the very conference room in which he sits, where eight years ago he celebrated Leinster’s fourth Champions Cup success alongside Johnny Sexton and Isa Nacewa. 

Cullen, however, returned to Bilbao as recently as November for what he describes, with a chuckle, as “a busman’s holiday”. He both basked in fond memories and his cast his mind forward to the tune of seven months.

The teams are out on the pitch under the Bilbao sun. In case you need reminding, Karl Dickson is our match referee today.

KICK OFF: Harry Byrne gets us underway, kicking deep into the Bordeaux 22.

1 min – First mistake of the day, and it’s Hugo Keenan with just 25 seconds on the clock. Lucu kicks deep right down the line, and Keenan – likely worried about stepping into touch – knocks it on. Bordeaux scrum about 30 metres out.

2 mins – Off the back of the scrum, the ball goes to ground and Josh van der Flier is first to pounce. Leinster cancel out that early mistake quickly with no damage done.

3 mins –  Bordeaux take to the skies again, and this time, manage to drive over the Leinster ruck to win a clean steal. It’s a frenetic start.

4 mins – Big exit from Leinster as they win a lineout on their own throw inside the 22 and then Gibson-Park judges his kick perfectly, bouncing into touch a few yards short of the Bordeaux 22.

5 mins – And another big moment for Leinster as Tom Clarkson puts huge pressure on the Bordeaux maul, and Leinster hold them up to force a turnover. Scrum just outside the Bordeaux 22.

TRY FOR LEINSTER! Leinster 7-0 Bordeaux (O’Brien, 9′)

First blood to Leinster – and it’s the man who was an injury doubt earlier this week: Tommy O’Brien!

A few big phases and carries from Leinster off the back of the scrum. Henshaw pops it back inside to Bryne, who loses his footing, his momentum, but crucially, not the possession. Leinster come forward in waves, and Gibson-Park snipes off the base of a ruck to bring them within six or seven metres. Bordeaux’s defence stands firm but the Leinster pressure is relentless, and it’s Ringrose who sends O’Brien over in the corner.

Byrne adds a tricky conversion and it’s 7-0 Leinster.

It's @leinsterrugby who strike first in Bilbao! 🔵

Great patience from Leo Cullen's men and it's Tommy O'Brien who gets the try in the corner 🙌#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/LgM09ad0yf

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 23, 2026

11 mins — TRY FOR BORDEAUX!

What a response from Bordeaux – and what a finish from Cameron Woki.

Bielle-Biarrey brings the French fans to their feet with a dart down the left, and it takes a big tackle from van der Flier to bring the attack to a halt. Advantage Bordeaux, and they spray it right where Woki flies through the air to touch down one-handed in the corner as Harry Byrne tackles him into touch.

On-field decision is try, Karl Dickson confirms, but it’s a game of inches. The TMO is having a look…

TMO DECISION – NO TRY

Big let-off for Leinster – Woki’s left hand just touched the ground as he slammed the ball down with his right.

Back for the penalty advantage.

TRY FOR BORDEAUX! Leinster 7-7 Bordeaux (Lucu, 14′)

Bordeaux get themselves back on terms at the second time of asking. As their attack develops, Robbie Henshaw is pinged for offside, but Bordeaux turn down the simple three and get their reward – Lucu dives over and scores at the foot of the posts, and then converts.

All square. What a start.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

15 mins – Bad mistake by Harry Byrne, who sends his restart long and dead.

17 mins – And now Bielle-Biarrey kicks it dead as he lofts it over a diving Keenan. The in-goal areas at the San Mames are very small for what it’s worth.

But wait! Replays show that it got the slightest of touches from Keenan and so we’ll restart with a five-metre scrum for Bordeaux. That’s a huge momentum swing.

TRY FOR BORDEAUX! Leinster 7-14 Bordeaux (Uberti, 18′)

Bordeaux take full advantage of that stroke of good fortune, and punish Leinster with a slick first-phase play. Jalibert is the key man, sucking in the Leinster cover before unlocking the space with a brilliant pass to Rayasi. He sends it right and wide to Uberti who runs it in.

Lucu’s conversion is bang on the money, and the champions lead by seven.

Time for a quick – and very necessary – water break.

20 mins – Lucu’s kicking game has been an absolute sight to behold in these opening 20 minutes. Phenomenal.

21 mins – And again! Bielle-Biarrey rises highest to snatch a kick from the sky and give Bordeaux good go-forward ball inside Leinster territory.

23 mins – Another moment of frustratingly fine margins for Leinster. Van der Flier gets into the perfect position to jackal and steal ruck ball just outside his own 22, but then knocks it on. Woki made his life very difficult there but it wasn’t spotted by Karl Dickson or his team. Bordeaux ball.

24 mins – Penalty advantage in Bordeaux’s favour, but they want more.

TRY FOR BORDEAUX! Leinster 7-21 Bordeaux (Bielle-Biarrey, 25′)

There are finishers, there are finishers’ finishers, and then there’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey. Jalibert’s pass bounces in front of him but he doesn’t panic. He snatches it up, sends both Tom Clarkson and Jamison Gibson-Park to the shops with some quick and powerful footwork, and then drives through the despairing cover tackle of Jack Conan.

Lucu adds the extras. It’s been all Bordeaux the last 15 minutes – Leinster just need to hang in here and get the next score.

"Old dancing shoes is stepping out again!" 🎙️

Louis Bielle-Biarrey shows off his world class footwork to get his ninth try of this season's #InvestecChampionsCup 😱 pic.twitter.com/QTypEP9HkK

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 23, 2026

28 mins –  Much more like it from Leinster. Great attacking set yields a penalty and they kick to the corner.

29 mins – Woki bats Dan Sheehan’s dead, and Leinster will have a five-metre scrum.

30 mins – Three metres out but Bordeaux drive Leinster back. This feels like a massive moment…

30 mins – Ten phases now, and Bordeaux stand firm… and Leinster knock it on, off the outstretched fingertips of Jack Conan. That’s a huge defensive stand from the champions.

32 mins – From the scrum, Jalibert clears, but Leinster will have a chance to rebuild inside Bordeaux territory.

32 mins – Bordeaux turn it over at the breakdown, kick deep, and while Keenan returns, Leinster are now just outside their own 22 with ball in hand.

33 mins – Harry Byrne kicks deep – it looks a decent shout at a 50:22 – but it pops up for the covering Bielle-Biarrey, who hoofs it clear. Clock’s off, but when we restart, it’ll be Leinster lineout around halfway.

34 mins – Under huge pressure from Woki, Sheehan can’t hit his mark at the lineout. Jalibert kicks what looks to be a lovely 50:22, but the ball was carried back, so it’ll be a Leinster throw seven or eight metres out from their line.

35 mins – Sheehan nails this lineout, and Gibson-Park makes sure that Leinster get a good exit to relieve the pressure.

TRY FOR BORDEAUX! Leinster 7-28 Bordeaux (Bielle-Biarrey, 36′)

Leinster’s hopes are hanging by a thread as Bordeaux take full advantage of another stroke of good fortune in the run-up to half time.

Jalibert’s attempted kick over the top in midfield is blocked down, and Bordeaux make hay in the chaos. The ball’s hacked forward, Penaud gets there ahead of Gibson-Park, and Bielle-Biarrey – who else? – is on his shoulder waiting to take the pass and run it in under the posts.

The TMO has a quick check to see if Penaud pushed Gibson-Park, but any contact looks to be incidental.

Lucu converts and Bordeaux are motoring towards another Champions Cup title.

Penaud and Bielle-Biarrey causing havoc down the middle for Bordeaux! 🟣

Leinster have been hit by a juggernaut in this first half 💥#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/LkGtdeQuXP

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 23, 2026

40 mins – Bordeaux pinged for closing the gap at a lineout, giving Leinster a free-kick deep in their own territory. The clock’s in the red, but they’re desperate to get some points on the board before the break if they can.

40+2 mins – Leinster are into Bordeaux territory, and there’s good hands between McCarthy and O’Brien to keep the ball moving forward.

TRY FOR BORDEAUX! Leinster 7-35 Bordeaux (Moefana, 40+2′)

It’s an absolute catastrophe for Leinster as they try to play their way back into this final. Harry Byrne tries to keep the attack going forward but Yoram Moefana reads him like a book, steps up into the passing lane with perfect timing, and races clear unopposed to touch down under the posts.

Lucu does what you’d expect him to do, and Bordeaux are a massive 28 points up heading into the break.

HALF TIME: Leinster 7-35 Bordeaux

Where oh where do Leinster go from here?

They have faced mountains in Champions Cup finals before, but from here, this will need to be the comeback to end all comebacks – and realistically, given the ruthless form that Bordeaux are in, it might not be enough.

Back in a few.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

SECOND HALF: Back underway in Bilbao. Can Leinster make a contest out of this in the second half?

41 mins — YELLOW CARD FOR LUCU!

McCarthy reads Woki’s lineout intentions perfectly, and as Lucu tries to grab a handful of his jersey to pull him down, he gets a handful of McCarthy’s mullet as well. That’s a yellow for foul play, and Leinster will have a chance to play themselves back into this against 14 men for the next 10 minutes. 

42 mins – That’s another let-off for Bordeaux as well, as what looks to be a deliberate knock on from Woki from a lineout inside his own 22 goes unpunished.

44 mins – Smashing carry from Ioane and Leinster have the ball just outside the Bordeaux 22. Can they find a breakthrough?

45 mins — Leinster substitutions: Clarkson and Byrne off; Furlong and Frawley on.

Byrne’s final act was to kick a penalty to the corner. Leinster must score here.

TRY FOR LEINSTER! Leinster 12-35 Bordeaux (McCarthy, 46′)

The maul comes up two or three metres short, and Bordeaux’s defence puts in a few big stops before Joe McCarthy converts from close range.

Frawley pushes his conversion and it clips the right post and drops wide. Leinster will need a lot more to go in their favour before those two points left on the table become truly relevant.

48 mins – About four minutes left on the Lucu yellow card here… and Leinster win another turnover. Scrum restart. 

Leinster are insistent that Jefferson Poirot’s shoulder was tucked in the tackle there, but Karl Dickson waves away the protests and tells Caelan Doris the TMO will intervene if necessary.

49 mins – Leinster make good ground, and are back inside the Bordeaux 22 now… but van der Flier loses it forward in the tackle. There was half a chance there, and these are the moments that Leinster need to go their way.

Bordeaux substitution: Ben Tameifuna makes his entrance in place of Poirot.

50 mins – Two minutes left on the Lucu yellow, and Leinster are putting them under pressure and asking all the right questions since half time, but they desperately need to make it count on the scoreboard.

51 mins – Oh no! Leinster have Bordeaux stretched, and Tommy O’Brien picks a brilliant line, but as he tries to release Ioane in the corner, Rayasi reads it perfectly sand picks off the interception.

Leinster substitution: Jamie Osborne is on to replace Robbie Henshaw.

Bordeaux substitution: And it’s a cruel end to a brilliant afternoon for Cameron Woki, who limps off injured to be replaced by Temo Matiu.

52 mins – Lucu returns to a huge ovation and Bordeaux are back to 15 having only lost the sin-bin period 5-0. 

53 mins – Leinster have been attacking with a lot more purpose and intent since the introduction of Ciarán Frawley, and he picks a great line to put Leinster in position in the Bordeaux 22. The next carry is Joe McCarthy, but he runs straight into the waiting Ben Tameifuna who pounces for the turnover. Bordeaux follow it up with a brilliant exit from Lucu, and every question that Leinster ask, Bordeaux have the answer and more.

57 mins – Maybe you make your own luck, but every slight break is going Bordeaux’s way. Karl Dickson signals for a Leinster scrum for an accidental offside, but then the replays show that the ball went backwards and it’s Bordeaux’s put-in instead.

59 mins — PENALTY FOR BORDEAUX: Leinster 12-38 Bordeaux James Ryan is pinged for a high tackle on Jalibert, and Bordeaux are playing the scoreboard now as Lucu points for the posts and splits them.

Time for another water break ahead of the final quarter.

61 mins – Leinster try to string together another attacking phase but Jamie Osborne is isolated at the breakdown and Tameifuna is first on the scene to turn it over. He’s certainly made his presence felt since coming on.

64 mins — Leinster substitution: Paddy McCarthy is on now for Andrew Porter. Max Deegan is also on, having replaced Jack Conan a few minutes ago.

64 mins — After a determined and defiant start to this second half from Leinster, they simply haven’t been able to put Bordeaux under enough pressure. At this point, this very much has the feel of a final that might fizzle out.

65 mins — PENALTY FOR BORDEAUX: Leinster 12-41 Bordeaux Lucu pings one from the half-way line.

65 mins – Hugo Keenan is gone off for a HIA, and so Robbie Henshaw returns — for now, at least.

68 mins — Chance for Leinster to add a third try here. Penaud is pinged in midfield and Leinster kick the penalty into the 22.

69 mins – Another Leinster penalty for a breakdown infringement from Ugo Boniface.

69 mins – We’re having a TMO-prompted look at a tackle from Gaetan Barlot at Robbie Henshaw, who lifts Henshaw in the tackle, but Karl Dickson is happy at penalty only.

70 mins — Leinster are trying everything to find their breakthrough, forcing Frawley into a very ambitious cross-kick to Ioane on the left wing, but there’s too much on it and the ball flies harmlessly into touch.

71 mins – Leinster get the ball back for an incorrectly taken lineout, and now have penalty advantage for offside against Penaud.

TRY FOR LEINSTER! Leinster 19-41 Bordeaux (Ringrose, 72′)

Leinster have a few goes at the Bordeaux line and they eventually find a way through, courtesy of Garry Ringrose. It’s a 21-point game.

73 mins – Call it gamesmanship, call it soft, call it whatever you like: from the restart, Karl Dickson has awarded Bordeaux a penalty. From this vantage point, Penaud ran straight into James Ryan, and that, in the referee’s eyes, is obstruction.

74 mins – Another TMO review here, to look at a suspicious clearout from Boniface on James Ryan.

YELLOW CARD! Boniface’s afternoon is over as he’s sent to the bin for the final 6+ minutes.

75 mins – Maxime Lucu is your official Player of the Match. It could have been one of five or six Bordeaux players, truth be told.

76 mins – Superb linebreak from Max Deegan. Leinster are back in the Bordeaux 22 as Frawley and O’Brien try to go around the outside.

Three metres out…

77 mins – That is 10/10 defence from Yoram Moefana. It looks only a matter of time before Leinster get over the line but as soon as Rónan Kelleher picks the ball, Moefana is off the line to snatch it away from Tadhg Furlong.

78 mins – Leinster come again, and once again, they lose it yards from the line; this time, slipping from the grasp of captain Caelan Doris.

80 mins – Final moments here, and Yannick Bru and the Bordeaux support are starting to enjoy the celebrations.

One last steal from van der Flier with seconds on the clock. Penalty Leinster, and a final chance to score.

Clock’s in the red now.

Bielle-Biarrey and Lucu allow themselves a moment to smile as they wait for Leinster to take this lineout.

Bordeaux turn it over again — and that’s it!

UNION BORDEAUX-BÈGLES ARE BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS CUP WINNERS!

FULL TIME: Leinster 19-41 Union Bordeaux-Bègles

It’s simply sensational from Bordeaux who might well celebrate – but it’s devastation for Leinster who have lost a fifth final… and whose wait for that coveted fifth star will go on for one more season at least.

We’ll have lots more reaction and analysis from Gavan Casey in Bilbao over the course of the afternoon and evening, but that’s all from us for now – thanks for reading.