Bordeaux down holders Toulouse to set up Northampton final

Investec Champions Cup semi-final

Bordeaux-Begles: (18) 35

Tries: Samu, Bielle-Biarrey (2), Bochaton, Tameifuna Cons: Jalibert (2) Pens: Jalibert, Lucu

Touloues: (11) 18

Tries: Delibes, Barassi Con: Mallia Pens: Mallia (2)

Bordeaux-Begles edged a pulsating match between France's top two sides to derail holders Toulouse and set up an Investec Champions Cup final against Northampton.

After Saints' incredible win over Leinster on Saturday, the two French rivals delivered another breathless semi-final, with Bordeaux shaking off their nearly-men tag of recent seasons in superb style.

Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 2025 Player of the Six Nations, inspired the win over the tournament favourites and six-time winners, with a pair of electric tries at Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux.

Pete Samu's score for the hosts in the third minute signalled a lightning-fast pace to the game as they took early control, but Toulouse managed to stay in it with tries from Dimitri Delibes and Pierre-Louis Barassi.

But Bordeaux, who were hammered 59-3 by Toulouse in last year's Top 14 final, delivered a coming-of-age win with second-half tries for replacements Pierre Bochaton and Ben Tameifuna.

Reigning champions Toulouse fought hard, but came under constant pressure and missed the creative quality of scrum-half Antoine Dupont, full-back Thomas Ramos and winger Blair Kinghorn.

Both Bordeaux and Northampton have upset the odds for an unexpected final and will meet in Cardiff on 24 May to see who will lift the trophy.

Bordeaux-Begles: Buros; Penaud, Depoortere, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Lucu (capt); Samu, Petti, Diaby, Cazeaux, Coleman, Falatea, Lamothe, Poirot

Replacements: Sa, Perchaud, Tameifuna, Bochaton, Gazzotti, Vergnes-Taillefer, Retiere, Carbery

Toulouse: Mallia; Capuozzo, Barassi, Ahki, Delibes; Ntamack, Graou; Roumat, Willis, Cros, Meafou, Flament, Aldegheri, Marchand (capt), Baille

Replacements: Cramont, Neti, Merkler, Verge, Jelonch, Castro-Ferreira, Saito, Chocobares

Sin-bins: Gazzotti

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)