Category Sports News

Investec Champions Cup semi-final

Bordeaux-Begles: (18) 35

Cons: Jalibert (2) Pens: Jalibert (2), Lucu (2), Bielle-Biarrey (2), Bochaton (3), Tameifuna

Touloues: (11) 18

In a fierce encounter between France’s top two rivals, Bordeaux-Begles defeated holders Toulouse to reach the Investec Champions Cup final.

After Saints’ incredible victory over Leinster on Saturday, Bordeaux stunned in style by overcoming their nearly-menuet of recent years in a breathless semi-final.

With two fierce tries at Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the 2025 Player of the Six Nations, was the driving force behind the win over the tournament favorites and six-time champions.

In the third minute, the hosts’ first score, which was scored by Pete Samu, gave the visitors a lightning-fast pace, but Toulouse were able to hold on with tries from Dimitri Delibes and Pierre-Louis Barassi.

However, Bordeaux, who lost to Toulouse in the previous year’s Top 14 final 59-3, came out on top with two second-half tries for Pierre Bochaton and Ben Tameifuna.

Reigning champions Toulouse battled valiantly, but they were constantly under pressure and lacked the creative abilities of Antoine Dupont, Thomas Ramos, and Blair Kinghorn, who were both injured.

The match’s blistering tempo was immediately established when Bordeaux fly-half Matthieu Jalibert seared through midfield and offloaded to give the supporting Samu a run-in. The play moved from wing to wing before being slowed down to give the playing Samu a break.

Both teams ensured that style would be upheld as the breathtaking pace grew, and they both had 100% win records this season when they played rugby from the gods.

Before Toulouse found their relentless offloading game to put Delibes in at the corner, Jalibert and Juan-Cruz Mallia exchanged penalties.

Toulouse led 11-10 when Mallia scored from the penalty spot, but it was short lived as Bordeaux full-back Romain Buros carved through the defense wide and acrobatically dived over the tryline several times.

The hosts extended their lead to 18-11 at half-time thanks to Maxime Lucu’s incredible penalty from his own half, which Bielle-Biarrey scored with a brilliant rounding of Paul Graou wide before rushing under the posts.

Anthony Jelonch, a replacement flanker for Toulouse, led the charge at 25-11 in the play, which resulted in Thibaud Flament bursting into the 22 and Marko Gazzotti sin-binned for stifling the attack.

The 14-man defense were unable to stop Barassi from cutting inside to score on 54 minutes after the reigning champions scored two powerful scrums following.

Buros was punished for his efforts, but the home crowd cheered even more as Bochaton headed home from close range to cut the lead to 30-18.

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

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

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

Gazzotti’s sin-bins

By confirming that Daniel Farke is “my man,” Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe has “turned the page” on the future of the club.

The Whites won the Championship title with a 2-1 victory at Plymouth on Saturday and were relegated from the Premier League two weeks later.

Despite a stellar campaign that led to 100 points, there were rumors the club was thinking about changing manager this summer.

Marathe told BBC Radio Leeds, “I’m very excited to work with Daniel to return it and do it together.”

“I have no illusions that it will be simple.” The three promoted teams have come right back after the previous two seasons, but Daniel Farke comes first.

Marathe responded, “I have ended the speculation,” when asked whether he had put a stop to the manager’s question marks. He is the man I am.

Farke, who has two years left on his contract, won the title for the third time this season, having previously twice placed second with Norwich.

Although his only full season there ended in a bottom-placed finish, he has since found life much harder in the Premier League before being fired in November of his second season with Norwich in the relegation zone.

Prior to this time, Marathe had previously stated that Farke had not received the financial support needed to compete.

The American stated, “Together we are going to build the best squad we can, with every dollar we are allowed to spend,” adding.

Following a run of just one victory in their previous six matches, Leeds won the title.

After two seasons in the Championship, Marathe praised Farke’s temperament in regaining the club’s leadership.

Marathe claimed that “he is such a calming force.” It would be an understatement to say that.

That is how he really has a superpower. After the draw with Swansea, he assured you that he was completely certain that we would be playing in the Prem, and I love him for it.

After failing to earn a Champions League spot, interim Manchester City manager Nick Cushing claims his team have “been short of standards and expectations.”

City, who were fourth in the table, needed to defeat Manchester United at Old Trafford to maintain their hopes of playing in European football next season, but they were unable to draw 2-2 after leading by 2-0 at the start.

Following Gareth Taylor’s sacking in March, Cushing assumed charge of City until the end of the season and was tasked with leading the team to a top-three finish in the Women’s Super League.

He said, “When I took this role, it was about winning trophies and qualifying, and we haven’t been able to deliver that.”

“During my time here, we have consistently delivered trophies over a seven-year period.” This team should consistently be winning in the Champions League and delivering trophies.

Although the league position is far below what I anticipate, we are not far off.

In the event that City came within one point of United in the table with a victory over United, it would have been a thrilling season-ending finale. On May 10, City hosts relegierte Crystal Palace, while United travel to second-placed Arsenal.

Chelsea was pushed all the way by City last year, finishing second only in goal difference, but they will end the season without silverware and no European football.

United also knocked them out of the FA Cup in the semi-finals, while Chelsea knocked them out of the Champions League semifinals and beat them in the League Cup final.

With captain Alex Greenwood, winger Lauren Hemp, forward Vivianne Miedema, and top goalscorer Khadija Shaw all enduring lengthy absences on the sidelines, their campaign has been hindered by injuries.

With one piece missing, “We’re trying to build a puzzle here,” added Cushing. Even with all the injured players, it has been difficult for us to finish it.

Due to the injury issues, City defender Laia Aleixandri has frequently played out of position this season. “Difficult circumstances, a lot of injuries, but that’s not a reason to give up.” We made an effort until the very last second; we must continue and improve.

Cushing, who helped City win their first and only WSL title in 2016 along with four other significant trophies, is no stranger to living outside of the Champions League.

He acknowledged that it was painful. This is in line with the expectations we set at the start of the season and what we can expect, but it’s football, and it’s a challenging situation, I told the group.

The club has stated they are willing to do whatever, but it’s not yet known whether the 40-year-old will stay at City after the end of the current season.

The former New York City FC boss returned to Manchester to try to instill some stability, and there were encouraging signs, but he ultimately did not have enough time to make a change.

Because of how deeply ingrained this team is in me, I’ll be involved in the review process. When asked about his City future, Cushing declared, “I will be involved unless they tell me otherwise.”

“I will always have a strong bond with this team.” It means something to me emotionally. I have always followed this organization while I’ve been in America.

After recovering hurt on day three of Essex’s County Championship match against Somerset, Batter Jordan Cox appears to be out for a Test against Zimbabwe.

After he fell to the ground with his left side and a single that gave him a run that made the score 99 in Essex’s second innings, the 24-year-old needed medical attention.

Cox resumed his innings by hitting a boundary off of Jack Leach to reach his century with 156 balls, but he was unable to join Somerset in his innings.

The former England international was chosen for their one-time Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge on May 22 and 25.

Cox has played five white-ball games for his country despite having broken his thumb and being withdrawn from England’s winter tour of New Zealand. He is not capped at the Test level.

To wrap up a dreamy weekend for Godolphin’s owners, Desert Flower won the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

After claiming his first victory in the Fillies’ Classic, jockey William Buick led Charlie Appleby’s evens favorite to victory ahead of Flight and Simmering, the Ollie Sangster duo.

The unbeaten Desert Flower won the 2000 Guineas for Buick and trainer Appleby, which came after Ruling Court’s previous victory on Saturday.

Since 2005’s victories with Virginia Waters and Foostepsinsthesands, Appleby and Buick are the first trainer and jockey duo to win the 1000 and 2000 Guineas in the same year.

What a weekend for Godolphin! I’m a very happy man, and I’m an amazing filly. I can’t express how excited I am to be a part of this,” Buick said.

“This is what dreams are made of,” he said. Being the jockey on these horses is a real privilege to me.

He added that “She’s all classy and may even go a little further” and that the Oaks at Epsom might be on the agenda for June 6th.

Desert Flower is currently priced between $25,000 and $25,000, which Buick made all the way up.

Sangster, the grandson of the late, illustrious owner-breeder Robert, was delighted with the performances of Simmering (33-1) and Flight (28-1) in his only previous training season.

“We’re delighted,” Second and third are fantastic, he said, “but we’re all here because we want to win.”

Meanwhile, Kieran Shoemark acknowledged that his team was too late to catch winner Ruling Court after misinterpreting his ride on popular Field of Gold on Saturday in the 2000 Guineas.