Gloucester hold Bordeaux to 36-36 draw in Champions Cup opener

Gloucester and Bordeaux Bègles drew 36-36 at Kingsholm on Friday in the opening round of the Champions Cup. The two sides scored five tries apiece, with neither able to turn a second-half lead into victory. Rugbyrama reported that the result ended Bordeaux's run of 16 consecutive wins in the competition.

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Bordeaux entered the tournament seeking a third successive European title, but were without Matthieu Jalibert, according to Rugbyrama's coverage. Their selection featured two positional changes: Maxime Lucu at fly-half and Ben Tameifuna in the second row. Lucu partnered scrum-half Martin Page-Relo, while Tameifuna lined up alongside Cameron Woki rather than in the front row.

The team sheets published by Rugbyrama showed Gloucester starting Charlie Atkinson and Dan Robson at half-back, with George Barton at full-back. Dewi Lake captained the home side from hooker, and Arthur Clark partnered Jean Kleyn at lock. Will Trenholm was among the replacements, alongside fellow forwards Lewis Ludlow and Freddie Thomas, giving Gloucester back-row options on the bench.

Page-Relo scored first for Bordeaux, before tries from Clark and Max Llewellyn put Gloucester ahead. Sipili Falatea's reply brought the visitors level at 14-14, and a long-range Lucu penalty restored their advantage. Barton then scored and added a penalty before half-time, leaving Gloucester 24-17 ahead after an opening half in which Bordeaux struggled at the scrum.

The visitors reversed that deficit after the restart through Pablo Uberti and Louis Bielle-Biarrey. Trenholm then made his contribution from the bench, scoring twice to move Gloucester back in front at 36-29. Bielle-Biarrey matched his double after Lucu broke through and supplied the pass, bringing Bordeaux level once more in a match that repeatedly changed direction.

Rugbyrama's match report described further opportunities at both ends without a decisive score. Tom Willis stopped a dangerous Gloucester attack near the Bordeaux line, while Lucu gained territory with a 50-22 kick. The closing stages still produced no winner: Bordeaux's final possession ended with a Lucu knock-on, leaving the champions unbeaten but unable to extend their winning sequence.