Northampton gave it everything but fail to win their second Champions Cup and instead are left gutted in Cardiff - like in 2011 against Leinster.

Read Mike Henson's report from the game.

And follow the Rugby Union Weekly podcast for more reaction.

Exeter Chiefs' win in 2020 remains the last English triumph in the competition.

Could it be the first Champions Cup of many for Bordeaux?

Image source, PA Media

• 35 mins - Henry Pollock try is disallowed
• 36 mins - Tommy Freeman is sent to the sin-bin
• 37 mins - Damian Penaud scores his second try
• 42 mins - Another Henry Pollock score is disallowed
• 43 mins - Ed Prowse is yellow carded
• 45 mins - Maxime Lucu nails a penalty
• 55 mins - Cyril Cazeaux scores for Bordeaux

• 2 mins - Alex Coles scores opening try
• 3 mins - Ollie Sleightholme comes on for injured wing James Ramm
• 4 mins - Saints full-back George Furbank is also replaced after a nasty head knock
• 6 mins - Damian Penaud scores after Saints lose two back three players

Northampton Saints

Northampton fly-half Fin Smith talking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm gutted, devastated, it's hard to put into words.

"Credit to Bordeaux - they were brilliant - but that will take a long time to sink in. It's going to hurt.

"We had some early injuries so didn't get to use our bench. We fought well for each other but in the end they had too much."

Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson, speaking to BBC Sport: "Today we went toe-to-toe, I can't fault my side.

"The injuries were frustrating but the guys who came on were outstanding.

"It is difficult to see now but we must not lose the journey we went on to get here.

"Bordeaux are deserved champions."

Bordeaux-Begles

Bordeaux lock Adam Coleman, speaking to Premier Sports: "I am so proud of the boys, we have put in a lot of hard work to get to this point, so to get the reward is unreal.

"Saints are a quality side with four Lions. Watch out Cardiff as we are staying here tonight."

Tommy Freeman's yellow card right before half-time and Ed Prowse's sin-bin right after the break were two pivotal moments.

That window is where games can be won.

Saints failed to score a point in the second half.

Bordeaux scored 217 points in the pool phase to secure top seeds. They then comfortably beat Ulster, Munster and Toulouse.

Northampton was their toughest test in terms of final score.

Damian Penaud jumps on a fake zebra. I still don't know what that zebra is all about.

Blair Kinghorn had good fun on it last year.

Image source, PA Media

Maxime Lucu and Jefferson Poirot hold up the Investec Champions Cup together.

Champions!

Image source, PA Media

Paul Grayson
Former Northampton and England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

Every time Pollock was anywhere near the ball there was an acceleration in the Bordeaux players to get to him.

They all had eyes on him. He had a quiet game by his standards even though he had two tries disallowed.

They singled him out as a difference-maker and he'll have to work out how to deal with that as his career goes forwards.

The Northampton players are now receiving their medals. Fin Smith has a heavy cut on his eye and Henry Pollock looks gutted.

You can't fault the effort.

Image source, PA Media

Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints captain Fraser Dingwall, speaking to Premier Sports: "That sums up our season. We were never going to go away but we gave them too many opportunities.

"Frustrating when it comes down to small margins.

"We stayed in there and forced turnovers but against good teams you can't keep giving them chances."

Recent Champions Cup winners:

• 2021 - Toulouse
• 2022 - La Rochelle
• 2023 - La Rochelle
• 2024 - Toulouse
• 2025 - Bordeaux

Bordeaux-Begles

Bordeaux wing Damian Penaud: "I am very proud of this team. This competition is very difficult. This is so emotional.

"This stadium is great, we hear everything. It is hard to speak to each other."

Matt Dawson
Former Northampton and England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

Northampton couldn't get themselves into any kind of position to stretch Bordeaux in the second half.

Henry Pollock's disallowed try might have given them that momentum but the key incident for me was when Ed Prowse got sin-binned.

There was no need to make that tackle. Northampton had gone to the well to dig in after the early injuries and then they had to dig in again for another 20 minutes.

Image source, Getty Images

Bordeaux-Begles

Bordeaux scrum-half Maxime Lucu, speaking to Premier Sports: "Thank you for all the support. It is very big this. Thanks to everyone in the stadium.

"Northampton are a very good team."

Matt Dawson
Former Northampton and England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

Desperately disappointed for Northampton. Incredible fans and brilliant team but sometimes you have to nod to the opposition and say they are a better side.

Yes, things didn't go your way with injuries but Bordeaux are a quality outfit who know how to score tries, win physical battles and get over the line.

Damian Penaud is screaming and jumping in pure joy. He moved to Bordeaux from Clermont in 2023 to win the Champions Cup.

He scored a record 14 tries in this season's competition to win the Investec player-of-the-year award.

Mission accomplished.

The ball goes out and it is over.

Bordeaux win their first Champions Cup.

Image source, Reuters