Exhausted Saints fall short again as Bordeaux’s colour and passion wins out | Michael Aylwin

French club offer a blueprint for how to thrive in the modern game and it was all too apparent on and off the field in CardiffA new name is on the cup. They reckon Union Bordeaux Bègles are the best-supported rugby union club in the world. To be in Cardiff was not to be disabused of the notion. Rugby is massive in France, on a par with football, and bigger in the southern half of the country. It creates a different kind of animal.Northampton were proud, brave, inventive – but in the end overpowered. The narrative was wild and, Saints might say, liable to have gone either way. A raucous stadium – for Northampton are one of the best supported in England – was treated to crazy fluctuations in fortune, tries scored and overturned, penalties, knock-ons and high tackles subject to review after review. Continue reading...

Comments

Sport news

Arsenal chief Andrea Berta holds talks with £67m Chelsea transfer target

Metro

Liverpool's £126m swoop for Florian Wirtz is a statement of intent and would stun their rivals - but here's why it would also be the coup of the summer, writes LEWIS STEELE

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Arsenal legend Kim Little hails Champions League triumph as one of the club's 'best moments ever' with Gunners set to celebrate victory at the Emirates on Monday

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Inside Enzo Maresca's close relationship with his 'football dad' Manuel Pellegrini as pair face off in Europa Conference League final

about 1 hour ago

Ian Wright aims dig at Arsenal men’s team after Women’s Champions League win

Metro

Comments

Sport news

Arsenal chief Andrea Berta holds talks with £67m Chelsea transfer target

Arsenal has stunned Barcelona to win the Women's Champions League

NBA champ, 'Survivor' contestant Scot Pollard shares Indy 500 parade float with heart donor's family

Indianapolis celebrates epic sports weekend with Pacers, Fever and the Indy 500

Ruthless Stuttgart beats Arminia Bielefeld 4-2 in German Cup final

Bordeaux wins its first Champions Cup rugby title after subduing Northampton

Pacers bring a 2-0 lead over the Knicks home for a sports celebration Sunday in Indiana

Genoa wins at Bologna with a brace from 18-year-old Venturino

NHL playoffs put spotlight on glaring inequality that favors just six teams

One thing should give the Knicks hope in their dismal situation

How to watch Timberwolves vs. Thunder Game 3 live for free: Time, streaming

Arsenal captain Kim Little reveals emotional significance of Champions League triumph

Kim Little sure Arsenal Women’s Champions League win will go down in history

Ruben Amorim plans apology to fans for dismal season after Villa clash

Forget about football? Nah – Eddie Howe never switched off during hospital stay

Enzo Maresca feels Champions League qualification would reduce Chelsea ‘noise’

Tragedy as two drivers killed in separate Motorsport UK races on same day

Ange Postecoglou hopes for chance to make Tottenham ‘bigger than ever’

Pep Guardiola wants Manchester City ‘to be better’ after disappointing season

Arsenal: Renee Slegers reacts as key decision pays off in Women's Champions League final win over Barcelona

Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou vows to never rewatch Europa League final after 'perfect night' in Bilbao

Chelsea: Enzo Maresca hopes his own Jesper Gronkjaer emerges in vital Champions League decider

Alejandro Garnacho 'free to leave' Manchester United this summer as £62.5m replacement lined up

Arsenal: Mikel Arteta set for end-of-season performance review in bid to end trophy drought

Alex Scott shows off midriff in retro Arsenal kit and sips bubbly with Jess Glynne at Women’s Champions League final

Premier League wage bill hits record £4bn – with hapless Man Utd’s bloated budget revealed…where does your club rank?

Man Utd flops BEG Bruno Fernandes not to quit club after captain admitted he could be sold with Saudi interest

Arsenal lining up shock transfer return for Emi Martinez with fears David Raya could quit for Spain

Jack Grealish facing up to fact he will have to quit Manchester City if he wants to play for England at World Cup

Nottingham Forest and Chris Wood proving you don’t have to reinvent the game as Europe beckons

Ange Postecoglou fears he could be ‘killed off’ at Tottenham despite winning club’s first trophy in 17 years

Former undisputed champ Josh Taylor’s career hits new low as he suffers shock loss to Ekow Essuman on welterweight debut

Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim to grab microphone and APOLOGISE to fans at Old Trafford after Aston Villa clash

Brian Priske is Rangers 'contender' as new name enters Ibrox manager frame as boss search goes on

Marcus Rashford given huge Man Utd exit boost as dream transfer move back on

Man Utd misfit Antony hopes to strike gold ahead of £40m transfer decision

Footage of baseball fan's peculiar celebration after home run goes viral

Caitlin Clark berates WNBA ref over crucial non-call in final seconds of Fever's loss to Liberty

Liverpool's £126m swoop for Florian Wirtz is a statement of intent and would stun their rivals - but here's why it would also be the coup of the summer, writes LEWIS STEELE

Arsenal legend Kim Little hails Champions League triumph as one of the club's 'best moments ever' with Gunners set to celebrate victory at the Emirates on Monday

Inside Enzo Maresca's close relationship with his 'football dad' Manuel Pellegrini as pair face off in Europa Conference League final

Ian Wright aims dig at Arsenal men’s team after Women’s Champions League win

Kirk Cousins trolls Travis Kelce for his back hair: ‘God bless Taylor Swift’

Liberty stop Caitlin Clark on final play to complete furious rally for thrilling win over Fever

Hurricanes vs. Panthers odds, picks, and prediction: Best bet for Game 3 on Saturday

Fantasy baseball: Under-the-radar players, teams to target for stolen base value

Shedeur Sanders knows who is ‘99 percent’ to blame for online hate around him

Red Sox call up top prospect Marcelo Mayer after Alex Bregman injury

There’s only one thing that should be on the Knicks’ mind in this ugly situation

Sunderland’s return to Premier League ‘impossible to predict’ – Regis Le Bris

Aberdeen stun Celtic on penalties to snatch Scottish Cup away and deny treble

Will Arsenal hold a trophy celebration after winning Women’s Champions League?

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers reveals she predicted Champions League-winning goal

Bordeaux-Begles break Northampton Saints hearts to claim historic Champions Cup win

Tottenham XI vs Brighton: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Premier League

Ian Wright calls for Arsenal trophy parade as Women's Champions League win 'saves club from embarrassment'

Genoa wins at Bologna with a brace from 18-year-old Venturino

Aberdeen ends 35-year wait for Scottish Cup by upsetting Celtic in shootout

Bordeaux wins its first Champions Cup rugby title after subduing Northampton

Davis, Rigby homer, Georgia stymies Florida for 2-1 win to force deciding game in super regional