In Sunday’s Champions Cup, holders Bordeaux put 50 points above Northampton Saints in a replay of last season’s final; Harlequins thump South African Stormers to book knockout spot; Munster suffer late defeat in Toulon but get bonus point forfeit; Saracens stunning victory against Toulouse
Last updated: 11/01/26 20:31
Holders of the Champions Cup, Bordeaux-Beagles, in a replay of last season’s final, upset Northampton Saints.
Northampton Saints were brought back down to earth after suffering a 50-28 defeat away to Champions Cup holders Bordeaux in a replay of last season’s final.
The Saints have already secured a place in the last 16 after winning two from two in the competition and despite a brace from Henry Pollock, they lost for the first time in Europe this season.
Overwhelming champions Bordeaux crossed eight times in a blistering display, but Northampton managed to walk away with the extra point after Danilo Fisketti struck with two minutes remaining.
A ding-dong battle in a replay of the 2025 exhibition was on the cards when Pollock responded immediately in the 10th minute to Bordeaux full-back Salesi Rajasi’s first try.
The ill-discipline proved costly for Saints as a raft of first-half sin bins meant it was 24-7 to Bordeaux at the interval and Raiasi completed the treble two minutes after the restart.
Cameron Walkie joined Rayazi on a hat-trick after he was withdrawn in the 50th minute, but the visitors showed character with England star Pollock later able to add to Tommy Freeman’s tally before Fisketti grabbed a wasted bonus point to leave Northampton third in Group 4.
Harlequins hammer the Stormers to seal a knockout spot
Rampant Harlequins returned to form in style by blowing away the previously unbeaten Stormers 61-10 at the Twickenham Stoop to book their place in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup with a group game to play.
The Stormers have won all 10 of their competitive matches so far this season, two in this competition and eight in the United Rugby Championship, but they left their first-choice team in Cape Town paying the price with a desperately poor display.
Quins, with Marcus Smith and Tyrone Green pulling the strings, scored nine tries. Nick David went down for three of them, while Jack Cunningham, Kadan Marley, Alex Dombrandt, Chandler Cunningham-South, Zach Carr and Jarrod Evans chipped in the others. Smith converted eight.
Unconverted second-half tries from substitutes Imad Khan and Dylan Maart were all the Stormers could muster in response.
Saracens stunned Toulouse with a crucial victory
Saracens secured a win to save their season as they beat Toulouse 20-14 in a heavyweight Champions League clash at the StoneX Stadium.
Two tries from Rotimi Segun and a third from Tom Willis put Maro Itoje’s side in command after they were in danger of being swept away by the six-time champions’ thoroughbred start.
Toulouse fought back in a swirling wind and heavy rain and while they threatened to reduce the gap, the arrival of Owen Farrell and Ben Earle from the bench provided Saracens with the extra class they needed to get over the line.
But the dominant figure on the famous night in north London was Willis, the England No8, who was a force of nature despite needing treatment for an early injury.
It was the response required by boss Mark McCall after Saracens recently slipped down the Gallagher Prem, but it was another shaky night from Toulouse Antoine Dipon as Glasgow lost 28-21 in their last outing in the Champions Cup.
Munster slumped to a late defeat at Toulon but secured the bonus point loss
Munster slumped to their second defeat in the Champions Cup after losing 27-25 away to Toulon in Pool Two, but they secured what could prove to be a valuable forfeit bonus point.
Jack Crowley gave Munster the lead with two free-kicks, but they were reduced to 14 men in the 36th minute when Tadhg Beirne was sent off in the warm-up bin.
Toulon hit back just before the break when Marius Domont crossed before converting his own effort to give them a one-point lead at half-time.
Toulon were straight out of the blocks in the second half when Ben White struck in the 43rd minute and Domon converted, but Munster responded three minutes later when a quick switch down the right allowed Calvin Nash to touch down in the corner and Crowley added the extras.
A chaotic start to the half continued when Gael Drean scored for Toulon in the 49th minute with an effort under the post and Domont converted, while Munster were frustrated further six minutes later when Alex Nankivell was shown a yellow card.
Esteban Abadie was then fouled for Toulon, who extended their lead with a Domont penalty. Jack O’Donoghue scored for Munster after crossing the line but Crawley missed the conversion attempt.
Charles Olivon saw yellow for the French side, allowing the visitors to capitalize when Tom Farrell went over and Crowley’s conversion sent them ahead, but Domont’s penalty with five minutes to play wrapped up victory for Toulon.