Bordeaux Bègles And Toulouse Dominate As Champions Cup Pool Stage Ends

As the Champions Cup pool stage reached its dramatic conclusion over the weekend of January 17-18, 2026, rugby fans were treated to a feast of high-stakes clashes, thrilling performances, and a few surprises that have set up a tantalizing last 16. With the final round of matches played out in challenging winter conditions across Europe, the continent’s elite clubs battled for supremacy, survival, and a coveted spot in the knockout rounds.

One of the headline acts arrived courtesy of Bordeaux Bègles, who continue to look every inch the defending champions. On a rain-soaked Sunday in Bristol, the French side showcased both their adaptability and star power, overcoming the Bristol Bears 27-12 in a match that demanded both grit and flair. The conditions were far from ideal—grey skies, a greasy ball, and a pitch that had seen better days—but Bordeaux made light of the English winter, capitalizing on Bristol’s unforced errors and displaying a clinical edge that has become their trademark.

The story of the afternoon belonged to Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Bordeaux’s electric winger, who bagged a hat-trick of tries to secure the bonus-point victory. His first two came inside the opening nine minutes, putting the visitors firmly in control and sending a clear message to their rivals: Bordeaux are not about to relinquish their crown without a fight. The French side’s third try, also by Bielle-Biarrey, came late in the contest, sealing the deal and snuffing out any hope of a Bristol comeback.

Bristol, to their credit, started brightly. The home side struck first when Gabriel Oghre darted over after turnover ball had set up excellent field position. But as the rain intensified and the ball became slick, mistakes crept into their game. Loose passes, wayward kicks, and handling errors proved costly. Bordeaux, by contrast, were ruthless in punishing every slip. When Louis Rees-Zammit overcooked a kick to an unmarked Matthieu Jalibert, the Bordeaux fly-half orchestrated a counterattack that ended with Bielle-Biarrey sliding over in the corner. Moments later, a stray pass from Tom Jordan led to another Bordeaux surge, and soon the scoreboard reflected the visitors’ dominance.

By the half-hour mark, Bordeaux led 17-5, with center Nicolas Depoortère adding a kick-and-chase try after yet another Bears fumble. The home crowd, hopeful after last week’s high-altitude heroics in Johannesburg, watched as their team struggled to adjust to the soggy West Country conditions. “Every team knows that if you make mistakes against Bordeaux they will punish you,” admitted Bristol’s director of rugby Pat Lam after the match. “I can’t fault our effort but we gave them so many opportunities with our mistakes.”

Despite the deficit, Bristol never stopped fighting. The Bears clawed one back in the 64th minute when Benhard Janse van Rensburg powered over for a try, though Bordeaux’s players were skeptical about whether the ball had been properly grounded. A Jalibert penalty soon restored the visitors’ cushion, and while Sam Worsley’s late penalty gave Bristol a glimmer of hope, it was Bielle-Biarrey who delivered the coup de grâce with his third score, capping a memorable individual display.

With the win, Bordeaux Bègles are not only through to the last 16 but also guaranteed that all their knockout fixtures—unless they reach the final in Bilbao—will be played on French soil. That’s a significant advantage, and with talents like Bielle-Biarrey, Jalibert, and Damian Penaud (who was quiet by his standards on this occasion), the defending champions look poised for another deep run. The Bears, meanwhile, must regroup quickly; their reward for scraping through is a daunting trip to face Toulouse in the next round, scheduled for April 3-5.

Speaking of Toulouse, the French giants made an emphatic statement of their own on Saturday. Led by the irrepressible Antoine Dupont, Toulouse demolished Sale 77-7 to book their spot in the last 16. Dupont, widely regarded as one of the world’s best scrum-halves, crossed for two tries in a performance that underlined his class and leadership. The margin of victory was staggering—Toulouse simply outclassed their English opponents from start to finish, sending a warning shot to the rest of the competition.

Elsewhere, the Pool 1 showdown between Glasgow Warriors and Saracens carried its own intrigue. Glasgow were chasing top spot in the group, while Saracens still had work to do to confirm their place in the last 16. With both teams aware of the high stakes, the match unfolded with a palpable sense of urgency. As of the latest updates, the action was still ongoing, with neither side willing to give an inch. The outcome would not only determine the final standings in Pool 1 but could also have major implications for the knockout stage matchups.

Looking ahead, the last 16 ties promise more fireworks. Bordeaux Bègles will host Leicester, Glasgow face the Bulls, Leinster take on Edinburgh, Bath meet Saracens, Northampton challenge Castres, Harlequins square up to Sale, Toulon battle the Stormers, and Toulouse welcome Bristol. All matches are set for early April, and with the form shown by the French clubs, it’s hard to look past another Gallic triumph—though English and South African sides will be eager to upset the odds.

One thing’s for sure: the Champions Cup continues to deliver drama, skill, and unpredictability. As the tournament moves into the knockout phase, fans can expect even more twists and turns. Will Bordeaux defend their title? Can Toulouse go all the way? Or will a new contender emerge from the pack? For now, the stage is set, and the chase for European rugby’s greatest prize is wide open.