Overview

• Northampton Saints edged past Leinster 37-34 in Dublin, powered by Tommy Freeman’s first-half hat-trick and resilient defense despite late yellow cards reducing them to 13 players.
• A pivotal refereeing decision disallowed Leinster’s potential match-winning try in the final minutes after a review confirmed a knock-on, sealing Northampton’s place in the final.
• Bordeaux-Bègles defeated Toulouse 35-18, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey scoring two tries to lead the French side to their first Champions Cup final in club history.
• Bordeaux capitalized on Toulouse’s injuries and absences, with Matthieu Jalibert orchestrating their attack and forwards dominating in key moments of the game.
• The Champions Cup final, set for May 24 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, marks a significant shift in European rugby as two underdog teams challenge traditional powerhouses.