Gloucester hold holders Bordeaux in 36-36 Kingsholm draw

Gloucester and Bordeaux Begles shared a 36-36 draw at Kingsholm in the opening match of the 2026-27 Champions Cup.

The result denied the holders a winning start in their bid for a third successive title. Bordeaux arrived unbeaten in the competition since a quarter-final defeat by Harlequins in April 2024, a run which now continues, just without a win, BBC Sport reported.

Gloucester led 24-17 at half-time. The home side scored five tries in all, through Arthur Clark, Max Llewellyn, George Barton and two from replacement Will Trenholm.

Bordeaux also scored five tries. Martin Page-Relo, Sipili Falatea, Pablo Uberti and two from Louis Bielle-Biarrey did the damage. A try is worth five points for grounding the ball over the line.

The kickers matched each other almost exactly. Barton added four conversions — the extra two-point kicks after a try — and one three-point penalty for Gloucester. Maxime Lucu hit four conversions and one penalty for Bordeaux.

Trenholm looked to have won it for Gloucester. His two scores midway through the second half lifted the home side to 36-29 and had Kingsholm roaring.

Bordeaux refused to go. Bielle-Biarrey struck again late on, and Lucu held his nerve with the conversion to level it at 36-36.

It was a Pool Three encounter in the Champions Cup, Europe's top club competition. Both sides bank two points with nothing to separate them on points difference, with Racing 92, the Stormers, Munster and Bristol Bears also in the group.

Before kick-off, both teams observed a moment's silence for Lions lock Hyron Andrews, who died aged 31. Italian referee Gianluca Gnecchi took charge of the match.

What makes this stand out is the balance of it. Gloucester, who had won two of their first three league games, went toe to toe with a Bordeaux side sitting third in France's Top 14. For fans, this means the pool is open already. Neither side lost. Neither side quite won.