The opening weekend of the Investec Champions Cup delivered high drama. Rugby World Cup 2027 none more so than Northampton Saintsโ thrilling 35โ27 victory over Pau. The English side, last seasonโs beaten finalists, had to dig deep in France, overcoming a red card, a seven-point deficit. And relentless pressure from the home team. In the end.
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It was George Hendyโs late try and a final penalty from Fin Smith that secured a hard-earned win at Stade du Hameau. With the match tied at 27โ27 and only two minutes left, Northampton needed something special. Hendy provided exactly that, sprinting down the touchline and diving over in the corner to give his team the lead.
Smith then stepped up moments later, landing a composed penalty to seal the result and spark celebrations from the travelling supporters. The game swung back and forth from the start. Pau struck first through captain Facundo Isa, and later added another try from winger Gregoire Arfeuil. Northampton answered both times.
Initially, through James Ramm and later through Fraser Dingwall, they kept themselves within touching distance. Ramm, who was one of the standout performers of the first half, went over for his second try early in the second period to hand Saints the advantage. But the match took a major turn when Ramm was sent off for a tackle in the air, leaving Northampton with 14 men for the remainder of the contest.
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Rugby World Cup: Gloucester Power Past Castres with Late Surge at Kingsholm
Pau quickly capitalised. Arfeuil crossed again, Rugby World Cup and with the conversion, the French side moved ahead 24โ17. Yet Northampton refused to fold. Scrum-half Alex Mitchell darted over for a converted try to tie the match at 24โ24. Smith and Pauโs Axel Desperes then exchanged penalties to bring the score to 27โ27. Setting the stage for the dramatic finish created by Hendyโs decisive score.
Elsewhere in the Champions Cup, Gloucester produced a strong performance at Kingsholm, defeating Castres 34โ14 and finishing with a flourish. The visitors opened the scoring with a converted try in the ninth minute, before Gloucester levelled the match. Castres struck again through Loris Zarantonello. But Will Trenholm responded to bring the hosts back on terms at 14โ14 with twenty minutes remaining.
Gloucester then took full control, kicking two penalties and finishing the job with two late tries from substitute Charlie Atkinson, who also secured the teamโs bonus point. Edinburgh enjoyed a winning return to the competition after three years away, beating Toulon 33โ20 in an impressive display that earned them a bonus point.
Early on, they looked to be in trouble as Scotland international Ben White crossed for two tries for Toulon, giving the French side a 17โ10 lead. Pierre Schoeman had earlier struck back for Edinburgh, but the visitors needed another momentum shift. They found it when Ben Vellacott finished a sharp move to reduce the deficit to two points.
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Rugby World Cup Final: Edinburgh Capitalise on Yellow Card to Seal Bonus-Point Victory
Cammy Scott then nudged Edinburgh ahead with a penalty, and although Darcy Graham had a try disallowed for a knock-on, Rugby World Cup Final, Edinburgh continued to grow in confidence. Toulonโs David Ribbans received a yellow card for striking Liam McConnell, and Edinburgh seized the numerical advantage. Sustained pressure at the scrum produced a penalty try on the hour mark.
With Toulon struggling to regain control, Boan Venter crashed over six minutes from time to seal the Scottish sideโs bonus-point win. In the European Challenge Cup, Perpignan finally ended their long and painful run of defeats. After losing 11 straight matches in the Top 14, they delivered a convincing 41โ17 victory over the Dragons, who remain winless in 2025.
Even after losing Duncan Paiaโaua to a red card in just the 14th minute, Perpignan dominated. They led 17โ0 at half-time, controlled territory, and kept the Dragons scoreless until the 54th minute, ensuring there was never any real threat of a comeback. Exeter Chiefs also impressed, launching their Challenge Cup campaign with a commanding 42โ12 win over the Cheetahs at Sandy Park.
They scored six tries, five of them in a rampant first half. Len Ikitau, Greg Fisilau, Harvey Skinner, Scott Sio, and Henry Slade all crossed before the break, with Slade converting every try and finishing with 17 personal points. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso added a second-half try to round off a dominant performance that moves Exeter to the top of Pool 3 alongside Ulster and Stade Franรงais.
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