One week removed from a rousing win over La Rochelle that felt ripped from a mid-2000s highlight reel, Munster Rugby returns to France for another titanic Investec Champions Cup clash - this time against Top 14 giant Union Bordeaux Bègles.

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Bordeaux, the regular-season pace-setter, will be eager to avenge last year’s dramatic quarterfinal exit at the hands of Harlequins, a 42–41 loss in a high-octane thriller. 

Now entering the knockout rounds with title-or-bust expectations, the French side faces an Irish team full of grit, history and rising stars.

Tadhg Beirne once again captains Munster, which makes two changes from last weekend. 

Josh Wycherley steps in at loosehead for the injured Jeremy Loughman, and Alex Nankivell returns to midfield after winning an appeal against suspension. 

A milestone looms large, as veteran Stephen Archer is set for his 300th Munster appearance from the bench.

The key battle centers around the 10s: Ireland’s Jack Crowley, in scintillating form and fresh off a contract extension, faces France’s enigmatic Matthieu Jalibert. 

Crowley has racked up two straight man-of-the-match nods and is excelling on both sides of the ball, completing 79% of his tackles and averaging more touches than Jalibert per game. The Bordeaux playmaker, brilliant but unpredictable, remains a game-breaking threat - if Munster allows him time and space.

Bordeaux welcomes back Six Nations standout Louis Bielle-Biarrey and rolls out a lethal back line that includes Damian Penaud and Maxime Lucu. But if Munster can dominate the breakdown and limit Bordeaux’s wide threats, another upset could be brewing.

2025 Union Bordeaux-Begles vs Munster Rugby

FULL-TIME: Union Bordeaux-Bègles 47, Munster 29

Bordeaux Reaches Semifinals With Clinical Champions Cup Display

Union Bordeaux-Bègles stormed into the Champions Cup semifinals with a ruthless 47-29 victory over Munster at a raucous Stade Chaban-Delmas on Saturday, punishing every mistake and showcasing its attacking class in a breathless contest.

UBB was in control from the outset, scoring four tries in a blistering first half. 

Damian Penaud opened the scoring inside five minutes, collecting a clever grubber from Matthieu Jalibert to break the single-season try-scoring record. Jalibert added a penalty, before Maxime Lucu, Pete Samu and Jon Echegaray all crossed in quick succession to leave the visitors shellshocked and trailing 29-10 at the break.

Munster’s only first-half bright spots came from Jack Crowley’s early penalty and Alex Nankivell’s try on the stroke of halftime, superbly converted from the touchline. That brief momentum carried into the second half, as Andrew Smith showed individual brilliance to narrow the gap to 29-15.

But Bordeaux responded with a powerful maul try and a Jalibert penalty to stretch the lead to 37-15. 

Ill-discipline plagued Munster, with Tom Ahern and Alex Kendellen both seeing yellow in a critical period that saw the Irish side lose any foothold it had gained.

Still, Graham Rowntree’s side fought back admirably. 

A penalty try in the 67th minute, with Echegaray binned for collapsing a maul, cut the deficit to 40-22. Smith then struck again, latching onto a clever dink from Crowley to bring it back to 40-29 with eight minutes to play.

But just as hope stirred, Bordeaux slammed the door shut. 

Louis Bielle-Biarrey finished off a flowing move in the 77th minute - his now-customary score sealing a seventh straight home win in Europe. There was controversy over a potential obstruction on Conor Murray, but the try stood, and Lucu’s conversion brought up 47 points.

A late red card to Cyril Cazeaux for a high shot on Kendellen came too late to change the outcome.

Bordeaux simply was too sharp, too physical and too clinical. UBB now awaits the winner of Toulouse vs. Toulon quarterfinal, with a maiden European final well within reach.

For Munster, despite a spirited second-half comeback, the damage was done early. The team's European dream ends in familiar frustration - errors left to rue, missed lineouts and moments of madness at crucial times.

Scorers

UBB: Tries: Penaud, Lucu, Samu, Echegaray, Maul (team), Bielle-Biarrey. Cons: Jalibert (3), Lucu (2). Pens: Jalibert (2).
Munster: Tries: Nankivell, Smith (2), Penalty Try. Cons: Crowley (3). Pen: Crowley.

Discipline

UBB: Yellow – Cazeaux (47'), Echegaray (67'); Red – Cazeaux (74')
Munster: Yellow – Ahern (54'), Kendellen (64')

Attendance: Approx. 28,000
Venue: Stade Chaban-Delmas
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GEO)

FULL-TIME! Bordeaux Progresses!

That was emphatic from the Top 14 powerhouse, which capitalized on every Munster error and struck whenever opportunities presented themselves! 

Bravo Bordeaux! UBB will face either Toulon or Toulouse in the semifinals.

TRY! Louis Bielle-Biarrey | Min 77

It was inevitable! 

Bielle-Biarrey scores every match, and he does it again! 

There is debate that Conor Murray was played off the ball, but the referees have cleared it, and the try stands. 

That is heartbreaking for Munster, which mounted a serious comeback, but Bordeaux is lethal from anywhere on the pitch. Lucu converts the try. UBB 47 - MUN 29.

RED CARD! Cyril Cazeaux | Min 74

Munster has two-player advantage and needs to calm down! 

Thaakir Abrahams is so close to getting over the try line, but Maxime Lucu just cuts him down!

TRY! Andrew Smith! Min 72

Andrew Smith has been immense in a poor performance from Munster today. Jack Crowley puts a clever little dink kick through. 

The Irish side was down and out, but there still is hope, and Crowley drills the touchline conversion. UBB 40 - MUN 29.

PENALTY TRY! Munster | Min 67

Munster gets a penalty try. 

Bordeaux's fullback, Jon Echegaray, is sent to the bin, and it has sparked Munster back into life. Munster goes from deep! The play comes to little, as the ball goes into touch. UBB 40 - MUN 22.

Yellow Card | Alex Kendellen | Min 64

Back--to-back yellow cards for Alex Kendellen. 

The backrow has only just come on, and it feels harsh, but he is straight off. It was the same a week ago for Kendellen! 

Munster somehow held out Bordeaux, but Jalibert knocked over an easy penalty. UBB 40 - MUN 15.

Munster's Day Summed Up

Jack Crowley fumbles a bouncing ball on his 5-meter line, and the home side has a scrum. Unfortunately, the Munster 10 was under no pressure, and now the home side has another opportunity to score. That sums up the Irish side's day.

TRY! UBB Maul | Min 56

Referee Nika Amashukeli clearly said held up, but he switched his decision. The try is awarded to the home side! Jalibert just misses the conversion, but that was a real show of force from the home side. UBB 37 - MUN 15.

Yellow Card | Tom Ahern | Min 54

Compounding mistakes has been Munster's undoing today. That was silly from Ahern, who was offsides and tackled Lucu. 

PENALTY! Jalibert | Min 53

That is a coach killer! The referee told Jean Kleyn to release, and he didn't. That just settles things a touch for the home side. UBB 32 - MUN 15.

TRY! Andrew Smith | Min 51 

This is exactly what Munster needed! Individual brilliance from Andrew Smith! Crowley's conversion bounces off the upright, but Munster has a foothold here. UBB 29 - MUN 15.

A Let Off For Munster

Munster has been on top all half here, but the line-out has been the team's Achilles heel. Munster is fortunate that Jalibert has sliced the kick, otherwise, all of the hard work will be undone.

Yellow Card! Cyril Cazeaux | Min 47

Munster gets some relief here but cannot buy a line-out. 

Every time Munster kicks to touch it loses the ball.  Munster has been on top here but cannot win the ball back. This is killing any hope the Irish side have of mounting a comeback. 

Second Half 

The two sides come out of the tunnel. Can the home side keep up the intensity?. Can Munster pull off its greatest comeback? Matthieu Jalibert gets us underway, and all will be revealed. 

HALFTIME: UBB 29, Munster 10

A devastating opening 40 minutes saw Union Bordeaux-Bègles blow Munster away with four first-half tries in a dominant Champions Cup quarterfinal display at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.

The hosts roared out of the blocks, with Damian Penaud marking his 12th try of the campaign inside five minutes, after a slick grubber from Matthieu Jalibert. The French fly-half added a penalty shortly after, as UBB capitalized on Munster's early ill-discipline.

Maxime Lucu pounced on a misread in the Munster backfield to cross in the 13th minute, and former Wallaby Pete Samu added another on 24 minutes after a loose, broken-field sequence Munster simply couldn’t contain. 

Jon Echegaray's 34th-minute score, following some dazzling handling, appeared to end the contest before halftime.

Munster, stunned and flat-footed for much of the half, finally found a spark just before the break. 

Craig Casey’s sharp pass sent Alex Nankivell crashing over in the 43rd minute, and Jack Crowley curled over a superb conversion from the touchline to give the visitors a lifeline heading into the sheds.

Crowley had earlier put Munster on the board with a penalty that followed sustained dominance at scrum time, the one area where the visitors have had consistent success. But defensively, they’ve struggled to cope with UBB’s pace and variety in attack.

Despite flashes of intent early, Munster has been punished ruthlessly by a Bordeaux side playing with flair and precision. The Irish province must summon a monumental second-half effort to claw its way back into contention.

Halftime score: Union Bordeaux-Bègles 29, Munster 10.

TRY! Alex Nankivell | Min 43

Back in the line up and onto the scoreboard! 

Alex Nankivell powers over from a brilliant pass by Craig Casey. Jack Crowley nails the touchline conversion, and Munster has a pulse. UBB 29 vs MUN 10.

TRY! Jon Echegaray | Min 34

Again! 

Bordeaux has Munster at sixes and sevens! 

It is all too easy here. Munster is out on its feet, and its all over here. 

Following some dazzling interplay, the ball works its way out wide, and the home side pretty much has ended this as a contest! UBB 29 - MUN 3.

Nearly!

Bordeaux is going at 100 miles per hour here! 

Every ball is bouncing UBB's way. Only a Jack Crowley intervention stops a certain try for Bordeaux.

TRY! Pete Samu | Min 24

Munster is really hurting itself here. Munster is getting dragged into a loose and fast match, and Bordeaux is  loving it! Former Wallaby Pete Samu is in! Conversion is good! UBB 22 - MUN 3.

TRY! Maxime Lucu | Min 13

The home side is in again! 

The Munster backfield is out of position here, and the ball bounces up perfectly for scrumhalf Maxime Lucu! Jalibert converts, and the home side is away. UBB 15 - MUN 3.

PENALTY! Matthieu Jalibert | Min 11

John Hodnett is pinged for being off his feet at the breakdown, and Jaliberty slots the points, but it could've been worse, with UBB claiming that Jean Kleyn had put a high shot and Ben Tameifuna. 

The referees clear him of any wrongdoing, and its not a great look, as Tameifuna is pulling clown signs to wind up the Munster players.

PENALTY! Jack Crowley | Min 8

Munster is getting real joy from the scrum here. That is three dominant efforts in a row, and Munster claims the penalty. Crowley knocks it over from straight in front, and Munster is on the board. UBB 5 - MUN 3.

TRY! Damian Penaud | Min 5

Just like that! 

Matthieu Jalibert finds space with a clever little grubber kick, and guess who - Damian Penaud - breaks the try-scoring record for a single season with his 12th try! 

Jalibert misses the conversion, but Munster has been handed a real warning here! UBB 5 - MUN 0.

Dominant Scrum!

Munster has picked up right where it left off in La Rochelle! Powering through the Bordeaux scrum, Maxime Lucu does really well to clear his lines.

Kickoff

We are underway in Bordeaux! 

Munster is starting fast here and finding gaps early! 

Munster gets right up to the Bordeaux 5-meter line. There is a slight knock on, which gives the home side some much-needed relief! 

How To Watch Stade Rochelais Vs. Munster Rugby In Investec Champions Cup Quarterfinals

The match is streaming live on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States and all of North America.

When Do The Investec Champions Cup Playoffs Begin In 2025?

The Investec Champions Cup Playoffs kick off with the Round of 16 on April 4, as the Northampton Saints take on Clermont Rugby. The remaining seven games of the round will be played April 5-6.

The quarterfinals will follow from April 11-13, with a short break until the semifinals on May 2-4.

The Champions Cup Final will take place at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on May 24.

Investec Champions Cup Quarterfinal Fixtures

Friday, April 11

• Leinster Rugby vs. Glasgow Warriors - Aviva Stadium

Saturday, April 12

• Union Bordeaux-Begles vs. Munster Rugby - Stade Chaban-Delmas 
• Northampton Saints vs. Castres Olympique - Franklin's Gardens 

Sunday, April 13

• RC Toulonnais vs. Stade Toulousain - Stade Chaban-Delmas

Investec Champions Cup Weekends

• Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
• Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
• Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
• Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
• Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
• Quarterfinals – 11/12/13 April 2025
• Semifinals – 2/3/4 May 2025
• 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Investec Champions Cup Format 

Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:

• A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
• 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
• Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
• Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
• The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to: 

• Investec Champions Cup
• EPCR Challenge Cup
• Currie Cup
• Top 14
• Super Rugby
• And more

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

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