Bielle-Biarrey double helps Bordeaux rescue 36-36 draw at Gloucester

Gloucester and defending champions Bordeaux Begles opened their Champions Cup campaigns with a 36-36 draw at Kingsholm on Friday, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey scoring twice for the visitors. According to BBC Sport's match report, the French winger's second try and Maxime Lucu's conversion brought Bordeaux level after Gloucester had moved seven points ahead during the second half.

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The result kept Bordeaux unbeaten in the competition since their quarter-final defeat by Harlequins in April 2024. The holders are seeking a third consecutive Champions Cup title, but their opening match of the 2026-27 competition ended without a victory. Gloucester, the early-season Premiership leaders, had led 24-17 at half-time before the contest produced another swing after the interval.

Replacement Will Trenholm supplied two tries for Gloucester midway through the second half, helping the home side establish a 36-29 advantage. Bielle-Biarrey responded quickly with his second score of the evening, leaving Lucu to add the conversion that restored parity. Neither side managed to score the decisive points in the closing stages, and Gloucester's seven-point cushion did not survive to the final whistle.

Both teams finished with five tries, four conversions and a penalty. Arthur Clark, Max Llewellyn and George Barton joined Trenholm on Gloucester's try-scoring list, while Barton also supplied all of the hosts' successful kicks. Martin Page-Relo, Sipili Falatea and Pablo Uberti scored Bordeaux's other tries alongside Bielle-Biarrey's double, with Lucu responsible for their conversions and penalty.

The match was preceded by a moment's silence for Lions lock Hyron Andrews, who died on Friday at the age of 31. BBC Sport reported that the former Sale player died at the South African team's hotel, a day before their Champions Cup fixture against La Rochelle. Players and spectators at Kingsholm paid tribute before the opening match began.

The Lions will play Saturday's match in Andrews' honour, according to the BBC report. Further tributes are planned during the competition's opening round, which began with Gloucester and Bordeaux sharing a result after a match featuring 10 tries and 72 points.