Gloucester hold the European champions to a 36 all draw at Kingsholm

The story

Gloucester came very close to beating the best team in Europe on Friday night. They drew 36 all with Bordeaux Begles at Kingsholm in the opening round of this season's Champions Cup.

Bordeaux have won the competition two years running and are going for a third. They have not lost a Champions Cup game since Harlequins knocked them out in the quarter finals in April 2024, and for a while it looked like that run was about to end.

Gloucester led 24 to 17 at half time. Replacement Will Trenholm then scored twice midway through the second half to put them 36 to 29 up. But France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey hit back almost straight away with his second try of the night, Maxime Lucu added the extras, and neither side could find a winner in a tense finish.

Gloucester's other tries came from Clark, Llewellyn and Barton, with Barton also kicking four conversions and a penalty. It is a big result for a side that finished bottom of its pool in this competition last season and now sits top of the Prem.

Before kick off there was a moment's silence for Lions lock Hyron Andrews, who died on Friday at 31. The former Sale player died at the South African team's hotel the day before their match in La Rochelle. The Lions will still play that game on Saturday in his honour, and more tributes are planned across the opening weekend.