Gloucester 36–36 Bordeaux: Bielle-Biarrey double denies hosts opening Champions Cup win

Gloucester drew 36–36 with Bordeaux-Bègles at Kingsholm as Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s second try helped the defending champions salvage a share of the points.

The hosts led 24–17 at half-time and recovered from falling behind after the break, with Will Trenholm scoring twice.

But Bielle-Biarrey crossed again in the 62nd minute before Maxime Lucu converted to level. Neither side scored again, according to EPCR’s official match commentary.

Gloucester and Bordeaux share ten tries

Martin Page-Relo opened the scoring for Bordeaux before Arthur Clark and Max Llewellyn replied for Gloucester.

Sipili Falatea added the visitors’ second try, but George Barton’s converted score and a penalty gave Gloucester a seven-point interval advantage.

Bordeaux moved ahead through Pablo Uberti and Bielle-Biarrey early in the second half.

Trenholm’s tries in the 56th and 60th minutes swung the match back towards Gloucester, with Barton’s conversion making it 36–29.

That advantage lasted just two minutes before Bielle-Biarrey struck again.

Bordeaux had entered the match with an unusual selection, naming Ben Tameifuna at lock and moving Lucu to fly-half in Matthieu Jalibert’s absence.

Their bid for a third consecutive European title therefore begins with a draw. Gloucester, meanwhile, matched the holders’ five tries but could not turn their second-half lead into victory.