Bordeaux wins its first Champions Cup rugby title after subduing Northampton

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Bordeaux-Begles won its first Champions Cup title after holding off Northampton 28-20 in the final at Principality Stadium on Saturday.

Bordeaux delivered a French champion for the fifth straight year after dominating the second half from 20-20 at halftime.

Two tries for wing Damian Penaud and one for lock Adam Coleman were countered by a pair from Northampton flanker Alex Coles in the most first-half points ever in a final.

Coles' tying second converted try just before the interval helped the Saints overcome losing backs George Furbank and James Ramm to injuries in the opening five minutes.

Ramm had to be helped off and England international Ollie Sleightholme replaced him for a first club appearance since December. Furbank took an accidental knee to his face from Bordeaux fullback Romain Buros, continuing a horrible run for him after playing just 57 minutes of rugby this year because of a broken arm and then aggravating that injury.

Northampton's Henry Pollock had a try disallowed within two minutes of the restart, and Saints briefly went down to 13 players when replacement lock Ed Prowse collected a yellow card. Bordeaux captain Maxime Lucu's 44th-minute penalty edged the French back in front.

Bordeaux's superior finishing and power game from close range saw lock Cyril Cazeaux go over in the 55th to open an eight-point gap that held to the end as Saints flagged under pressure.

“We have put in a lot of hard work to get to this point, so to get the reward is unreal,” Coleman told broadcaster Premier Sports.

Northampton Saints' Alex Coles celebrates scoring a try during the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Northampton Saints' Tommy Freeman is tackled during the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Union Bordeaux-Begles' Damian Penaud, left, avoids a tackle to go onto score a try during the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

Union Bordeaux-Begles lift the trophy after winning the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles, at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Saturday May 24, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

MILAN (AP) — A guard at a construction site near a 2026 Winter Olympic venue in the mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo died during a frigid overnight shift, authorities confirmed on Saturday.

Italy’s Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini called for a full investigation into the circumstances of the 55-year-old worker’s death.

Italian media reported that the death occurred on Thursday while the worker was on duty at a construction site near Cortina’s ice arena. Temperatures that night plunged to minus 12 degrees Celsius (10.4 degrees Fahrenheit.)

Milan Cortina organizers said that the worker died of a heart attack.

“The information we have is that it was a death by natural cause, it was a heart attack. And we are investigating,” Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, told reporters at a test event at the new hockey arena in Milan.

“All the documentation that we have was in order. And we are waiting for the investigation to understand what the specific cause was. At the moment, the information we have from the emergency services is it was a death caused by natural causes ... while he was on site," Varnier said.

The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are scheduled for Feb. 6-22.

The construction site was not one overseen by Simico, the governmental company responsible for Olympic infrastructure, the company said in a statement expressing its condolences.

Cortina city officials said they were “deeply saddened and troubled by the death.’’

Cortina will host curling, sliding and women’s Alpine skiing.

Andrea Varnier, CEO Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 talks to reporters at the Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena, in Milan, where Ice Hockey discipline of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will take place, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

FILE - People take photos in front of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics rings, in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)