The 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup final is set to be a thriller: Leinster take on Bordeaux-Bègles at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, with two unbeaten sides colliding for European rugby’s biggest prize. If you want to watch every minute for free, we’ve got you covered.
When and Where Is the Final?
The match kicks off on Saturday, May 23 at 9:45 AM ET / 2:45 PM BST at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain. It’s a clash of the tournament’s two most dominant teams — and the stakes couldn’t be higher for both.
How to Watch Leinster vs Bordeaux for Free
You don’t need a premium sports package to catch this one. Here’s where to stream the final for free:
- UK: ITVX — free live streaming of the entire match
- France: France TV — free national broadcast and stream
Outside those regions, a reliable VPN is your best friend. Connect to a UK or French server, open ITVX or France TV, and you’ll be watching in minutes. Most VPN services offer a money-back guarantee, so you can use one risk-free for the weekend.
Leinster: Chasing a Fifth European Crown
It’s been eight years since Leinster last lifted the trophy — and four final defeats since. That heartache makes Saturday’s opportunity all the more significant. Unbeaten in this year’s competition, the Blues held off a late Toulon fightback in the semi-finals to reach their fourth Champions Cup final in five seasons.
Leo Cullen’s side has plenty of belief in the camp, but they’ll need to exorcise the ghosts of finals past against a Bordeaux team that has looked unstoppable all season. The mission is simple: add a fifth star to the shirt.
Bordeaux: The Defending Champions Won’t Let Go Easily
Bordeaux arrive in Bilbao as defending champions, having won every match in this year’s competition — including a convincing semi-final victory over Bath to reach the final for the second consecutive year.
Yannick Bru’s side have conquered everything in their path, powered by the electrifying trio of superstar winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey and half-backs Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert. Full of confidence and already battle-tested at this stage, they’ll be incredibly hard to stop.
Key Players to Watch
- Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux): arguably the most dangerous attacking threat in world rugby right now
- Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux): the orchestrator, capable of unlocking any defense
- Leinster’s pack: the engine room that has bulldozed every opponent this season
Prediction
Two unbeaten teams. One trophy. Leinster’s experience against Bordeaux’s raw firepower makes this genuinely too close to call — but if the Blues can keep the scoreboard pressure on early, their finals experience could finally pay off. Either way, rugby fans are in for a classic.
