France 24: Hugo Reus Inspires Bordeaux-Bègles Victory Over La Rochelle
Bordeaux-Bègles defeated La Rochelle 25-19 away on October 25, 2026, claiming second place in the Top 14 standings after the seventh round of the championship, France 24 reported.
Bordeaux-Bègles Overcomes Injury Crisis at Marcel-Deflandre
The victory arrived despite a mounting injury toll that plagued Bordeaux-Bègles before and during the match. Three players—Lasha Pkhakadze, Romain Buros, and Sipili Falatea—withdrew during the pre-match warm-up. Two additional players, Adam Zapedowski and Marko Gazzotti, exited the field with injuries during the first half.
Despite the disruptions, the visiting side delivered an opening half marked by tactical discipline and high tempo. Fly-half Hugo Reus anchored the scoring performance by slotting 20 points through his boot, while Carlü Sadie added a converted try in the 24th minute by driving through the forwards under the posts.
La Rochelle Struggles to Capitalize on Late Opportunities
La Rochelle entered the fixture following a mixed early-season campaign that included a victory over Lyon and a subsequent loss to Racing 92 in September. Against Bordeaux-Bègles, the home side struggled to maintain territorial dominance during the opening periods.
Theo McFarland provided a brief spark for La Rochelle by scoring a try in the 35th minute to narrow the deficit. A subsequent breakthrough came in the 53rd minute when Semi Lagivala crossed the try-line following an attacking sequence initiated by Simeli Daunivucu, shifting the scoreline to 14-19.
Bordeaux-Bègles flanker Temo Matiu received a carton orange and a suspension following a mauvais plaquage on Levani Botia in the 76th minute. Capitalizing on the numerical advantage, La Rochelle’s Andy Timo collected a kick from Dillyn Leyds to score in the corner. However, a missed conversion by Valentin Bouju and a crucial late defensive turnover secured by Maxime Lucu sealed the result for the visitors.
The result lifts Bordeaux-Bègles into the runner-up position of the Top 14 table following a sequence of away fixtures that previously included losses in Toulouse and Perpignan, alongside a draw at Gloucester in the Champions Cup.