European Champions Cup Final: Leinster v Bordeaux Begles Combined XV

With the 2025/26 European Rugby Champions Cup final just around the corner, we take a look at a combined XV between Leinster and Bordeaux Begles.

Both sides have had flawless European Rugby Champions Cup campaigns so far, winning all of their matches to this point, setting up a tantalising final.

There are world class internationals from all over the globe littered within both squads, as two of the best groups of players get set to collide.

With that in mind, let's take a look at our combined XV for the fixture.

Leinster v Bordeaux Begles Combined XV

15 - Hugo Keenan

Kicking off this team at full back, 2025 British & Irish Lion Hugo Keenan is chosen ahead of Salesi Rayasi.

While the Bordeaux man has excelled so far this season, the international pedigree and quality of the Irishman just puts him ahead of his opposite number.

The 29 year-old scored in both the round of 16 and the quarter finals of this competition and looks set to have a big impact in the showpiece in Bilbao.

14 - Damian Penaud

Comfortably the most competitive area of the pitch, there are a plethora of top, international class wingers between these two sides.

The two right wingers battling it out for a spot in this team are New Zealander-turned Irishman James Lowe and France's Damian Penaud. We've just edged it to Penaud.

The original French wonderkid winger, before the emergence of Louis Bielle-Biarrey - more on him later - Penaud has scored 52 tries in just 67 games since joining Bordeaux from Clermont in 2023, a strike rate which rivals the very best players in the world.

13 - Garry Ringrose

The first centre spot is given to Leinster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions 13 Garry Ringrose, who has consistently delivered top performances throughout his career.

A powerful, silky and skillful talent, who possesses all the tools required for a world class 13, Ringrose has been a key part of Leinster's success in their recent history.

Now 31, the Ireland international will be hoping to secure himself just a second European Rugby Champions Cup title, having lost four finals in the competition across his career.

12 - Robbie Henshaw

Partnering his teammate for club and country, Robbie Henshaw is the obvious pick at 12.

A combination that have led both Leinster and Ireland to success consistently since their debuts, Henshaw and Ringrose are one of the main reasons that Leinster have reached this stage of the competition.

Bordeaux's Yoram Moefana is unlucky to miss out, having started all of UBB's Champions Cup matches to this point, but the trusted and proven pairing of the two Irishmen is chosen.

11 - Louis Bielle-Biarrey

As promised, on the left hand wing, Louis Bielle-Biarrey is selected in this team over Rieko Ioane.

The 22 year-old, who is already close to breaking the all-time record for most Six Nations tries in history, has 91 tries in just 120 games for club and country since breaking through, with 27 of those coming in his 26 international caps.

An electric, pacy and tricky winger, Bielle-Biarrey has taken world rugby by storm, usurping international teammate and global superstar Antoine Dupont as the widely regarded best player in the world at the moment.

While Ioane is a former All Blacks international and a top winger in his own right, there are few - if any - players that would get in over the young Frenchman.

10 - Matthieu Jalibert

Another relatively competitive position on the field, France's mercurial fly half Matthieu Jalibert is the chosen 10.

While Leinster possess two Irish international 10s in Harry Byrne and Sam Prendergast, neither of them have properly established themselves for club or country - with Prendergast in particular coming under significant scrutiny.

In contrast, Jalibert is held in extremely high regard across the rugby world, consistently being named in conversations for the world's best in his position.

9 - Jamison Gibson-Park

Partnering Jalibert at half back, Jamison Gibson-Park just beats Maxime Lucu to the number nine shirt.

While Maxime Lucu has had an exceptional couple of years for Bordeaux in recent times, Gibson-Park has been a staple of Irish rugby since the retirement of the great Conor Murray.

A fast, technically gifted scrum half, JGP has rivalled the best in his position over the last few seasons, second only to French star Antoine Dupont.

1 - Andrew Porter

As we move onto the forward pack, Leinster loosehead prop Andrew Porter is the preferred option.

The main reason for his selection is a relatively simple one - which will be seen across the front row - Bordeaux's one, two and three all come off early into the second half of most games.

While the traditional model in European rugby is to have a set first choice front row, who are then replaced between the 55th and 70th minutes, Bordeaux operate a more South African model of utilising a 'bomb squad'.

This usually entails a change to the entire front row either at half time or extremely early into the second half, with the substitutes holding a similar ability level to the starters.

As a result, it is hard to select a single Bordeaux front row forward in this team.

2 - Dan Sheehan

As mentioned previously, Bordeaux's rotation tactics mean that Dan Sheehan is selected at hooker in this team, though this does the Irishman a significant disservice.

The British & Irish Lion has been world rugby's best hooker for a number of years, leading his pack from the front for both club and country better than anyone else.

Though almost anyone would have been selected in this position for Leinster, Sheehan earns this spot on merit.

3 - Tadhg Furlong

Completing the all-Leinster front row is legendary tight head Tadhg Furlong.

As with Sheehan, though his selection is ultimately down to Bordeaux's rotation tactics, Furlong has been amongst the greatest tight heads in the world for the best part of a decade.

4 - Joe McCarthy

With the talent at second row across these two teams, selecting just two is an extremely tough choice.

Ireland international Joe McCarthy has stood out for Leinster and Ireland over the course of the last couple of seasons, making him impossible to leave out of this side.

The decision has been made to select one lock from each side, with McCarthy preferred to James Ryan, who has somewhat plateaued in his development over the last few years.

5 - Adam Coleman

The Bordeaux selection at lock is Adam Coleman.

A Tonga international, Coleman was born and raised in Australia, featuring 38 times for the Wallabies between 2016 and 2019, before switching his international allegiances in 2023 - after the world rugby waiting period.

At 34 years-old, the former London Irish player has been in the form of his career since moving to France, establishing himself once more as a top international lock.

6 - Josh van der Flier

Despite the competition for places in the back row, two-time World Rugby player of the year Josh van der Flier is too good to ignore.

The Irishman has been a staple for Leinster and Ireland since making his debut in 2014, being widely regarded as the best player in the world during his peak.

The now 33-year old's inclusion sees teammate Jack Conan and Pierre Bochaton miss out on selection.

7 - Cameron Woki

Just the second Bordeaux player to feature in the forwards pack, France international Cameron Woki is named as the openside flanker in this team.

With 12 tries in 27 appearances across all competitions this season, Woki has rapidly cemented himself as one of his nation's top flankers, as he chases a regular place in his national team.

8 - Caelan Doris

The final player selected in this team, Leinster captain Caelan Doris is the obvious choice at number eight.

A powerful, abrasive number eight in the traditional mould of his position, Doris has been a key man for both club and country over the course of his entire career.

A one-clubman with 61 caps for his nation, 28 year-old Doris will go in search of his first Champions Cup title this weekend.