Cameron Woki gets over the ball to win a penalty for Bordeaux. The penalty is launched down the pitch.

An error from Salesi Rayasi as he kicks it out on the full. First chance for Gloucester.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

We are under way at Kingsholm Stadium. Top of the Prem against the back-to-back Investec Champions Cup winners.

Chris Ashton
Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Tom Willis will want to remind everyone how good he is.

A moment's silence is being held in memory of Lions lock Hyron Andrews, who has died aged 31.

All roads lead to the French city of Lyon, where the 2026-27 Champions Cup final will be played on Saturday, 22 May, 2027.

24 clubs will start the competition this weekend - which two teams will make it to the final?

Try-scoring bonus points in this season's Champions Cup pool stage will be awarded only to teams who cross at least three more times than their opponents - rather than for simply scoring four or more tries.

It has been felt that losing teams could pick up a four-try bonus point too easily as opponents with a comfortable lead ease off in the final quarter.

There will also be a change in qualification criteria for the last-16 stage.

Previously, the top four teams from each of the four six-strong pools would progress, with home advantage in the knockouts decided by a seeding based on group-stage records.

Only three teams from each of the four pools will now go through automatically, with the remaining four last-16 spots allocated on the basis of table points collected.

You can listen to live BBC radio commentary of tonight's Champions Cup match on this page - just tap the "Watch & listen" tab.

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It is no surprise that Gloucester's strong early-season form has coincided with the signing of Wales captain Jac Morgan.

The former Ospreys flanker moved for big games like tonight's at Kingsholm Stadium.

The 26-year-old most recently played in the Champions Cup in 2023.

Image source, Getty Images

Superstar France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey and three of his Bordeaux Begles team-mates were initially denied entry to the United Kingdom at Bristol Airport earlier this week because of an administrative issue.

The 23-year-old, who will start on the left wing against Gloucester, was held up at the airport alongside team-mates Romain Gardrat, Matis Perchaud and Toma Taufa, as well as a member of Bordeaux's backroom staff.

Their Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) were linked to their old passports, which they had replaced this year, but the necessary steps to obtain new authorisations had not been taken.

Bordeaux received assistance from the French embassy in London in a bid to resolve the issue, which was eventually cleared up.

Image source, Getty Images

The big headline is that prop Ben Tameifuna, widely cited as the heaviest rugby player in the world and listed variously at between 23.5-25 stone, is named in the second row for the first time.

Will he be going up in the line-out for Bordeaux?

Gloucester: Barton; Joseph, Llewellyn, S Atkinson, Loader; C Atkinson, Robson; Bleuler, Lake (capt), Knight, Kleyn, Clark, Gwynne, Morgan, Clement.

Replacements: Blake, Rapava Ruskin, Salt, Thomas, Trenholm, Ludlow, Englefield, Knight.

Bordeaux Begles: Rayasi; Uberti, Depoortere, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Lucu (capt), Page-Relo; Poirot, Lamothe, Falatea, Woki, Tameifuna, Gazzotti, Matiu, Willis.

Replacements: Sa, Perchaud, Pkhakadze, Zapedowski, Bochaton, Ibsaiene, Mousques, Buros.

Image source, Getty Images

The South African Rugby Union have paid tribute to Hyron Andrews.

Andrews began his career at the Sharks in Durban, playing alongside a clutch of Springbok Rugby World Cup winners including Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Lukhanyo Am.

"This is terrible and distressing news; our hearts go out to Hyron's family and the whole Lions rugby community," said Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union.

"There are no words to adequately convey our shock and the depth of sympathy we feel for his wife Maighlin, and for his extended family, friends, team-mates and loved ones during this time of immense sorrow.

"His untimely passing is a devastating loss and we share in the grief of all who knew and loved him."

Image source, Getty Images

Hyron Andrews left Sale in the summer to return to his native South Africa. He made 45 appearances for the Prem club after arriving in February 2024.

"Hyron was just a brilliant guy and a brilliant team-mate," said Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson.

"He was so skilled on the field but off it, he was always someone you would want to have a beer with.

"He was funny and charismatic in his own unique, dry way and the lads, to a man, loved playing with him and being around him.

"It was a big move for Hyron and his wife Maighlin to come to England, but he truly made a second home in Manchester. It was incredible to see how he and his family embraced the club and area.

"Most importantly, he was a loving husband to Maighlin and a doting father to his two gorgeous boys. It was an absolute privilege to get to know him and it's just absolutely devastating for everyone."

Image source, Getty Images

However, before we begin our build-up to the Gloucester-Bordeaux match, we will reflect on the sad news announced earlier today that former Sale Sharks second row Hyron Andrews has died at the Lions' team hotel before their Champions Cup match at La Rochelle on Saturday.

A statement from SA Rugby stated that his death had been an "accident" and that the 31-year-old had "died after a fall".

Lions chief executive Rudolf Straeuli said: "We are heartbroken by the passing of Hyron.

"He was not only a gifted rugby player, but also a cherished member of our Lions family having recently joined us this season.

"On behalf of our chairman, Mr Altmann Allers, the board and everyone at the Lions, I extend our deepest sympathies to [Andrews' wife] Maighlin, their young sons Hendrix and Emerson and the entire Andrews family.

"We stand with them in their sorrow and will remember Hyron with great affection and respect."

The Lions will fulfil their fixture against La Rochelle in Andrews' honour, while a moment's silence will be observed at all of this weekend's Champions Cup and Challenge Cup fixtures.

Friday

• Gloucester v Bordeaux Begles (20:00)

Saturday

• Sale v Glasgow (13:00)
• Bulls v Stade Francais (13:00)
• Clermont Auvergne v Leinster (15:15)
• Stormers v Bristol (15:15)
• Connacht v Saracens (17:30)
• La Rochelle v Lions (17:30)
• Bath v Montpellier (20:00)
• Munster v Racing 92 (20:00)

Sunday

• Pau v Leicester (13:00)
• Toulouse v Exeter (15:15)
• Northampton v Cardiff (17:30)

Image source, Getty Images

Europe's elite competition is back. It does not get bigger than the Champions Cup in club rugby.

Back-to-back Champions Cup winners Bordeaux travel to Prem leaders Gloucester in the first game of this year's competition.

Will Gloucester, who have won two of their three Prem games so far this season, topple the holders?