Lyon 30 – 12 Toulon

Tries by Baptiste Couilloud, Pierre-Louis Barassi and a penalty try, two Leo Berdeu conversions and two penalties, and a Charlie Ngatai penalty saw Lyon make history in Marseille, claiming their first-ever European title and first top-flight honour for 89 years dating back to 1933

Lyon scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud scored a try and was named man of the match as his side made history in Marseille

Lyon won their first major honour for 89 years and first-ever European title on Friday, as they claimed a thoroughly deserved 30-12 Challenge Cup final victory over French rivals Toulon at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome.

Playing in their first major final since May 1933, when victory over RC Narbonne in Bordeaux brought them the French Championship, Lyon scored through scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud, centre Pierre-Louis Barassi and a penalty try, with out-half Leo Berdeu adding two conversions and two penalties, and Charlie Ngatai one further penalty.

Toulon, who lost last year’s Challenge Cup final as well to Bristol in Aix-en-Provence, were looking to claim Europe’s secondary competition for the first time, and add it to their three Champions Cup triumphs (2013, 2014, 2015) but their performance was laden with errors and profligacy.

Scrum-half Baptiste Serin and Cheslin Kolbe scored their tries, one converted by Louis Carbonel, but in truth the Lyon margin of victory could well have been more, with wing Davit Niniashvili foolishly placing his foot on the dead-ball line while diving to score at the end of the first half.

Not to be denied, Pierre Mignoni’s Lyon – who leaves to take over at Toulon next season – combined battling last-ditch defence with superb free-flowing attack to claim an emotional win.

More to follow…