Leicester Tigers' Champions Cup opener turns sour as French side Pau score late and snatch a 41-17 bonus-point victory.
Leicester Tigers' European campaign got off to a painful start as Pau powered to a 41-17 win in their Champions Cup opener, finishing the job with late tries that secured the bonus point.
The scoreline shows how decisively the French side pulled clear. Pau kept up their intensity when the contest was there to be settled, and the late scores turned a solid result into a statement one. Leicester had no answer as the gap grew.
For Pau, a bonus-point win in the opening round is the ideal launch. In a competition where every table point can decide who reaches the knockout stage, taking five from the first outing puts them in a strong early position.
For Leicester, a storied name in European rugby, the task is now to regroup quickly. A 24-point defeat is a heavy way to begin, and the Tigers will need a sharp response in the next round to keep their pool hopes alive.
