Champions Cup

Matthieu Jalibert Investec Champions Cup try is Out of the Ordinary

Bordeaux’s Matthieu Jalibert has been the star of the Investec Champions Cup. One of his tries is also the Out of the Ordinary Photograph of the Year.

Published

2 months ago

19th May 2026

Keo

James Crombie (Inpho), Union Bordeaux Bègles v Stade Toulousain, quarter-final claims top prize with stunning photograph Matthieu Jalibert try for the Investec Champions Cup Out of the Ordinary photograph of the tournament

Bordeaux’s No 10 Matthieu Jalibert is the No 1 visual in this season’s Investec Champions Cup.

Out of the Ordinary

Investec Champions Cup

A stunning image of Matthieu Jalibert scoring for Union Bordeaux Bègles against Stade Toulousain has been named the Investec Champions Cup “Out of the Ordinary” Photograph of the Year.

Captured by Inpho photographer James Crombie, the photograph was selected from more than 50 entries by a judging panel drawn from across the rugby world.

The out-of-the-ordinary moment, captured during the all-French Investec Champions Cup quarter-final clash, features Jalibert’s impressive score following his own chip and chase, as his team-mate Arthur Retière regains his footing.

The judging panel, composed of last year’s winner Alain Mounic (L’Equipe), former England captain and Premier Sports pundit Chris Robshaw, EPCR Head of Match Officials Tony Spreadbury, and two students from the Investec-supported School of Hard Knocks programme, reviewed over 50 anonymised entries.

The runner-up spot was awarded to Adrian Dennis (AFP), capturing the moment RC Toulon’s Mathis Ferté flew over the tryline during an attempt to score as the French side beat Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm in Round 4.

Runner-up, Adrian Dennis (AFP), RC Toulon v Gloucester Rugby, Round 4

Three photographers received Highly Commended accolades:

Billy Stickland (Inpho), Union Bordeaux Bègles v Stade Toulousain

Laszlo Geczo (Inpho), Section Paloise v Northampton Saints

Romain Perroceau (AFP), Union Bordeaux Bègles v Bath Rugby

Speaking after helping select the winners, last year’s competition winner Alain Mounic said: “It was a pleasure to be part of the judging panel to select the winners of Investec’s ‘Out of the Ordinary’ Photograph of the Year competition.

“The quality of submissions was extremely high, and it is amazing to see how talented photographers across the game capture some of the most crucial and defining moments that occur during matches.”

Tim Burnell, Chief Marketing Officer, UK & International, Investec Bank plc, said: “This is the third year of the Investec Champions Cup ‘Out of the Ordinary’ photo competition, and the standard of entries continues to impress us.

“We were thrilled by the creativity and technical quality displayed across this year’s submissions, and we are incredibly grateful to the photographers who bring to life the passion, skill and intensity of this world-class tournament.”

Chris Robshaw, Premier Sports pundit, added: “It was a pleasure to be involved in judging this year’s Investec ‘Out of the Ordinary’ Photography Competition. The standout images really captured the intensity, passion and pace of a rugby match, and the calibre of the entries was incredible and made selecting a winner very difficult – so congratulations to James and the four other shortlisted photographers. They all do an incredible job.”

Students from education charity School of Hard Knocks, introduced to the sport through an Investec-supported programme, said: “We had a fantastic day and it was great to be part of the selection team. We have a keen interest in photography and judging these images provided a really great experience for us.”

Tony Spreadbury, Head of Match Officials at EPCR, concluded: “Congratulations to James on his image being voted Investec’s ‘Out of the Ordinary’ Photograph of the Year. It is an evocative picture capturing the determination, athleticism and fun of rugby all in one shot. The calibre of entries was first-class and we had a thoroughly enjoyable – if difficult – time discussing the images and narrowing them down to our final winning, runner-up and highly commended shots. Congratulations to those five photographers.”

Investec Champions Cup Out of the Ordinary Award Winners

The winning, runner-up and highly commended photographs can be viewed HERE.

Winner

James Crombie (Inpho), Union Bordeaux Bègles v Stade Toulousain, Quarter-final

Runner-up

Adrian Dennis (AFP), RC Toulon v Gloucester Rugby, Round 4

Highly Commended

Billy Stickland (Inpho), Union Bordeaux Bègles v Stade Toulousain

Laszlo Geczo (Inpho), Section Paloise v Northampton Saints

Romain Perrocheau (AFP), Union Bordeaux Bègles v Bath Rugby