Rugby’s Social Media Moments of the Week: Matthieu Jalibert gives it back to Henry Pollock 

Rugby saw the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals take place this weekend, with Bordeaux-Begles beating Northampton Saints and Bath beating Lyon. 

There was a lot of other rugby going on in all corners of the globe and plenty of unique moments. 

Social media allowed fans to see things they may otherwise not have been aware of, and here are some of the best rugby social media moments of the weekend. 

For exclusive stories and all the detailed rugby news you need, subscribe to The Rugby Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.

Spanish Cup Final 

Rugby is often criticised for not growing outside of the traditional nations that have played it for decades, but Spain is a great example of how to grow a rugby culture in a place dominated by football. 

This weekend, the Copa Del Rey took place, with Valladolid beating El Salvador 27-3. 

The result wasn’t what fans were focused on, instead, it was the fact that there were over 20,000 people in attendance at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla. 

It is great to see an emerging nation bringing huge numbers to games, and hopefully, Spanish rugby continues to grow. 

Jalibert’s battle with Pollock 

It is safe to say that following Bordeaux Begles’ Champions Cup win over Northampton Saints, Matthieu Jalibert has been rubbing it into Henry Pollock’s face. 

He has been spotted mimicking the Saints man’s ‘pulse check’ celebration on a few occasions on social media since the victory. 

A few other UBB players have been involved in similar, but Jalibert seems to be the main instigator. 

Pollock gives it out a lot, and it is only right that he gets back what he’s given. 

Underhill’s potential red card 

The Challenge Cup final between Bath and Lyon was overshadowed in a lot of people’s views by what many think should have been an early red card for Sam Underhill. 

He thundered into Davit Niniashvili and made clear contact with his head, but the referee decided to only give Underhill a 20-minute red. 

There has been plenty of debate as to whether this was or wasn’t the right decision, with many disagreeing. 

As it was, Underhill came back on, and Bath ended up winning pretty comfortably. 

Bordeaux Trophy Parade  

The French are really impressive with regards to their support, and Bordeaux’s trophy parade was another instance of the fan culture being enviable. 

Bordeaux’s streets were filled with a sea of fans chanting and bouncing with plenty of flares to boot. 

Truly incredible scenes after what was a remarkable achievement for UBB, who won their first ever Champions Cup. 

Worcester Warriors v Bristol Bears 

A funny social media spat happened this week between Worcester Warriors and Bristol Bears, after an article came out saying that Warriors were potentially looking at Bears as a team to partner with but decided to go with Bath instead. 

Bristol’s social media admin confirmed that there were no discussions, posting a laughing face emoji after saying ‘Hope the fans forum went well lads’ in what was a beautifully sarcastic response. 

Apparently, it was only mentioned as a potential avenue at the Worcester fans forum, given that Bristol and Bath are two local teams that don’t have any partnerships with Championship clubs. 

Either way, the Warriors are now partnered with Bath and definitely not the Bears. 

Sevu Reece Breaks Record 

Crusaders winger Sevu Reece officially broke the record for most tries scored in Super Rugby Pacific history this weekend, after scoring against the Highlanders. 

Fans have taken to social media to show their appreciation of Reece after such an impressive accolade, with many praising him for his ability over a long period of time. 

With 66 tries in 84 games, too, it is an unbelievable strike rate from the winger. 

By Charlie Elliott

READ MORE: Champions Cup Team of the Season – Bordeaux Begles dominate after earning their first star