Challenge Cup
This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Challenge Cup news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.
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Challenge Cup
/ 1 month agoDragons 35-12 Newcastle Red Bulls: Resurgent Welsh region take down Alan Dickens’ side
Newcastle Red Bulls’ impressive performances in the Challenge Cup came to an abrupt halt as resurgent Dragons virtually booked qualification for...
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Challenge Cup
/ 1 month agoBaxter sets sights on a home draw in last 16
■ By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Exeter Cardiff Chiefs v Today. Kick-off 1pm, Sandy Park EXETER Chiefs head into today’s final pool...
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Challenge Cup
/ 1 month agoMontpellier claim top spot as Ospreys comeback falls short
■ By SIMON THOMAS Ospreys .............26pts Tries: Watkin 11, Lloyd 40, 52; Moriarty 58 Conversions: Walsh 12, 41, 53 Montpellier .....31pts...
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Challenge Cup
/ 1 month agoStade go close but Ulster hold on
■ By JIM STEVENS Ulster ................26 Stade .................19 RELIEF poured out of Ravenhill at full-time after the hosts’ 26-0 half-time lead,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 1 month ago11-try Connacht secure home tie
Connacht .......75 Montauban ...14 ■ By MARK WILLIAMS CONNACHT produced a ruthless display to book a home tie in the last...
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Challenge Cup
/ 1 month agoPREVIEW…Lyon v Benetton
Today. Kick-off 1pm, Matmut Stadium de Gerland LAST season’s finalists Lyon face a do or die clash against pool leaders Benetton...
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Challenge Cup
/ 1 month agoPREVIEW…Racing v Cheetahs
Today. Kick-off 5.30pm, La Defense Arena ONLY pride is at stake in this matchup with both Racing 92 and Cheetahs out...
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Challenge Cup
/ 1 month agoPerpignan through but Lions are sent packing
Round-up ■ By SAM JACKSON A DRAMATIC Challenge Cup clash at Stade Aimé Giral ended all square as Perpignan and the...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoNewcastle Red Bulls 26-19 Perpignan: Christian Wade has his side running at full power
Newcastle Red Bulls marquee signing Christian Wade has proved anyone who doubted that he’s still at his best wrong as the...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoThomas on song to put Cardiff in pole position
■By ROGER PANTING Cardiff ...............32pts Tries: Bowen 6, Thornton 40, Assirrati 45, Thomas 74 Conversions: Sheedy 6, 45; Beetham 74 Penalties:...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoChiefs set the pace but Stade snatch it at the death
■By BEN JAYCOCK Stade Francais27pts Tries: Melikidze 51, Motassi 59, Penalty 65, Laloi 68 Conversion: Barré 60 Penalty: Barré 77 Exeter...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoDragons have no answer to Benetton’s brilliance
■By SIMON THOMAS Benetton ......... 74pts Tries: Izekor 14, Ratave 18, Fekitoa 33, Odogwu 37, 55; Umaga 40, 65; Lynagh 51,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoZebre vs Ospreys: Home comforts suit Mark Jones’ side
Ospreys head to Parma knowing that victory over Zebre could prove decisive in shaping their route to Challenge Cup glory.
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoLions on watch to keep out Lyon
Round-up By BEN JAYCOCK THE Lions edged Lyon 42– 33 in a breathless, try-laden encounter that swung repeatedly to keep the...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoConnacht at crossroads
Preview Montpellier v Connacht Today. 1pm By BEN JAYCOCK CONNACHT travel to south of France knowing their meeting with Montpellier could...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoUlster still with work to do
Preview Cheetahs v Ulster Today. 1pm ULSTER head to Amsterdam knowing a return to winning ways in Europe will put them...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoDREAM TEAM
JAMES MITCHELL, THE FORMER SALE SHARKS, CHESTER, ROTHERHAM, CONNACHT, NORTHAMPTON SAINTS, DONCASTER KNIGHTS, JERSEY REDS AND ENGLAND AGE-GRADE SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoHarvey Skinner has the confidence to spark Exeter Chiefs this season
There is a renewed swagger about Exeter Chiefs this season – and nowhere is it more evident than in the confidence...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoSheedy hits the mark to snatch it for Cardiff
■ By ROGER PANTING Cardiff ...............29pts Tries: Nott 7, Bowen 12, Southworth 65, Thomas 75 Conversions: Halfpenny 8, Sheedy 65, 75...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoNewcastle Red Bulls 14-10 Johannesburg Lions: It’s two in a row for battling Bulls
Murray McCallum powered over the try line in the final minutes as Newcastle Red Bulls left it agonisingly late to break...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoRacing 92 vs Exeter Chiefs: Rob Baxter urges Chiefs to step up to the plate in Racing challenge
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has thrown down the gauntlet to his emerging talent, challenging them to “step up...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoWalsh on target to put Ospreys on top
■By SIMON THOMAS Montauban .....22pts Tries: Maurouard 35, Tuculet 56, Kanika 84 Conversion: Fortunel 57, Castel 85 Penalty: Fortunel 2 Ospreys...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoDragons looking to end poor run
Preview ■ By SAM JACKSON Dragons v Lyon Today. 3.15pm. Rodney Parade DRAGONS believe today’s clash with Lyon can act as...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoConnacht hit 50 to slay the Lions
■By GEORGE LAWRENCE Connacht .......52 Black Lion ....... 0 A RAMPANT Connacht got their Challenge Cup campaign back on track with...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 months agoOdogwu leads the way for Benetton
Round-up BENETTON secured back-to-back victories to start their campaign in style, outscoring Perpignan 44–31. The Italian side were sharp from the...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoNine-try Ulster destroy Racing
■By SAM JACKSON Ulster ..............61 Racing 92 ......... 7 ULSTER launched their campaign in emphatic fashion as they ran riot against...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoNew full-back Young shows his class in Cardiff defeat
■By SIMON THOMAS S Francais .......38pts Tries: Ibo 17, 50; Halaifonua 42, Scelzo 60, Foursans-Bourdette 64, Laloi 73 Conversion: Foursans-Bourdette 43,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoLyon 14-23 Newcastle Red Bulls: Oli Spencer’s late score seals Red Bulls win
Winger Oli Spencer scored in the final minutes to ensure Newcastle Red Bulls started their European campaign with a famous victory...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoExeter Chiefs v Cheetahs: In-form Chiefs hungry for more European silverware
Exeter Chiefs and the Cheetahs meet for the first time today as the South African invitational side, who are based in...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoProp star Botha brings up his 150 for Ospreys
■By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Ospreys v Connacht Today. Kick-off 3.15pm TOM Botha will make his 150th Ospreys appearance today when his...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoWales stars return as Dragons hunt first win
■By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Perpignan v Dragons Today. Kick-off 1pm WINLESS Dragons are desperate to secure their first triumph of the...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoBenetton fightback stuns Lions in Jo’burg
Round-up ■By BEN JAYCOCK BENETTON staged a composed second-half comeback to open their campaign with an impressive 26-28 away victory against...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoTrailfinders smash six to extend their winning start
■By JOSEPH TERRY Trailfinders ....38pts Tries: Gwynn 6, de Wee 27, Cornish 36, Wilson 41, Dykes 58, Buckley 72 Conversions: Jones...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoBench men turn tide to seal Blues derby win
■By SAM WORTH Bedford Blues ................. 29pts Tries: Benson 11, Lennon 25, Uru 52, Herman 70, Tuilagi 78 Conversions: Maisey 53,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoClassy Kareem helps Worcester march on
■By JEAN BULL Worcester ........40pts Tries: Trewin 17, Gonzalez 21, Kareem 26, 57; Anstee 32, Reed 50 Conversions: Reed 22, 26,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoAmpthill claim points with Isaacs’ last minute score
■By TIM FORRESTER Richmond ........20pts Tries: Goffey 5, Obonna 17, Litchfield 64 Conversions: Grieve 6 Penalties: Grieve 77 Ampthill ...........25pts Tries:...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoCameron’s late snipe earns draw for Knights
By LUKE JARMYN Hartpury ............33pts Tries: Denty 31, Hart 40, Morgan 50 Conversions: Bazalgette 32, 40+1, 50+1 Penalties: Bazalgette 53, 57,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 3 months agoDickinson try makes difference for Archers
■By ALEX GREGGOR Chinnor ................ 6pts Penalties: Worboys 42, 71 Nottingham ...... 11pts Tries: Dickinson 46 Penalties: Parks 15, 56 NOTTINGHAM...
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Challenge Cup
/ 9 months agoBath 37-12 Lyon: Ben Spencer sparkles as Bath put Lyon to sword
Bath won their first major trophy for 17 years with the biggest margin of victory in a Challenge Cup Final since...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 9 months agoBrendan Gallagher: The flowering of Johann van Graan’s plan at Bath
Surely the most encouraging, or ominous, aspect of Bath’s commanding win over a lacklustre Lyon on Friday night was that it...
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Challenge Cup
/ 9 months agoCharlie Elliott: Best head-to-head matchups in the European Finals
The Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals will both take place this weekend in Cardiff, providing an opportunity to determine the European champions. Both will see Premiership...
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Challenge Cup
/ 9 months agoJohann van Graan wants Bath to enjoy the moment in Challenge Cup final
Johann van Graan wants Bath to “enjoy the moment” when they continue their quest for a possible trophy treble in Friday’s...
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Challenge Cup
/ 9 months agoEuropean Finals Preview: Northampton Saints and Bath shape up to face the French
Paul Rees sets the scene ahead of this weekend's grand finale to European competition in Cardiff As the Premiership hacks through...
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Challenge Cup
/ 10 months agoEdinburgh 24 – 39 Bath: Bath’s final push too much for Edinburgh in Challenge Cup semi-final
By Roger Panting Edinburgh .......................24 Tries: Tuipulotu 18, Penalty 42, Price 64 Conversions: Thompson 19, 65 Penalty: Thompson 37 Bath .....................................
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Challenge Cup
/ 10 months agoFarrell’s chance to impress dad
By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Lyon v Racing 92 Today. Kick-off 12.30pm, Matmut Stadium de Gerland Man in charge: Owen Farrell captains...
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Champions Cup
/ 10 months agoChampions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-finals: Fixtures, Where to Watch and Previews
European rugby is well and truly back, with the semi-finals of both major competitions in continental rugby taking place over the...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoChallenge Cup: Racing 92 too strong for battling Connacht
By John Fallon Connacht ..........40pts Tries: Aki 3, Prendergast 9, 30, Penalty 13, Murphy 73, Forde 79 Conversions: Hanrahan 4, 10,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoOspreys 18-20 Lyon: It’s heartbreak for Ospreys as Dan Edwards sends kick wide
Dan Edwards missed a touchline conversion to end Ospreys’ hopes of reaching their first ever European semi-final on a frustrating night...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoChallenge Cup: Edinburgh hold their nerve to fight off late Bulls revival
By Bryn Palmer Edinburgh ........ 34pts Tries: Lang 3, 24 Bradbury 13, Gilchrist 42 Conversions: Thompson 4, 14, 25, 43 Penalties:...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoBath v Gloucester preview: Cherry and Whites go to Somerset ‘fully loaded’
A year ago George Skivington prioritised the cup competitions with Gloucester in the bottom two of the Premiership, but he has...
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