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
/ 2 years agoLudlow: Sharks took it to Test level
By BEN JAYCOCK Gloucester captain Lewis Ludlow was dejected after the defeat to the Sharks in the Challenge Cup final but...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoOx Nche: ‘You don’t win a scrum alone, you win it together.’
In the words of Springboks and Sharks prop Ox Nche, “salads don’t win scrums”; but what does win you scrums? During...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoChallenge Cup Final Preview – More than just a trophy on the line
The final fixture of the EPCR Challenge Cup takes place on Friday night, with Gloucester and the Sharks both desperate to...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoPowell and Sharks looking to make European history
South African outfit the Sharks sit on the cusp of history, but Director of Rugby Neil Powell knows his team need...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoLudlow’s up for the Sharks challenge
By BEN JAYCOCK Despite suffering a 14-try whitewash last weekend and finishing second bottom in the Premiership for a second straight...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoTbilisi win was key – Skivington
By JON NEWCOMBE George Skivington has credited the European Challenge Cup win against Black Lion in Tbilisi as the moment Gloucester...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoAm: Chance to win silverware shows we’re on right track
By BEN JAYCOCK The Sharks have endured an emotional rollercoaster this season but, after booking their place in the Challenge Cup...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoHotshot Hastings has the final say
By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ....................... 40pts Tries: Hathaway 6, Blake 29, Hastings 58, Clarke 61, Thorley 78 Conversions: Hastings 29, 58,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoCoach is happy to chase a second trophy
Gloucester head coach George Skivington confirmed that his side had targeted the cup competitions after victory against Benetton took them to...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoMasuku hits the target for Sharks
By BEN JAYCOCK Sharks .................32pts Tries: Koch 61, Mapimpi 71 Conversions: Masuku 62, 72 Penalties: Masuku 4, 9, 14, 19, 26,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoEPCR Challenge Cup semi-final preview
For the second year in a row each of the four Challenge Cup semi-finalists come from a different country, but it’s...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoSharks too strong for ordinary Edinburgh
By BRYN PALMER Sharks ...............36pts Tries: Am 16, J Venter 26, Mbonambi 55 Conversions: Masuku 17, 27, 56 Penalties: Masuku 48,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoOn-target Carreras makes no mistake
By ROGER PANTING Gloucester .........23pts Tries: Blake 30 Penalties: Carreras 6, 18, 34, 49, 60, 65 Ospreys............... 13pts Tries: Giles 13...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoMurphy promises new focus after Ulster are demolished by Clermont
By JOHN FALLON Clermont...........53pts Tries: Yato 18, 68, Sowakula 36, 60, Newsome 44, Simmons 64, Jurand 80 Conversions: Belleau 19, 37,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoCoach praises efforts in defence
GLOUCESTER director of rugby George Skivington praised his side’s defensive effort. He said: “After missing so many tackles in our league...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoConnacht know they must rise to the occasion
By SAM JACKSON PREVIEW... Benetton v Connacht Today. Kick-off 12.30pm CONNACHT know they will have to go up a gear to...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoPienaar heads the list for Europe’s golden oldies
In the course of wheeling their way into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last weekend against the Cheetahs, the Michelin Men of...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoEPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final preview
Eight countries from seven different nations remain in the Challenge Cup as it reaches the quarter-final stage, with an Anglo-Welsh clash...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoUlster set for massive fight
Preview Montpellier v Ulster Today. 12.30pm ULSTER interim head coach Richie Murphy says a ‘massive test’ awaits in Montpellier. Ulster have...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoClermont survive second-half scare
Clermont ........27 Cheetahs .......22 ■By BEN JAYCOCK THREE-TIME Challenge Cup winners Clermont held off a Cheetahs fightback to earn a place...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoUmaga stars for 14-man Benetton
Benetton ........27 Lions ................ 17 ■By SAM JACKSON THE Lions were booted out of the Challenge Cup by a Benetton side...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoCarreras’ boot keeps Gloucester in control
By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ......... 30pts Tries: Mercer 8, May 27, Llewellyn 32 Conversions: Carreras 8, 27, 32 Penalties: Carreras 54,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoDominant Ospreys out-muscle the weakened Sharks
■By ROGER PANTING mance from them and a tion has to be made of the 30 metres out from his own...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoBundee’s back to boost Connacht
Preview Pau v Connacht Today. 5.30pm IRELAND duo Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham come into the starting XV as Connacht head...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoSisi leads way on 100th appearance
Preview Sharks v Zebre Today. 3pm DAVID Sisi captains Zebre on his 100th appearance for the club as the Italian side...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoEPCR Challenge Cup last 16 preview
Teams from seven nations are represented in the round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup, which gets underway on Friday...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoKeen demand to host Euro finals weekend
By JON NEWCOMBE Dominic McKay, chairman of European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), has revealed that interest in hosting European club rugby’s...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoEdinburgh claim vital bonus point to proceed
By SIMON THOMAS Scarlets ............ 19pts Tries: Roberts 14, Conbeer 79, Penalty 80 Conversion: Lloyd 79 Edinburgh......... 31pts Tries: Vellacott 3,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoGloucester seal home advantage for last 16
By ROGER PANTING Gloucester .........35pts Tries: Atkinson 9, Clarke 50, Hastings 68, Tuisue 72 Conversions: Hastings 9, 50, Carreras 68 Penalties:...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoWales prop Thomas ruled out of Ospreys’ South African safari
By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Lions v Ospreys Today. Kick-off 1pm, Ellis Park THE Ospreys have already qualified for the Challenge Cup...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoBlack Lion …….. 3 Clermont ………36
CLERMONT secured home advantage in the last 16 with a five-try rout of the Georgian newcomers. The Top 14 giants and...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoPau ………………..28 Zebre …………….27
JOE Simmonds was the star of the show as he contributed 18 points in Pau’s win over Italian side Zebre. Zebre...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoOyonnax ……….28 Cheetahs ……..27
JULES Solan stepped up to slot a match winning conversion in injury time to complete Oyonnax’s comeback victory after Adrien Bordenave...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoBenetton ………27 Montpellier …19
TOMAS Albornoz ran the show to secure Benetton home advantage in the last 16 and boost his chances of taking over...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoTough for Falcons as Diamond gets ready
■ By PAUL REES NEWCASTLE’S players will have their fourth boss in less than a year when Steve Diamond starts work...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoBrown returns as Dragons aim to make it four in a row
PREVIEW... Dragons v Sharks By BEN JAYCOCK Today. Kick-off 5.30pm, Rodney Parade THE Dragons are aiming for four victories on the...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoChallenge Cup Friday and Saturday previews
Half of the places provided by the EPCR Challenge Cup pool stages for the last 16 have already been decided. Six...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoCockerill handed Georgia job
Former Leicester Tigers boss and England assistant Richard Cockerill has been named head coach of the Georgian national team and their...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoChampions Cup and Challenge Cup round three Sunday round-up
The third weekend of EPCR action ended with half of the qualification places now decided in each of the Champions Cup...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoWilliams sees red as Scarlets eliminated
By BEN JAYCOCK Clermont...........xxpts Tries: player name and time Conversions: player name and time Penalties: player name and time Drop goals:...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoMercer in the right place for Gloucester
By BRYN PALMER Edinburgh...........20pts Tries: Young 22, Ashman 61, Vellacott 68 Conversion: Healy 69 Penalty: Healy 52 Gloucester ......... 21pts Tries:...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoFull-back Hopkins is star of the show as fans pay tribute to JPR
By SIMON THOMAS Ospreys.............25pts Tries: Hopkins 40, 50, Giles 63 Conversions: Edwards 51, 64 Penalties: Edwards 34, 43 Perpignan........... 3pts Penalties:...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoWillemse power makes difference
Montpellier ..13 Lions .................. 3 UNDEFEATED Montpellier went three from three to top Pool 2 with victory over South African side...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoLe Brun keeping Castres on course
Castres ...........28 Black Lion ....... 6 CASTRES secured their second win in the Challenge Cup to boost their hopes of qualifying...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoDragons blow chance of booking home leg
By JOHN WILKINS Zebre..................20pts Tries: Gesi 26, 51; Bianchi 44 Conversions: Montemauri 45 Penalties: Montemauri 35 Dragons.............17pts Tries: Rosser 58 Penalties:...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoCheetahs excited for trip to Dam
By BEN JAYCOCK Preview Cheetahs v Pau Today. 1pm THE Cheetahs are gearing up for this historic clash as the South...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoHorror show goes on for dejected Falcons
By LUKE JARMYN Newcastle.........................18pts Tries: Bello 13, McCallum 62 Conversion: Connon 14 Penalty: Connon 4, 24 Benetton........................... 57pts Tries: Albornoz 16,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoSpringbok stars step up for error-strewn Sharks
By SAM JACKSON Sharks ............38 Oyonnax ........... 7 URC bottom side the Sharks made life difficult for themselves but in the...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoChallenge Cup round three Friday and Saturday Preview
Round 3 of the Challenge Cup promises an array of exciting fixtures, featuring eight matches unfolding across Friday and Saturday with...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoThe French out in front? That’s not how it looks
With 12 victories in 16 games, Paul Rees reflects on a promising start by English clubs in the Champions Cup It...
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