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
/ 6 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
/ 6 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
/ 7 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
/ 7 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
/ 7 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
/ 7 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
/ 7 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
/ 7 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
/ 8 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
/ 8 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
/ 8 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
/ 8 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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Challenge Cup
/ 8 months agoChallenge Cup: Round of 16 rundown and quarter final fixtures
By Charlie Elliott For exclusive stories and all the detailed rugby news you need, subscribe to The Rugby Paper website, digital edition, or...
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Challenge Cup
/ 8 months agoChallenge Cup: Gloucester stay strong to set up Bath clash
By Gary Fitzgerald Montpellier ..... 17pts Tries: Bouthier 4, Reus 10 Conversions: Reus 5, 11 Penalty: Reus 40 Gloucester ...... 24pts...
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Challenge Cup
/ 8 months agoPerpignan 18-24 Racing 92: Owen Farrell steers Parisians to quarter-finals in return
Owen Farrell scored five points on his return to action as his Racing 92 side gained some much-needed positivity in their...
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Challenge Cup
/ 8 months agoChallenge Cup: Edinburgh battle it out against Lions to book quarter-final spot
Edinburgh avenged their 55-21 humiliation in Johannesburg back in October to book their place in the last eight. Sean Everitt’s side...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoBundee Aki potency provides the edge for Connacht
By Roger Panting Cardiff ............... 19pts Tries: Lloyd 16, Young 42, 58 Conversions: Thomas 16, 42 Connacht ..........28pts Tries: J Murphy...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoFirst-half blitz sets Scarlets on their way to Challenge Cup knockouts
By Roger Panting Scarlets ...........38pts Tries: Macleod 7, 22; Murray 26, Davies 32, Rogers 37, Van der Merwe 51 Conversions: Lloyd...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoMontpellier turn power on to finish in top spot
By LUKE JARMYN Newcastle ........................... 7pts Tries: Hearle 32 Conversions: Wilkinson 33 Montpellier...................... 26pts Tries: Bernadet 1, Serfontein 46, Akrab 59,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoOspreys snatch it in stunning finale against Pau
By Simon Thomas Pau ....................28 Ospreys ........... 31 Ospreys booked a home tie in the last 16 with a superb five-try...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoLyon thump Cheetahs to secure home Challenge cup knockout tie
Lyon secured a home knockout tie with a 10-try, 68-21 victory including two apiece from Josiah Maraku and Léo Berdeu. A...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoDragons suffer record defeat against Lions
By Simon Thomas Lions.................. 60 Dragons............. 10 Dragons crashed out in ignominious fashion as they suffered their heaviest-ever defeat in European...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoCardiff still in running after taking bonus point
■ By SIMON THOMAS Perpignan .........23pts Tries: Allan 40, Veredamu 50, Velarte 61 Conversion: Allan 40 Penalties: Allan 4, 48 Cardiff...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoFit-again Harri in line for debut
■ By BEN JAYCOCK Preview Dragons v Pau Today. 3.15pm PROMISING youngster Harri Ackerman will make his first Dragons start today...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoDouble for Walsh puts Ospreys in charge
■ By ROGER PANTING Ospreys ...............35pts Tries: Walsh 15, 64; Parry 26, Kasende 30, Hardy 68 Conversions: Edwards 15, 26, 30,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoGloucester take the easy route to cruise past Scarlets
■ By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ....... 31pts Tries: Englefield 4, Clement 17, Barton 31, Blake 50, Wade 73 Conversions: Carreras 4,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoConnacht find target thanks to Murphy
■By BENEDICT GOLDFINCH Connacht ..........52pts Tries: Murphy 2, 39, 46; Jansen 15, Bealham 18, Murphy 42, Aungier 54, Tierney-Martin 73, Hurley-Langton...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoMontpellier ..28 Lions ……………… 5
FORMER England and Exeter Chiefs No.8 Sam Simmonds scored a late try as unbeaten Montpellier comfortably brushed off the Lions to...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoCheetahs v Zebre Today. 1pm
Preview CHEETAHS will look to keep their hopes of qualifying for the play-offs alive today against fellow winless outfit Zebre. Following...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoMuncaster blow takes edge off it for Edinburgh
■By BRYN PALMER RC Vannes ........25pts Tries: Beziat 25, Taccola 37, Vili 68 Conversions: Le Bail 26, 38 Penalties: Le Bail...
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Challenge Cup
/ 11 months agoBlack Lion ….. 16 Bayonne ………41
BAYONNE blew a helpless Black Lion away with a dominant six-try bonus point triumph on the road. The routine victory continues...
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Challenge Cup
/ 12 months agoDarcy Graham sparks Edinburgh into life
By Luke Jarmyn Edinburgh ........58 Bayonne ........... 12 Darcy Graham showed what Edinburgh missed in their defeat to Gloucester as the...
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Challenge Cup
/ 12 months agoOspreys crash to earth
■ By SIMON THOMAS Montpellier ................ 59pts Tries: Martins 11, DuGuid 15, Uelese 29, Coly 37, Akrab 43, Moustin 52, Cadot...
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Challenge Cup
/ 12 months agoWales duo out for revenge
■ By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Scarlets v Black Lion Today. Kick-off 1pm, Parc y Scarlets WALES internationals Sam Costelow and Gareth...
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Challenge Cup
/ 12 months agoMontpellier are pushed all the way by Dragons
By SIMON THOMAS Dragons ............. 14pts Tries: Basham 26, O’Brien 40 Conversions: O’Brien 27, 40 Montpellier ..... 18pts Tries: Tambwe 13,...
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Challenge Cup
/ 12 months agoMorgan returns to boost Ospreys
Preview Ospreys v Lions By BEN JAYCOCK Today. 3.15pm WINGER Keelan Giles brings up a century of Ospreys appearances today as...
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Challenge Cup
/ 12 months agoWe are going to have a real go at Pau, says Diamond
PREVIEW... By PAUL REES Ospreys v Lions Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stade du Hameau STEVE Diamond has picked a strong side for...
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Challenge Cup
/ 12 months agoGloucester on a roll after standing up to Edinburgh
By Luke Jarmyn Gloucester ......... 15pts Tries: Blake 10, Tuisue 64 Conversion: Carreras 11 Penalty: Carreras 45 Edinburgh ........... 10pts Try:...
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Challenge Cup
/ 12 months agoBayonne ……… 17 Scarlets ……… 16
■By TOM CLEMENTS JORIS Segonds broke Scarlets’ hearts with a late penalty that denied the Welsh side an opening round victory....
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Challenge Cup
/ 12 months agoConnacht …… 43 Zebre …………… 12
■By JOHN FALLON IRISH sevens star Chay Mullins crowned his Connacht debut with a hat-trick. Academy players Sean Naughton and Fiachna...
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Challenge Cup
/ 12 months agoEmanuel marks historic Cardiff debut in style
■By SIMON THOMAS Lyon ....................37pts Tries: Dumortier 7, 38, Parisien 25, Charcosset 48, Gonzalez 63 Conversions: Meliande 26, 49, 64 Penalties:...
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Challenge Cup
/ 12 months agoCheetahs v Perpignan
Preview Today. 1pm INVITATIONAL outfit the Cheetahs, led by DoR Frans Steyn, picked up two wins from four last season and...
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Challenge Cup
/ 12 months agoSpirits are not dampened as Ailes inspires victory
By TOM MARKHAM Sedgley Park.........28 Rosslyn Park.............0 ROSSLYN Park were sunk in stormy conditions at Park Lane, as Sedgley come away...
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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...












