Champions Cup

stdClass Object ( [id] => 4 [league_name] => Champions Cup [league_logo_id] => 0 [league_logo_url] => [parent_league_id] => 0 [wp_league_id] => 47 )

Bath

Bordeaux

Bulls

Castres

Clermont

Edinburgh

Exeter

Glasgow

Gloucester

Harlequins

La Rochelle

Leinster

Lyon

Montpellier

Northampton

Ospreys

Racing 92

Sale

Saracens

Sharks

Ulster

‘Play big matches at neutral venues’

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Danny Wilson’s has backed calls to play Champions Cup semi-finals at a neutral venue after Toulouse and Leinster enjoyed home city advantage […]

Graham: Guys were in tears after that defeat but we’ll fight back

12 May 2024 0 comments

Sam Graham believes Northampton can turn the heartache of losing last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-final to their advantage as they set their sights on the […]

Power of the four musketeers

12 May 2024 0 comments

A common theme of last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-finals was the influence of the four scrum-halves, the catalysts of teams that look to get the […]

Toulouse overcome Quins to join Leinster in eighth final

5 May 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Toulouse………………………………………….38 Tries: Lebel 4, Mauvaka 19, Flament 27, Dupont 33, 37; Mallía 68 Conversions: Kinghorn 21, 35, 38; Ramos 70 Harlequins………………………………………..26 Tries: […]

Saints so close to stunning Leinster

5 May 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY at Croke Park Northampton boss Phil Dowson was left to rue the one that got away after Saints went down 20-17 to […]

Quins have to climb very steep mountain

5 May 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK WHEN Harlequins face Toulouse this afternoon in their first European Cup semi-final in south-west France, it will be […]

Leinster made to fight all the way

5 May 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster…………………………20pts Tries: Lowe 10, 15, 43 Conversion: Byrne 11 Penalty: Byrne 29 Northampton Saints…… 17pts Tries: Hendy 58, Seabrook 73 Conversions: Smith […]

It’ll be tough for us but we’ll meet fire with fire, says Care

5 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Toulouse vs Harlequins Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stadium de Toulouse WHEN Harlequins went to Bordeaux last month they vowed to swing the […]

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 05/05/24

3 May 2024 0 comments

For only the second time in eight seasons there are two English teams in the Champions Cup semi-finals, and we’ll have action and reaction from Northampton’s trip […]

Leinster all-stars set for blockbuster battle

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Having finally toppled their Champions Cup bogey team La Rochelle, next up for Leinster is Premiership pacesetters Northampton Saints and flanker Will […]

Time for Saints to be true to themselves

28 April 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK THE contest between the 9-10 pairings of Leinster’s Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne and Northampton’s Alex Mitchell and […]

Leinster’s workload merits little sympathy

28 April 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK LEINSTER are worried about the pressure that could prevent them from winning a European Cup and URC […]

‘Ireland in blue’ will provide stiffest test

28 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Phil Dowson and Leo Cullen first crossed paths in European action 10 seasons ago when Northampton did […]

Be quick! McKellar’s lowdown on Leinster

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Northampton had the chance last night to quiz Dan McKellar about their Champions Cup semi-final opponents Leinster but, before the East Midlands […]

Sorrell pleased to see English clubs stand up

21 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Despite their fierce London rivalry with Harlequins, Saracens backs coach Kevin Sorrell is pleased two Premiership sides reached the last four of […]

Ban teams who pick reserves for knock-out stages

21 April 2024 0 comments

The Bulls are not the first outfit to undermine the European Cup by picking an understrength team, with some French clubs – Bourgoin in particular […]

Try-fest with big issues below the surface

21 April 2024 0 comments

The Paris Games, more formally known as the XXXIII Olympiad, are almost upon us and the Rugby Sevens schedule is full to overflowing. Yet there […]

Outsiders aiming for a place in the final

21 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks ahead to the Champions Cup semi-finals where Quins and Saints are facing an uphill battle BEFORE this season’s Champions Cup started, there […]

Nominees listed for top award

21 April 2024 0 comments

Northampton pair Courtney Lawes and Fin Smith, and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith have been nominated for the Champions Cup player of the year award. Leinster […]

Toulouse hammer Exeter to set up semi-final against Quins

14 April 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Toulouse……………64 Tries: Ntamack 8, Willis 32, Kinghorn 48, 56; Ahki 51, 75; Dupont 58, Malia 67, 79 Conversions: Kinghorn 9, 33, 49, […]

Quins and Saints on the march in Europe

14 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Two English clubs are through to the semi-finals of the Champions Cup after stunning victories against high class opposition yesterday. Harlequins fought […]

Hendy making most of having his legs on ‘back to front’ – Dowson

14 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Phil Dowson believes George Hendy is a wing unlike any other – because he has his legs on back to front. The […]

The pinball wizard who can fire Exeter

14 April 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IMMANUEL Feyi-Waboso was a pretty unknown factor before the Six Nations, but the 21-year-old winger’s rise from Cardiff […]

Green seizes day for dazzling Quins

14 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bordeaux-Begles ………..41pts Tries: Lucu 19, Buros 24, Depoortere 42, Bielle-Biarrey 59, Tambwe 64, 75 Conversions: Lucu 25, 43, 60, 65 Penalties: Lucu […]

Millard: We knew we had to dig deep

14 April 2024 0 comments

Billy Millard said Harlequins knew they would have to dig deep to reach their first Champions Cup semi-final after travelling to a side that the […]

Sparkling Leinster get it right this time

14 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster……………………….. 40pts Tries: Lowe 16, 60; Gibson-Park 37, Baird 42, Sheehan 56 Conversions: Byrne 18, 38, 43 Penalties: Byrne 7, 27, 31 […]

Doris: Croke will be massive

14 April 2024 0 comments

Leinster’s victorious squad are looking forward to their ‘home” semi-final at the 82,000 capacity Croke Park, two miles across Dublin from the Aviva Stadium. Skipper […]

Saints on rampage as Bulls fall apart

14 April 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Northampton Saints….. 59pts Tries: Ramm 10, 47; Lawes 15, Sleightholme 20, Mitchell 24, 67; Coles 40, Dingwall 50, Augustus 72 Conversions: Smith […]

Another barmy idea from the men in suits

14 April 2024 0 comments

The Ministry of Silly Walks was a Monty Python sketch which lampooned bureaucratic inefficiency. Rugby Union requires something similar to shame the unaccountable administrators turning […]

Pienaar heads the list for Europe’s golden oldies

14 April 2024 0 comments

In the course of wheeling their way into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last weekend against the Cheetahs, the Michelin Men of Clermont brought a somewhat […]

Investec Champions Cup quarter-final preview

12 April 2024 0 comments

La Rochelle head to Dublin looking to end Leinster’s hopes of a fifth Champions Cup title for the fourth consecutive season in a hugely exciting […]

Northampton Saints player ratings vs Munster

8 April 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Northampton Saints produced a memorable display to earn their first Champions Cup knockout victory in 13 years against tournament stalwarts Munster. Phil […]

Dowson impressed by ‘freak athlete’ Hendy

7 April 2024 0 comments

Northampton Saints head coach heaped praise on George Hendy after his two second half tries sealed a 24-14 win over Munster in the Investec Champions […]

Saints battle past Munster to secure quarter-final spot

7 April 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Northampton Saints……………………………….24 Tries: Ramm 10, Freeman 35, Hendy 60, 72 Conversions: Smith 10, 36 Munster………………………………………………..14 Tries: O’Brien 15, Haley 27 Conversions: Crowley […]

Top Chief Vintcent’s whirlwind continues

7 April 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Exeter fought back to beat Bath and seal a place in next weekend’s Champions Cup quarter-finals in a Sandy Park thriller. Bath […]

Bath left sweating on injury to Russell

7 April 2024 0 comments

Fly-half Finn Russell limped off after 14 minutes with a groin injury in the defeat to Exeter at Sandy Park and head of rugby Johann […]

Manny stars for Baxter’s battling Chiefs

7 April 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Exeter ………………………….21pts Tries: Vintcent 23, Fisilau 56, Roots 66 Conversions: Slade 23, 56, 66 Bath ……………………………..15pts Tries: du Toit 21, Hill 28 […]

Champions keep threepeat dream alive as Libbok fires wide

7 April 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Stormers……….. 21pts Tries: Jantjies 27, Hartzenberg 79 Conversions: Libbok 29 Penalties: Libbok 3, 21, 45 La Rochelle ……22pts Tries: Penverne 49, Alldritt […]

‘It came down to small margins’

7 April 2024 0 comments

Disappointed Bath boss Johann van Graan insists his side will ‘regroup’ in the wake of their Champions Cup exit. “We are incredibly disappointed, because we […]

Riley crashes over to snatch Stoop thriller

7 April 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Harlequins ………………….. 28pts Tries: Esterhuizen 23, Smith 34, Murley 40+2, Riley 76 Conversions: Smith 25, 35, 40+3, 78 Glasgow………………………. 24pts Tries: Cummings […]

‘We dug deep to find way to win’

7 April 2024 0 comments

Quins head coach Danny Wilson felt the result was all that mattered as his side booked a place in the last eight against his former […]

Leinster march on to face old foes

7 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster……………………….. 36pts Tries: Gibson-Park 12, 23, 29; Henshaw 49, Conan 71 Conversions: R Byrne 13, 30, 50; H Byrne 72 Penalties: R […]

Powerful Bulls lay down a marker

7 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Bulls ………………59 Lyon………………. 19 The Bulls reached the Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history and sounded a warning […]

Bordeaux put sorry Sarries to slaughter

7 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bordeaux …………………….. 45pts Try: Garcia 36, 48; Depoortere 61, 66; Bielle Biarrey 63, 75 Conversions: Lucu 27, 49, 61, 64; Garcia 67, […]

George: We must learn from this to go hard at Premiership

7 April 2024 0 comments

Disappointed captain Jamie George said Saracens will get over their defeat to Bordeaux and refocus on the Premiership run-in. “It’s a tough pill to swallow, […]

James relishing the Munster challenge

7 April 2024 0 comments

■By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Northampton Saints v Munster Today. Kick-off 12.30pm, Franklin’s Gardens IT is games like this after noon’s Champions Cup Round of 16 […]

Dowson brings in Ludlam & Graham

7 April 2024 0 comments

IT will be the first time Saints have hosted a home knock-out clash in Northampton in the competition since 2000 with previous matches being hosted […]

Ntamack back for heavyweight clash

7 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Toulouse vRacing 92 Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stade Ernest Wallon ROMAIN Ntamack starts his first match since suffering knee ligament damage in […]