Champions Cup

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Champions Cup news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

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

Clermont have far too much class for Benetton

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Sam Jackson Clermont………..28 Benetton…………. 0 Clermont out-muscled Benetton to cruise to a commanding bonus point victory with Peceli Yato and Barnabe Massa both grabbing […]

Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell get back in the old routine

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Northampton Saints…… 38pt Tries: Dingwall 3, Mayanavanua 8, Augustus 43 62; Langdon 49, Pollock 74 Conversions: Smith 4, 9, 50, 75 Castres……………………………. […]

Henry Pollock wins Phil Dowson’s backing

8 December 2024 0 comments

Northampton boss Phil Dowson has tipped Henry Pollock to thrive in Pretoria against the Bulls in next week’s Champions Cup clash. The 19-year-old was the […]

Saracens bounce back in fine style

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Saracens……………………… 27pts Tries: Carre 22, George 48, Willis 56, Earl 64 Conversions: Burke 49, 57 Penalty: Burke 35 Bulls………………………………… 5pts Try: de […]

Tom Willis: We knew it would be tough

8 December 2024 0 comments

Star man Tom Willis was proud his side fronted up in the first half and showed intelligence to execute in such dire conditions. “We knew […]

Stormers have no answer to Toulon chargers

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Stormers……….. 14 Toulon………….. 24 Match Action Toulon beat the Stormers in front of a bumper crowd at Nelson Mandela Stadium. The visitors […]

Ulster facing Antoine Dupont threat

8 December 2024 0 comments

Match Preview By Ben Jaycock Toulouse v Ulster Today – 3.15pm Ulster are gearing up for the daunting visit to reigning champions and Top 14 […]

Exeter Chiefs fail to cash in on Sharks’ mistakes

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Mark Stevens Sharks …………………………. 39pts Tries: Buthelezi 21, Mapimpi 24, Williams 27, Kolisi 36, 56 Conversions: Hendrikse 22, 28, 37, 57 Penalties: Hendrikse 46, […]

We didn’t convert, admits Jacques Vermeulen

8 December 2024 0 comments

Exeter Chiefs captain Jacques Vermeulen felt his side left points out on the field playing back on his old stomping ground in Durban. “I think […]

Quins leave it too late in Paris

8 December 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Racing 92 ……………….. 23pts Tries: le Garrec 15, Naituvi 39, Spring 61 Conversion: le Garrec 16 Penalties: le Garrec 59, 66 Harlequins […]

Bath fail to make most of chances

8 December 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Bath ……………………………………………………….. 20pts Tries: Dunn 47, Roux 56 Conversions: Russell 47, 56 Penalties: Russell 4, 30 La Rochelle …………………………………………… 24pts Tries: Jegou […]

Stade Francais’ two reds clear the way for Munster to take control

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Kevin Fallon Munster ………….33pts Tries: Abrahams 16, Daly 30, Kendellen 50, Farrell 55, Coombes 79 Conversions: Crowley 16, 30, 51, 56 Stade Francais .. […]

Horne hat-trick seals it for Sale

8 December 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Glasgow Warriors …. 38pts Tries: Horne 2, 12, 39; Rowe 16, Jones 23, Cummings 64 Conversions: Horne 3, 13, 17; Jordan 24 […]

It felt like a Test match-Ewels

8 December 2024 0 comments

BATH skipper Charlie Ewels believed they had enough chances to win. The England second row said: “I liked how we stayed calm and also that […]

Joe Heyes hoping to put on a magic show in Bordeaux

8 December 2024 0 comments

Match Preview By Jon Newcombe Bordeaux v Leicester Tigers Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stade Chaban-Delmas Joe Heyes is hoping that Leicester can rekindle a bit of […]

Sharks vs Exeter Chiefs – Champions Cup Preview

7 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports We have an action-packed rugby weekend to look forward to over the coming days as the Champions Cup gets underway. […]

Champions Cup potential breakout stars

6 December 2024 0 comments

Every year, an unexpected player rises to perform on the European stage, with it being a great place for both young and fringe talent to get a bit […]

Best Champions Cup matchups of the weekend

6 December 2024 0 comments

The Investec Champions Cup kicks off this weekend, with the best of the Premiership, Top 14 and URC battling it out to be crowned the […]

Bath vs La Rochelle – Champions Cup Preview

6 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports Under the lights this Friday, we will see two European giants, Bath and La Rochelle, clash in a sensational contest. […]

Will this be the year a South African club lifts the Champions Cup trophy?

5 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports The most significant competition in club rugby kicks off this weekend as the Champions Cup gets underway. Teams from the […]

Jacques Vermeulen excited to visit old friends

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Exeter start their Champions Cup campaign away in South Africa on Saturday, but Jacques Vermeulen will feel very much at home. The […]

European Cup must only be for elite

14 July 2024 0 comments

Nick Cain Column When an elite competition like the European Cup comes up with a dullard draw which has deposed two-time champions La Rochelle playing […]

Champions Cup to stick with format

7 July 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE CEO: Jacques Raynaud Fans hoping for a return to the old four-team, six pools Champions Cup format in the halcyon Heineken days […]

Plumtree: We must sort out the logistics

2 June 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Sharks head coach John Plumtree believes the Champions Cup is the greatest club competition out there but has called for increased alignment […]

Sorry, but that’s not all right, Jacques

2 June 2024 0 comments

A great European Cup final last weekend had only one blemish, when the limp attempt to tighten the rules around water-carriers made by World Rugby […]

Awesome! Toulouse make it a super six

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Champions Cup final player of the match and European rugby’s biggest star Antoine Dupont revelled in captaining Toulouse […]

Toulouse provide a lesson in brilliance

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster……………………….. 22pts Tries: van der Flier 93 Conversions: Frawley 94 Penalties: Byrne 18, 43, 46, 65; Frawley 77 Toulouse ……………………… 31pts Tries: […]

Champions Cup Final Preview – Europe’s best set to provide fireworks

24 May 2024 0 comments

European rugby‘s two most successful sides battle it out for Champions Cup glory as Leinster face Toulouse in the final on Saturday afternoon at Tottenham […]

Ex-Wasps buzzing for European glory

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Thibaud Flament has risen from Loughborough University’s fifth team to become a French international with the intention of next weekend becoming a […]

‘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 […]

Champions Cup

Bath

Bordeaux

Bulls

Castres

Clermont

Edinburgh

Exeter

Glasgow

Gloucester

Harlequins

La Rochelle

Leinster

Lyon

Montpellier

Northampton

Ospreys

Racing 92

Sale

Saracens

Sharks

Ulster

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