Champions Cup
This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Champions Cup news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.
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Champions Cup
/ 2 days agoGloucester chief Chris Boyd rues missed opportunity against Champions Cup holders Bordeaux
Chris Boyd admits Gloucester let a golden opportunity slip after drawing 36-36 with back-to-back European champions Bordeaux-Begles at Kingsholm.
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Champions Cup
/ 2 days agoLa Rochelle and Lions fall silent to remember Hyron Andrews
La Rochelle and Lions united in tribute to former Sale Sharks lock Hyron Andrews, who died suddenly in France on Friday...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 days agoSale Sharks 27-47 Glasgow Warriors: Scottish outfit put on a show to sink Alex Sanderson’s men
Sale Sharks struggled to contain Glasgow Warriors as seven tries condemned Alex Sanderson’s side to a heavy defeat in emotional circumstances...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 days agoPau vs Leicester Tigers: Archie van der Flier – I’m learning a lot from Mako Vunipola
Archie van der Flier is relishing the chance to test himself against Europe’s best as Leicester Tigers begin their Champions Cup...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 days agoConnacht 45-36 Saracens: Sarries fall short in a see-saw battle
Saracens led 12-0 but could not sustain their early momentum, with seven tries from Connacht leaving Maro Itoje’s side empty-handed in...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 days agoToulouse vs Exeter Chiefs: Rob Baxter urges his side to embrace French giants challenge
Rob Baxter wants Exeter Chiefs to embrace the challenge of facing six-time French champions Toulouse as they return to Europe’s top...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 days agoGloucester 36-36 Bordeaux: Cherry & Whites’ brave warriors hold off the champions
Will Trenholm scored twice off the bench as Gloucester matched the reigning European champions, with a late turnover helping the Cherry...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 days agoStormers 49-12 Bristol Bears: Likely lads give Pat Lam’s young side a lesson in finishing
Bristol Bears’ youthful side showed promise in Cape Town but paid for defensive lapses and missed chances as the Stormers ran...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 days agoBath 14-32 Montpellier: Adam Hastings runs rings around Johann van Graan’s side
Adam Hastings punished his former club as Montpellier outclassed a lethargic Bath side, scoring three second-half tries to pull off a...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 days agoNorthampton Saints vs Cardiff: Callum Chick – We’re aiming to go deep again
Callum Chick is relishing Northampton Saints’ return to Europe as they look to build on recent deep runs in the Champions...
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Champions Cup
/ 4 days agoThe Rugby Paper Roundup: Champions Cup returns! Prem attendance issue, Wales back row + England v Canada
The Champions Cup returns, but are Prem rugby’s attendances becoming a concern? Ben Jaycock and Paul Williams discuss the big talking...
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Champions Cup
/ 1 week agoAnthony Watson: Bath can go far in Champions Cup if Finn Russell stays fit
Anthony Watson has backed Bath to challenge for Champions Cup glory this season but believes keeping Finn Russell fit will be...
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Champions Cup
/ 1 week agoGeorge Barton: Kingsholm will rock for Gloucester-Bordeaux Champions Cup clash
George Barton is backing a rocking Kingsholm to help Gloucester make a statement in the Champions Cup as Bordeaux arrive on...
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Champions Cup
/ 1 week agoSanti Carreras inspired by his Bath dream of Champions Cup glory
Santi Carreras has dreamed of lifting European rugby’s biggest prize since watching the Heineken Cup as a teenager in Argentina, and...
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Champions Cup
/ 1 week agoNorthampton Saints star Fraser Dingwall is looking for a new Champions Cup adventure
Fraser Dingwall is targeting another European adventure with Northampton Saints as they look to put past Champions Cup heartbreak behind them...
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Champions Cup
/ 1 week agoMaro Itoje names George Ford as his greatest-ever teammate ahead of England and Lions stars
Maro Itoje explains why George Ford stands out as a teammate, highlighting the Sale Sharks fly-half’s consistency and ability to put...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 weeks agoLawrence Dallaglio: Watch out for the South African teams in this season’s Champions Cup
James Harrington looks ahead to the new Champions Cup campaign and hears the former Wasps star Lawrence Dallaglio predict better things...
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Champions Cup
/ 3 months agoEuropean Rugby Champions Cup fixtures revealed for 2026-27 campaign
Defending champions Bordeaux Bègles will begin their Champions Cup title defence at Gloucester, while Premiership winners Northampton Saints face Cardiff in...
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Champions Cup
/ 5 months agoLeinster’s focus turns to the URC after Champions Cup heartbreak
Despite being significantly higher in the attack statistics Leinster once again came out on the wrong side of the Champions Cup...
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Champions Cup
/ 5 months agoMagnifique! It’s a Bordeaux-Begles Champions Cup double
Bordeaux-Begles secured back-to-back Champions Cup titles with a 41-19 demolition of Leinster in Bilbao.
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Champions Cup
/ 5 months agoBordeaux-Begles 41-19 Leinster: French giants put on another vintage show
Maxime Lucu was crowned the king of Bordeaux after his 21-point tally helped guide his Begles past Leinster who suffered further...
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Champions Cup
/ 5 months agoCaelan Doris leads Leinster with Lions stars at his disposal for Champions Cup final
The ever-reliable Leinster and Ireland back row Caelan Doris will captain his side in Bilbao as they chase a long-awaited fifth...
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Challenge Cup
/ 5 months agoSouth African Rugby Union could withdraw its sides from Europe
South African Rugby will hold a strategic planning session with its member unions and directors of rugby to review the current...
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Champions Cup
/ 5 months agoHenry Arundell is ready to go again after near miss with Bath
Henry Arundell against Louis Bielle-Biarrey was one of the match-ups to savour when Bath met Bordeaux-Begles in the Champions Cup semi-final...
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Champions Cup
/ 5 months agoCharlie Ewels insists Bordeaux defeat will make Bath a better side
Charlie Ewels had a lightbulb moment in Toulouse in 2023 showing him Europe’s best were not invincible – and reckons Bath’s...
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoChampions Cup analysis: Leinster return to Bilbao as fifth star quest continues
After seeing off a resilient Toulon side at the weekend – becoming the first Leinster team ever to beat the southern...
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoLeinster 29-25 Toulon: Leo Cullen’s side hold on to keep the French side at bay
Leinster’s bid for a fifth star to end their eight-year Champions Cup title drought rolls on after securing a place in...
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoOllie Lawrence: Bath have got the tools to be kings of Europe
Ollie Lawrence reckons it is time for Bath to take things to new heights in today’s Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux-Begles.
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoBordeaux Begles vs Bath: We have the belief to do the job – Beno Obano
Beno Obano believes Bath can upset the odds today and knock the champions out of Europe.
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoBath and Bordeaux head shortlist for star player
Bath and Bordeaux each contribute two players to the shortlist of five nominees for the 2026 Investec Player of the Year.
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoDoris: We were cool under pressure
CAPTAIN Caelan Doris praised his side’s ability to handle pressure after Leinster just about found a way to get over the...
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoBath embrace Premiership title defence and Champions Cup semi-final challenge
Defending Prem champions Bath are embracing the challenge of fighting on two fronts at the busy business end of another season.
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoLeinster edging closer to fifth star after Champions Cup quarter final victory
Leinster moved a step closer to pinning a fifth star on their jersey after dismantling Sale Sharks 43-13 at Dublin’s Aviva...
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoBath 43-41 Northampton Saints: Ted Hill steps up to get Johann van Graan’s side over the line in a thriller
Bath, not without controversy, survived an extraordinary early Northampton Saints blitzkrieg to mount a stirring comeback and reach the Champions Cup...
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoGlasgow Warriors 19-22 Toulon: The Scottish side are stunned by the brilliant Nacho Brex
Toulon will head to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to face Leinster in the European Champions Cup semi-finals after inflicting a first home...
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoLeinster 43-13 Sale Sharks: Alex Sanderson’s side buried by a second-half try landslide
Alex Sanderson wore a resigned look as his Sale Sharks’ Champions Cup hopes were buried by a landslide of second-half Leinster...
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoThis team just will not give up, says van Graan
PROUD Bath head coach Johann van Graan hailed his side’s fighting spirit after they stunned Saints at the death. “This team...
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoI’ve got to be a dog at the breakdown, says Willis
By BEN JAYCOCK TOULOUSE flanker and renowned jackaler Jack Willis has pinpointed the breakdown as the decisive battleground ahead of today’s...
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Champions Cup
/ 6 months agoLeinster face Sale Sharks test after Edinburgh scare in Champions Cup
For the casual viewer, last Saturday’s Round of 16 match between Leinster and Edinburgh seemed like it was business as usual...
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months agoHenry Arundell fires Bath into Champions Cup quarter finals
Henry Arundell scored two tries as Prem champions Bath held off a fierce effort from Saracens to book their place in...
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months agoAndy Goode: Fans want to see top Leicester Tigers stars in Champions Cup knockouts
Andy Goode is disappointed his former club Leicester Tigers have not picked a full-strength team for today’s Champions Cup clash at...
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months agoBordeaux-Begles vs Leicester Tigers: Geoff Parling sees light at end of the tunnel
Geoff Parling is confident Leicester Tigers will ask questions of holders Bordeaux-Begles in the Champions Cup today, even without three rested...
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months agoHanro Liebenberg: I’ll miss the Leicester Tigers fans
Hanro Liebenberg may be moving on from Leicester at the end of the season, but the Tigers will never leave him.
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months agoNorthampton Saints 49-41 Castres: George Furbank is on fire as Saints put on a show
Northampton Saints reached their third Champions Cup quarter-final on the trot after this frantic, edgy, entertaining riot of a game against...
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months agoHarlequins 17-26 Sale Sharks: Alex Sanderson’s hold off Quins to reach last eight
The goal-kicking of George Ford ensured that the battle of this season’s Prem underachievers went the way of Sale Sharks as...
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months agoBath 31-22 Saracens: Henry Arundell in charge to steer the Prem champions home
Henry Arundell proved his recent rollercoaster ride with England is firmly in the rear view with a sparkling double as Bath...
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months agoToulouse 59-26 Bristol Bears: The Red and Blacks give Pat Lam’s side a lesson in finishing
Bristol Bears opened and closed the scoring, but in between, they were torn apart as Toulouse passed 50 points at home...
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months agoThomas gave us power – coach
BATH boss Johann van Graan hailed the impact of super sub Thomas du Toit after the South African’s match-turning intervention off...
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months agoLam: We made too many mistakes
PAT Lam is looking to use the character his players showed in the last 20 minutes to get their play-off assault...
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months agoThat was brutal but we recovered well, says Dowson
NORTHAMPTON DoR Phil Dowson said there was no panic when his side trailed 12-0 as he knew they had the quality...
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