Champions Cup

Keen demand to host Euro finals weekend

4 February 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Dominic McKay, chairman of European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), has revealed that interest in hosting European club rugby’s finals weekend was higher […]

Once again, the fans are being taken for granted

4 February 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE European Cup’s ‘round of 16’ takes some beating when it comes to fiddling with a successful […]

Caulfield saga leaves much to be desired

4 February 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON It is not unreasonable to presume that those serving on the judiciary of the Champions Cup are appointed because they know a red […]

Uzokwe: We have a lot more in tank

4 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Ealing Trailfinders won seven out of their opening eight games in the Championship, have reached the Premiership Cup semi-finals and average over […]

The tackle: Different options are available

28 January 2024 0 comments

Dafydd Jenkins’ yellow card last week for Exeter against Bayonne has caused much debate with most people agreeing that is was almost physically impossible for […]

Bath denied home last 16 tie as Toulouse top seedings

21 January 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Toulouse…………………………………31 Tries: Meafou 6, Ramos 9, 77; Penalty 29, Malia 68 Conversions: Ramos 11, 78 Bath…………………………………………19 Tries: Obano 14, du Toit 23, […]

La Rochelle defy wind to win Sale shootout

21 January 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Sale Sharks…………………………………24 Tries: Roebuck 59, Creevy 67, Dugdale 77, Veainu 80+2 Conversions: Ford 68, Bedlow 79 La Rochelle…………………………………37 Tries: Leyds 9, Hastoy […]

Saints on a roll with stunning fightback

21 January 2024 0 comments

Fin Smith kicked 16 points including a drop goal as Northampton marched into the Champions Cup last 16 with a 26-23 fightback win over Munster […]

Spirited Sarries show champions pedigree

21 January 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Saracens …………………….. 39pts Tries: van Zyl 3, Itoje 43, 55; Gonzalez 68, Cinti 75 Conversions: Farrell 44, 56, 68, 76 Penalties: Farrell […]

Caulfield sees red as Bears bomb out

21 January 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Connacht …………………….. 27pts Tries: Bolton 9, Aungier 20, Blade 33, Smith 46 Bristol……………………………10pts Conversions: Tries: Carty 47, Hanrahan 21 Penalty 80 Penalties: […]

Lynagh lets rip with stunning try double

21 January 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins ………………….. 47pts Tries: David 4, 64; Lynagh 24, 32; Care 47, Esterhuizen 58, Evans 72 Conversions: Smith 5, 25, 33, 48, […]

‘Louis added so much at vital time’

21 January 2024 0 comments

Harlequins boss Billy Millard was thrilled with Louis Lynagh’s impact off the bench in their thumping win against Ulster on Saturday. “Louis was unbelievable when […]

Sherratt proud of courageous Cardiff lads as Racing superstars turn on the style

21 January 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Racing 92 …….. 48pts Tries: Kamikamica 18, Kolisi 25, Tabuavou 32, Tedder 43, Wade 46, Baudonne 50, Tarrit 76 Conversions: Tedder 19, […]

Lawes leads Saints to fightback victory

21 January 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Munster ………………………. 23pts Tries: Frisch 38, O’Mahony 40, Coombes 49 Conversions: Crowley 39 Penalties: Crowley 32, 64 Northampton………………. 26pts Tries: Mitchell 19, […]

Rowntree: We gave away daft penalties

21 January 2024 0 comments

Munster coach Graham Rowntree was left wondering how his side had thrown away victory against 14 men after they were beaten by Northampton Saints on […]

Leicester left waiting for spot in knockouts

21 January 2024 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester ……………………… 10pts Try: Liebenberg 10 Conversions: Pollard 10 Penalty: Pollard 20 Leinster……………………….. 27pts Tries: McCarthy 28, Larmour 34, Sheehan 44, Doris […]

McKellar: We didn’t take our chances

21 January 2024 0 comments

Leicester boss Dan McKellar was frustrated for his players after his side’s second successive defeat to a top team in the Champions Cup. “I’m not […]

We need a more exclusive guest list

21 January 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED HERE’S a little brain-teaser, just to make sure you’ve been paying attention at the back of the class: since 2014, when […]

Champions Cup Friday and Saturday preview

19 January 2024 0 comments

The final weekend of the Champions Cup pool stage promises an exciting round of matches, shaping the destiny of teams vying for spots in the […]

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup round three Sunday round-up

15 January 2024 0 comments

The third weekend of EPCR action ended with half of the qualification places now decided in each of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. Though […]

Bordeaux thump Saracens to make Champions Cup statement

14 January 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Bordeaux-Begles……………….55 Tries: Bielle-Biarrey 8, 80+1; Buros 12, Lamothe 21, Penaud 35, 57; Depoortere 44, Jalibert 52, Uberti 78 Conversions: Jalibert 9, 13, […]

Bath produce brilliant comeback to confirm qualification

14 January 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Bath…………………………………………29 Tries: Du Toit 35, Barbeary 60, Cokanasiga 63, Muir 72 Conversions: Spencer 61, 64, 73 Penalties: Spencer 13 Racing……………………………………..25 Tries: Le […]

Slade does it again for Exeter

14 January 2024 0 comments

Henry Slade proved to be Exeter’s match winner once again as the Chiefs beat Glasgow 19-17 to book their spot in the Champions Cup knockouts. […]

Weak Bears can’t keep Bulls in check

14 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bristol……………………………17pts Tries: Marmion 19, Ibitoye 74, Bradbury 80 Conversion: McGinty 20 Bulls ………………………………31pts Tries: Petersen 15, Mchunu 55, E Louw 63, Wessels […]

Disappointing Connacht to concentrate on Challenge Cup after Lyon hold on

14 January 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Lyon………………. 34pts Tries: Abrahams 19, 74 Tchaptchet 21, Guillard 52 Conversions: Jackson 15, 22, 53; Berdeu 75 Penalties: Jackson 27, 35 Connacht […]

Care the master as Quins cruise home

14 January 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Cardiff …………………………..15pts Tries: Young 6, 22 Conversions: De Beer 23 Penalties: De Beer 4 Harlequins ………………….. 54pts Tries: Walker 9, Esterhuizen 26, […]

Wizard Dupont casts his spell to steer Toulouse to emphatic victory

14 January 2024 0 comments

By JIM SHORT Ulster ……………. 24pts Tries: Stewart 40, Addison 62, Timoney 69 Conversions: Doak 63, 70, Cooney 40 Penalty: Cooney 13 Toulouse ……… 48pts […]

Bath out to make it three in a row

14 January 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Bath v Racing 92 Today. Kick-off 1pm, The Rec Bath captain Ben Spencer is looking forward to his personal duel with […]

Slade keeps his cool to snatch it for Exeter

14 January 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Exeter ……………………………19pts Tries: Vermeulen 40, Frost 63, Wimbush 77 Conversions: Slade 40, 78 Glasgow………………………..17pts Tries: Rowe 28, Tuipulotu 55 Conversions: Weir 28, […]

Rowntree proud of Munster character as bonus point win keeps them in contention

14 January 2024 0 comments

By TOM SHEEDY Toulon ……………18pts Tries: Paia’aua 23, de Preez 55 Conversion: Jaminet 25 Penalties: Jaminet 16, 35 Munster …………29pts Tries: Nankivell 31, Zebo 37, […]

Pearson hat-trick helps Saints seal last 16 spot

14 January 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Northampton………………..61pts Tries: Freeman 1, Pearson 13, 20, 44; Lawes 27, Langdon 32, Waller 39, 48 James 70 Conversions: Smith 1, 13, 20, […]

Sale youngsters get a lesson in finishing

14 January 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Stormers……………………….31pts Tries: Dayimani 7, Hartzenberg 22, Zas 33, 51 Conversions: Libbok 8, 23, 34, 52 Penalties: Libbok 60 Sale ……………………………… 24pts Tries: […]

Saints looking good but easy win leaves much to be desired

14 January 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN Northampton are playing attacking rugby which combines skill, speed, flair, and precision, and their hammering of Bayonne on Friday night at Franklin’s Gardens […]

Champions Cup round three Friday and Saturday preview

12 January 2024 0 comments

The 2023/24 Champions Cup resumes with an eagerly anticipated third round of pool-stage matches. English teams have performed exceptionally well up to this point, with […]

Launchbury’s impressed by French fitness

31 December 2023 0 comments

TRP Podcast By NICK POWELL Joe Launchbury feels giant Toulouse lock Emmanuel Meafou’s form reflects a growing trend of Top 14 forwards adding fitness alongside […]

Toulouse are the most entrancing side of them all

24 December 2023 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Dupont or no Dupont, Ntamack or no Ntamack, this latest edition of the Champions Cup may well turn out to be […]

The French out in front? That’s not how it looks

24 December 2023 0 comments

With 12 victories in 16 games, Paul Rees reflects on a promising start by English clubs in the Champions Cup It has been a chastening […]

Series 3, Episode 19: Champions Cup recap and Big Game preview with Joe Launchbury

20 December 2023 0 comments

The Rugby Paper Podcast’s final episode of 2023 looks back at two thrilling weekends of Champions Cup action as well as looking ahead to the […]

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Sunday round-up

18 December 2023 0 comments

Narrow victories for Exeter and Leicester ensured English teams came away with more wins than losses on a second-straight weekend of Champions Cup action. Although, […]

Gonzalez is enjoying his new lease of life

17 December 2023 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Saracens …………………….. 55pts Tries: Gonzalez 7; George 32,40, Hartley 42, 63, Maitland 54, Cinti 56, Dan 70 Conversions: Farrell 43, 55, 64 […]

Connacht holding on to the positives

17 December 2023 0 comments

CONNACHT head coach Pete Wilkins praised his side’s never-say-attitude as they grabbed a bonus point to keep their knockout hopes alive. After the 41-5 smashing […]

Regard has the final word for Lyon in pulsating win over the Bulls

17 December 2023 0 comments

By ALFIE ROSE Lyon………………..29pts Tries: Dumortier 22, Pacheco 38, Parisien 45, Charcosset 61, Regard 71 Conversions: Page-Relo 23, Jackson 62 Bulls ……………….28pts Tries: Burger 1, […]

Bordeaux put Bears through the mixer

17 December 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bordeaux…………………….. 36pts Tries: Lucu 4, Bielle-Biarrey 16, Penaud 32, Tapuai 55, Nanette 66 Conversions: Lucu 5, 33, 56; Jalibert 67 Penalties: Lucu […]

Lam: I’m proud of how we played

17 December 2023 0 comments

ALTHOUGH his team were well beaten, Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam was pleased with much of what he saw. He said: “I’m very proud […]

Cardiff push Bath’s all-stars to the limit

17 December 2023 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Cardiff ………………………… 32pts Tries: Adams 4, 19; Hamer-Webb 37, Thomas 43 Conversions: de Beer 5, 20, 44 Penalties: de Beer 18, 26 […]

McCloskey confident Ulster can get back on right track

17 December 2023 0 comments

By KEVIN FALLON Ulster ……………..31pts Tries: Timoney 3, 46; McCloskey 22, Rea 36 Conversions: Cooney 4, 23, 37, 47 Penalties: Cooney 70 Racing 92 ………15pts […]

Quins out to collect another big scalp

17 December 2023 0 comments

■By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Harlequins v ToulouseToday, kick-off 3.15pm Twickenham StoopFULL of confidence after their brilliant 31-28 win away to Racing 92, Harlequins are now […]

Lockett’s late score has Saints believing

17 December 2023 0 comments

ROB WILDMAN Northampton………………. 22pts Tries: Seabrook 6, Furbank 28, 57; Lockett 77 Conversions: Smith 77 Toulon …………………………..19pts Tries: Jaminet 54, Ribbans 65 Penalties: Herve 5, […]

‘We had resilience to see it through’

17 December 2023 0 comments

SAINTS boss Phil Dowson praised his team’s resilience. He felt Northampton has lost momentum like the previous win over Glasgow but attributed the win to […]

Warriors win ugly to keep Euro hopes alive

17 December 2023 0 comments

■By BRYN PALMER Bayonne………… 11pts Try: Bosch 33 Penalties: Lopez 28, 49 Glasgow…………12pts Tries: Miller 37, McKay 56 Conversion: Thompson 38 GLASGOW’S Champions Cup hopes […]

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