Champions Cup
This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Champions Cup news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoBeno Obano red ends Bath hope of an upset win against Leinster
By Brendan Gallagher Leinster ............................. 47pts Tries: Henshaw 9, 15; Conan 37, Snyman 51, 76; Ringrose 60, Gibson-Park 67 Conversions: Prendergast...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months ago‘It’s tough on Beno Obano, we stand by him’ – Johann Van Graan
Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said he has never seen a scrum penalty given near halfway result in a...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoCharging Bulls dominate Stade Francais to book their Challenge Cup spot
By Ben Jaycock Bulls..................... 48pts Tries: Penalty 3, Williams 13, Papier 18, Vermaak 27, Louw 39, Chamberlain 47, Hanekom 51 Conversions:...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoTom Seabrook hat-trick as Northampton Saints edge a thriller over Munster
By Rob Wildman Northampton ................... 34pts Tries: Seabrook 13, 48, 67; Langdon 40, Ramm 54 Conversions: Smith 40, 54, 67 Penalty:...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoAlex Mitchell should be fit for England – Phil Dowson
Saints boss Phil Dowson hopes England scrum-half Alex Mitchell should be fit for the Six Nations campaign ahead. Mitchell needed treatment...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoPlucky Benetton down La Rochelle to secure Champions Cup qualification
By Sam Jackson Benetton............. 32pts Tries: Cannone 15, Bernasconi 67 Conversions: Albornoz 15, Smith 68 Penalties: Albornoz 23, 42; Smith 40,...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoRob Baxter: We can’t become victims
Exeter DoR Rob Baxter has told his side ‘not to be victims’ after they were sent crashing out of the Champions...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoIzuchukwu treble as Chiefs sent crashing
By MARK STEVENS Ulster ................................. 52pts Tries: Izuchukwu 21, 66, 78; McCann 27, 73; Timoney 38, Herring 49, Carson 69 Conversions:...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoBattling Bristol Bears suffer injury-time heartache against Clermont
By Gary Fitzgerald Clermont ........................... 33pts Tries: Newsome 17, Raka 40, 54; Penalty 76, Ceyte 80+6 Bristol ................................ 26pts Conversions: Belleau...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoPat Lam puts focus on push for Premiership play-offs
Pat Lam tried to look on the bright side of his Bears’ failure to progress to the knockout stages on a...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoOwen Farrell brings spark to Racing 92
By Sam Jackson Racing 92 ........ 31 Stormers ..........22 Match Action Racing 92 booked their place in the round of 16...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoChandler Cunningham-South and Harlequins cook up a tasty performance
By Bryn Palmer Harlequins ...........24pts Tries: Cunningham-South 14, Chisholm 20, Murley 67 Conversions: Smith 15, 21, 68 Penalty: Smith 25 Glasgow...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoMatch Preview – Injury-hit Sharks need one point against Bordeaux to progress
By Ben Jaycock Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stade Chaban-Delmas High-flying Bordeaux host a Sharks side seeking just a point to join them...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoMatch Preview – Leicester Tigers gunning to take down Antoine Dupont and Toulouse
By Adam Hathaway Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, Stade Ernest Wallon Michael Cheika is aiming to take down a French icon as his...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoAlex Sanderson packs his Sale Sharks side with his seven England stars
By Paul Rees Today. Kick-off 5.30pm, AJ Bell Stadium Alex Sanderson is set on Sale making the last 16 of the...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoMatch Preview – Brad Barritt backing the new boys as Saracens welcome Castres
By Paul Rees Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, StoneX Brad Barritt won the Champions Cup three times with Saracens and believes the club...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoMark McCall – Saracens’ most meaningful game of the season so far
By Paul Rees Mark McCall is expecting a highly motivated Castres when they take on Saracens at the StoneX Stadium this...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoThe seven best head-to-head matchups in the Champions Cup this weekend
By Charlie Elliott The Champions Cup pool stage is at the business end now, with plenty still to play for going into the final...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoChampions Cup: Permutations of Final Pool Games
By Charlie Elliott The Champions Cup enters its final round of fixtures in the pool stage over the course of the...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoTeddy Thomas reflects on career success, fatherhood
Lifting the most prestigious European competitions within rugby is only achieved by a small percentage despite the countless number of children...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoStade Francais 45-35 Northampton Saints: Henry Pollock power show can’t rescue Saints
By Adam Hathaway at Stade Jean Bouin Stade Francais- 45 Tries: Dakuwaqa 22, Van der Mescht 29, Tanga 40+2, 57, Penalty...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoPhil Dowson: Henry Pollock is ready for England
Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson insists Henry Pollock is ready for an England call-up if it comes on Tuesday when their...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoMunster 17-12 Saracens: Saracens miss out but still in contention
Saracens – high in effort, determination and ticker but low in poise, finesse and attacking nous – missed a golden opportunity...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months ago“We’re in good shape to take on Northampton” , says Tadhg Beirne
Star man Tadhg Beirne wants Munster to take this form into the clash at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday to secure a...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoGlasgow Warriors 29-19 Racing 92: Sione Tuipulotu helps set up Harlequins showdown
Glasgow will head to Harlequins on Saturday on a mission to avenge last year’s round-of-16 loss and seal their first home...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoLeicester Tigers 38-10 Ulster: Josh Bassett shines to make sure for Leicester
Josh Bassett warmed the hands and hearts of the Welford Road faithful with a fine hat-trick as Tigers cruised into the...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoSharks 8-20 Toulouse: Toulouse on easy street as the sun beats down
This match proved more of a damp squib rather than a tournament classic as reigning champions Toulouse showcased their class by...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoStade Rochelais v Leinster: Leinster aiming to cash in on Will Skelton’s absence
Leinster and La Rochelle, the 2022 and 2023 finalists, continue their epic rivalry today with both sides unbeaten in this year’s...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoCastres in good shape but Bulls fade away
■ By TOM WALKER Castres ............ 49 Bulls .................. 10 A SECOND-STRING Bulls were all but eliminated from the Champions Cup...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoBristol Bears v Benetton: James Williams out to prove his worth again
James Williams saw off the challenge of Virimi Vakatawa last season and having recovered from a shoulder injury now has the...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoThis match will be tough – it’s do-or-die for us, says Lam
■ By PAUL REES PAT Lam has billed Bristol’s clash with Treviso at Ashton Gate today as do or die. Defeat...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoBath v Clermont: Joe Cokanasiga- “It is all down to chatting to the boss”
Joe Cokanasiga has credited a frank conversation with head of rugby Johann van Graan for his purple patch of form for...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoWe know this is a must-win match, admits van Graan
Return: Bath’s Ted Hill BATH make five changes as they look to kickstart their Champions Cup campaign against Clermont Auvergne. England...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoToulon v Harlequins: We’re expecting a brutal clash, admits Chisholm
James Chisholm admits he is not one of the flashier players who wear the Harlequins’ multi-coloured jersey, but the back rower...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoWilson: We have a good record and won’t be overawed
■ By PAUL REES DANNY Wilson says Harlequins will not be overawed when they face Toulon at Stade Mayol today having...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoChampions Cup: The seven best match-ups of the weekend
The penultimate round of fixtures in the Champions Cup pools gets underway this weekend, with some huge team selection calls being...
-
Champions Cup
/ 11 months agoAntoine Dupont set to make only second southern hemisphere appearance when Toulouse face Sharks
Reigning French and European champions Toulouse are set to put a full-strength team out in their away trip to South Africa...
-
Champions Cup
/ 12 months agoLeicester Tigers chasing dream double
By Gary Fitzgerald Nicky Smith insists Leicester Tigers will not be content unless they complete a “dream double” as Michael Cheika’s...
-
Champions Cup
/ 12 months agoMark McCall surprised by timing of new law changes in Champions Cup
By Paul Rees Mark McCall is surprised law trials are being introduced to the Champions Cup this week halfway through the...
-
Champions Cup
/ 12 months agoChampions Cup defeats will spur us on – Harry Randall
By Paul Rees Harry Randall believes Bristol’s two Champions Cup defeats against Leinster and La Rochelle this month will help them...
-
Champions Cup
/ 12 months agoSchalk Ferreira leads the way as veterans take to the pitch
Veteran props never quit, they just keep on scrummaging in ever increasing numbers which explains why Francisco Gomez Kodela fails to...
-
Champions Cup
/ 12 months agoAt least the French are going full-bore in Champions Cup
By Peter Jackson Neutrals the world over will relish the prospect of Toulouse and La Rochelle invading Cardiff at season’s end...
-
Champions Cup
/ 1 year agoRonan O’Gara keeps on driving La Rochelle
Mark Stevens talks to the former Ireland No.10 about his plans in France - and what could happen next In the...
-
Champions Cup
/ 1 year agoCraig Casey blow as Munster hit by injury problems
By Jim Short Castres............... 16pts Tries: Papali’i 12, Walcker 29 Penalties: Fernandez 48, le Brun 72 Munster............. 14pts Tries: Hodnett 37,...
-
Champions Cup
/ 1 year agoAlex Mitchell is taking Northampton Saints to next level
By Brendan Gallagher Bulls...................................21pts Tries: Coetzee 34, Hanekom 61, 69 Conversions: Goosen 35, 62, 70 Northampton Saints.... 30pts Tries: Hendy 31,...
-
Champions Cup
/ 1 year agoMark McCall: There is no margin for error in this format so we have to back up last week
By PAUL REES Match Preview Stade Francais v Saracens Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stadium Mark McCall has warned his Saracens players not...
-
Champions Cup
/ 1 year agoPhil Dowson relieved Northampton Saints are in the swing of things
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson believes the win will provide huge relief for his squad following an underwhelming start to...
-
Champions Cup
/ 1 year agoWe had to work hard for that – Jordie Barrett
By John Fallon Leinster.............. 15pts Tries: Ringrose 22, Barrett 26 Conversion: Prendergast 23 Penalty: Prendergast 49 Clermont.............. 7pts Try: Raka 4...
-
Champions Cup
/ 1 year agoDuncan Weir’s set for Toulon tester
By Ben Jaycock Match Preview Toulon vs Glasgow Today. 3.15pm Duncan Weir feels his Glasgow side must get to grips with...
-
Champions Cup
/ 1 year agoA bridge too far for us, says John Plumtree
Sharks boss John Plumtree claimed that the demands of the present schedule had created a ‘bridge too far’ for his squad....











