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 years agoLeinster all-stars set for blockbuster battle
By BEN JAYCOCK Having finally toppled their Champions Cup bogey team La Rochelle, next up for Leinster is Premiership pacesetters Northampton...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoTime for Saints to be true to themselves
JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK THE contest between the 9-10 pairings of Leinster’s Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne and...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoLeinster’s workload merits little sympathy
NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK LEINSTER are worried about the pressure that could prevent them from winning a...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years ago‘Ireland in blue’ will provide stiffest test
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Phil Dowson and Leo Cullen first crossed paths in European action 10 seasons...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoBe quick! McKellar’s lowdown on Leinster
By PAUL REES Northampton had the chance last night to quiz Dan McKellar about their Champions Cup semi-final opponents Leinster but,...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoSorrell pleased to see English clubs stand up
By BEN JAYCOCK Despite their fierce London rivalry with Harlequins, Saracens backs coach Kevin Sorrell is pleased two Premiership sides reached...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoBan teams who pick reserves for knock-out stages
The Bulls are not the first outfit to undermine the European Cup by picking an understrength team, with some French clubs...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoTry-fest with big issues below the surface
The Paris Games, more formally known as the XXXIII Olympiad, are almost upon us and the Rugby Sevens schedule is full...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoOutsiders aiming for a place in the final
Paul Rees looks ahead to the Champions Cup semi-finals where Quins and Saints are facing an uphill battle BEFORE this season’s...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoNominees listed for top award
Northampton pair Courtney Lawes and Fin Smith, and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith have been nominated for the Champions Cup player of...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoToulouse hammer Exeter to set up semi-final against Quins
By NICK POWELL Toulouse……………64 Tries: Ntamack 8, Willis 32, Kinghorn 48, 56; Ahki 51, 75; Dupont 58, Malia 67, 79 Conversions:...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoQuins and Saints on the march in Europe
By PAUL REES Two English clubs are through to the semi-finals of the Champions Cup after stunning victories against high class...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoHendy making most of having his legs on ‘back to front’ – Dowson
By PAUL REES Phil Dowson believes George Hendy is a wing unlike any other – because he has his legs on...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoThe pinball wizard who can fire Exeter
JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK IMMANUEL Feyi-Waboso was a pretty unknown factor before the Six Nations, but the 21-year-old...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoGreen seizes day for dazzling Quins
By PAUL REES Bordeaux-Begles ...........41pts Tries: Lucu 19, Buros 24, Depoortere 42, Bielle-Biarrey 59, Tambwe 64, 75 Conversions: Lucu 25, 43,...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoMillard: We knew we had to dig deep
Billy Millard said Harlequins knew they would have to dig deep to reach their first Champions Cup semi-final after travelling to...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoSparkling Leinster get it right this time
By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster............................. 40pts Tries: Lowe 16, 60; Gibson-Park 37, Baird 42, Sheehan 56 Conversions: Byrne 18, 38, 43 Penalties:...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoDoris: Croke will be massive
Leinster's victorious squad are looking forward to their ‘home” semi-final at the 82,000 capacity Croke Park, two miles across Dublin from...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoSaints on rampage as Bulls fall apart
By GARY FITZGERALD Northampton Saints..... 59pts Tries: Ramm 10, 47; Lawes 15, Sleightholme 20, Mitchell 24, 67; Coles 40, Dingwall 50,...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoAnother barmy idea from the men in suits
The Ministry of Silly Walks was a Monty Python sketch which lampooned bureaucratic inefficiency. Rugby Union requires something similar to shame...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoPienaar heads the list for Europe’s golden oldies
In the course of wheeling their way into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last weekend against the Cheetahs, the Michelin Men of...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoInvestec Champions Cup quarter-final preview
La Rochelle head to Dublin looking to end Leinster’s hopes of a fifth Champions Cup title for the fourth consecutive season...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoNorthampton Saints player ratings vs Munster
By TOM JEFFREYS Northampton Saints produced a memorable display to earn their first Champions Cup knockout victory in 13 years against...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoDowson impressed by ‘freak athlete’ Hendy
Northampton Saints head coach heaped praise on George Hendy after his two second half tries sealed a 24-14 win over Munster...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoSaints battle past Munster to secure quarter-final spot
By TOM JEFFREYS Northampton Saints……………………………….24 Tries: Ramm 10, Freeman 35, Hendy 60, 72 Conversions: Smith 10, 36 Munster………………………………………………..14 Tries: O’Brien 15,...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoTop Chief Vintcent’s whirlwind continues
By MARK STEVENS Exeter fought back to beat Bath and seal a place in next weekend’s Champions Cup quarter-finals in a...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoBath left sweating on injury to Russell
Fly-half Finn Russell limped off after 14 minutes with a groin injury in the defeat to Exeter at Sandy Park and...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoManny stars for Baxter’s battling Chiefs
By MARK STEVENS Exeter ...............................21pts Tries: Vintcent 23, Fisilau 56, Roots 66 Conversions: Slade 23, 56, 66 Bath ...................................15pts Tries: du...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoChampions keep threepeat dream alive as Libbok fires wide
By GARY FITZGERALD Stormers........... 21pts Tries: Jantjies 27, Hartzenberg 79 Conversions: Libbok 29 Penalties: Libbok 3, 21, 45 La Rochelle ......22pts...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years ago‘It came down to small margins’
Disappointed Bath boss Johann van Graan insists his side will ‘regroup’ in the wake of their Champions Cup exit. “We are...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoRiley crashes over to snatch Stoop thriller
By NICK POWELL Harlequins ....................... 28pts Tries: Esterhuizen 23, Smith 34, Murley 40+2, Riley 76 Conversions: Smith 25, 35, 40+3, 78...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years ago‘We dug deep to find way to win’
Quins head coach Danny Wilson felt the result was all that mattered as his side booked a place in the last...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoLeinster march on to face old foes
By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster............................. 36pts Tries: Gibson-Park 12, 23, 29; Henshaw 49, Conan 71 Conversions: R Byrne 13, 30, 50; H...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoPowerful Bulls lay down a marker
By BEN JAYCOCK Bulls ..................59 Lyon................... 19 The Bulls reached the Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoBordeaux put sorry Sarries to slaughter
By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bordeaux .......................... 45pts Try: Garcia 36, 48; Depoortere 61, 66; Bielle Biarrey 63, 75 Conversions: Lucu 27, 49,...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoGeorge: We must learn from this to go hard at Premiership
Disappointed captain Jamie George said Saracens will get over their defeat to Bordeaux and refocus on the Premiership run-in. “It’s a...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoJames relishing the Munster challenge
■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...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoDowson brings in Ludlam & Graham
IT will be the first time Saints have hosted a home knock-out clash in Northampton in the competition since 2000 with...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoNtamack back for heavyweight clash
By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Toulouse vRacing 92 Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stade Ernest Wallon ROMAIN Ntamack starts his first match since suffering...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoThe day Crane had final word at Cardiff
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW The Millennium Stadium once staged a trio of penalty shoot-outs in four years...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoInvestec Champions Cup last 16 preview
Romain Ntamack is set to get his first start for Toulouse this season as the top seeds join 15 other hopefuls...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoWe’ll pick our best team for Exeter, says Bath coach
By PAUL REES Bath will pick their strongest available side at Exeter in Saturday’s Champions Cup last 16 with head coach...
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Challenge Cup
/ 2 years agoKeen demand to host Euro finals weekend
By JON NEWCOMBE Dominic McKay, chairman of European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), has revealed that interest in hosting European club rugby’s...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoOnce again, the fans are being taken for granted
NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE European Cup’s ‘round of 16’ takes some beating when it comes to...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoCaulfield saga leaves much to be desired
PETER JACKSON It is not unreasonable to presume that those serving on the judiciary of the Champions Cup are appointed because...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoUzokwe: We have a lot more in tank
By BEN JAYCOCK Ealing Trailfinders won seven out of their opening eight games in the Championship, have reached the Premiership Cup...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 years agoThe tackle: Different options are available
Dafydd Jenkins’ yellow card last week for Exeter against Bayonne has caused much debate with most people agreeing that is was...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoBath denied home last 16 tie as Toulouse top seedings
By TOM JEFFREYS Toulouse…………………………………31 Tries: Meafou 6, Ramos 9, 77; Penalty 29, Malia 68 Conversions: Ramos 11, 78 Bath…………………………………………19 Tries: Obano...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoLa Rochelle defy wind to win Sale shootout
By TOM JEFFREYS Sale Sharks…………………………………24 Tries: Roebuck 59, Creevy 67, Dugdale 77, Veainu 80+2 Conversions: Ford 68, Bedlow 79 La Rochelle…………………………………37...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoSaints on a roll with stunning fightback
Fin Smith kicked 16 points including a drop goal as Northampton marched into the Champions Cup last 16 with a 26-23...












