Champions Cup - News, interviews, reports, analysis

Tag: Champions Cup

S4, E19: England & Scotland hit by injuries, French clubs fire and South Africans slump

22 January 2025 0 comments

What to make of that Champions Cup weekend? On one hand we saw a classic in Northampton’s victory over Munster, however the issues with the […]

‘Life at Sale Sharks without my brother is weird’ – Luke James

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Sale stalwart Luke James admits his first season apart from older brother Sam has been “very weird”. Before the Curry twins and […]

Plucky Benetton down La Rochelle to secure Champions Cup qualification

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Sam Jackson Benetton…………. 32pts Tries: Cannone 15, Bernasconi 67 Conversions: Albornoz 15, Smith 68 Penalties: Albornoz 23, 42; Smith 40, 50, 60, 63 La […]

Rob Baxter: We can’t become victims

19 January 2025 0 comments

Exeter DoR Rob Baxter has told his side ‘not to be victims’ after they were sent crashing out of the Champions Cup. With just one […]

Izuchukwu treble as Chiefs sent crashing

19 January 2025 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Ulster …………………………… 52pts Tries: Izuchukwu 21, 66, 78; McCann 27, 73; Timoney 38, Herring 49, Carson 69 Conversions: Doak 22, 50; Cooney […]

Pat Lam puts focus on push for Premiership play-offs

19 January 2025 0 comments

Pat Lam tried to look on the bright side of his Bears’ failure to progress to the knockout stages on a day of real European […]

Chandler Cunningham-South and Harlequins cook up a tasty performance

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Harlequins ………..24pts Tries: Cunningham-South 14, Chisholm 20, Murley 67 Conversions: Smith 15, 21, 68 Penalty: Smith 25 Glasgow ……………… 7pts Try: Jordan […]

Match Preview – Leicester Tigers gunning to take down Antoine Dupont and Toulouse

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, Stade Ernest Wallon Michael Cheika is aiming to take down a French icon as his Tigers attempt their Champions […]

Match Preview – Brad Barritt backing the new boys as Saracens welcome Castres

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, StoneX Brad Barritt won the Champions Cup three times with Saracens and believes the club are on course to […]

Mark McCall – Saracens’ most meaningful game of the season so far

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Mark McCall is expecting a highly motivated Castres when they take on Saracens at the StoneX Stadium this afternoon with a home […]

Matt Banahan tribute to ‘superb’ Anthony Watson

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Former England international Matt Banahan has hailed Anthony Watson as the ‘ultimate team man’ and a ‘true professional’ who had an unparalleled […]

Beefing up club rugby may start a trend

19 January 2025 0 comments

HERE’S a novel idea: a fresh European tournament specifically aimed at clubs based on the continent of Europe, as opposed to a European tournament featuring […]

Greg Fisilau is following in father’s footsteps

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Mark Stevens In what has been a challenging campaign for the Exeter Chiefs, Greg Fisilau has emerged as a rare shining light. The young […]

Lam on the lookout for cover at No.10

19 January 2025 0 comments

PAT Lam is looking to add an outside-half to Bristol’s squad with only one fit 10 on the books. AJ MacGinty will be out for […]

Levani Botia – My wife didn’t know I played rugby until she saw me on TV

16 January 2025 0 comments

By Brendan McGilligan Flicking between the channels on the television, Emele Veivuke landed on a rugby match. Not being a rugby fan, she took no […]

Teddy Thomas reflects on career success, fatherhood

12 January 2025 0 comments

Lifting the most prestigious European competitions within rugby is only achieved by a small percentage despite the countless number of children who dream of this when they first step out on the pitch.

‘Je ne regrette rien’: Lewis Ludlam loving life at Toulon

12 January 2025 0 comments

Lewis Ludlam insists he will return to Northampton one day but has no regrets about leaving the town or England behind for now.

James Ramm: Player rivalry is pushing Northampton to success

12 January 2025 0 comments

James Ramm believes the rivalry among Northampton’s backs off the field can help inspire the club to more silverware on it.

Rampant Stormers too good for Sharks

12 January 2025 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Stormers ……………………… 40pts Sale ………………………………… 0pts Tries: Schickerling 21, Libbok 25, Sithole 45, Gelant 54, De Wet 63, Venter 70 Conversions: Libbok […]

11-try blitz as Chiefs suffer record defeat

12 January 2025 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Exeter Chiefs ………………. 17pts Tries: Brown-Bampoe 8, 48, Hammersley 70 Conversion: Slade 49 Bordeaux Begles ……….. 69pts Tries: Lucu 10, 31, Penaud […]

Baxter: It looks like a bit of a stuffing

12 January 2025 0 comments

EXETER director of rugby Rob Baxter could not hide his disappointment after watching his side slip to a record Champions Cup defeat. He said: “The […]

Glasgow Warriors 29-19 Racing 92: Sione Tuipulotu helps set up Harlequins showdown

12 January 2025 0 comments

Glasgow will head to Harlequins on Saturday on a mission to avenge last year’s round-of-16 loss and seal their first home knockout tie in the Champions Cup.

Leicester Tigers 38-10 Ulster: Josh Bassett shines to make sure for Leicester

12 January 2025 0 comments

Josh Bassett warmed the hands and hearts of the Welford Road faithful with a fine hat-trick as Tigers cruised into the Champions Cup knockout stages.

Sharks 8-20 Toulouse: Toulouse on easy street as the sun beats down

12 January 2025 0 comments

This match proved more of a damp squib rather than a tournament classic as reigning champions Toulouse showcased their class by navigating difficult conditions to get past a toothless Sharks.

Stade Rochelais v Leinster: Leinster aiming to cash in on Will Skelton’s absence

12 January 2025 0 comments

Leinster and La Rochelle, the 2022 and 2023 finalists, continue their epic rivalry today with both sides unbeaten in this year’s competition.

Castres in good shape but Bulls fade away

12 January 2025 0 comments

■ By TOM WALKER Castres ………… 49 Bulls ……………… 10 A SECOND-STRING Bulls were all but eliminated from the Champions Cup as Jake White’s side […]

We know this is a must-win match, admits van Graan

12 January 2025 0 comments

Return: Bath’s Ted Hill BATH make five changes as they look to kickstart their Champions Cup campaign against Clermont Auvergne. England openside Sam Underhill will […]

Toulon v Harlequins: We’re expecting a brutal clash, admits Chisholm

12 January 2025 0 comments

James Chisholm admits he is not one of the flashier players who wear the Harlequins’ multi-coloured jersey, but the back rower proved his worth at a bitterly cold Newcastle in the last round of the Premiership.

Champions Cup: The seven best match-ups of the weekend

10 January 2025 0 comments

The penultimate round of fixtures in the Champions Cup pools gets underway this weekend, with some huge team selection calls being made.

Antoine Dupont set to make only second southern hemisphere appearance when Toulouse face Sharks

10 January 2025 0 comments

Reigning French and European champions Toulouse are set to put a full-strength team out in their away trip to South Africa to face Sharks of Durban after a youthful side was deployed in their 22-19 defeat to La Rochelle last week.

Rob Baxter: Fixture schedule hurting us

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Mark Stevens If tackling the elite of English and European rugby was not enough for Exeter Chiefs to contend with, director of rugby Rob […]

George Hendy in position to drive Northampton Saints on

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees George Hendy’s career has a theme running through it – keep pushing and see where you end up. The 22-year-old fullback who […]

Century of highs for La Rochelle

5 January 2025 0 comments

FRENCH COLUMN JAMES HARRINGTON AN IMPRESSIVE milestone at Stade Marcel Deflandre was reached last night, where La Rochelle hosted their 100th sell-out match in a […]

Mark McCall surprised by timing of new law changes in Champions Cup

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Mark McCall is surprised law trials are being introduced to the Champions Cup this week halfway through the group stage, but does […]

Mark McCall: That was horrible and ugly

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway at The Rec Thunderstruck Mark McCall urged his Saracens side to get off the canvas after they were handed their worst Premiership […]

Steve Diamond is happy to stick with Newcastle Falcons

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Steve Diamond has committed himself to Newcastle long-term, as long he is wanted by the new owners when Semore Kurdi sells his […]

Dafydd Jenkins excited to be back

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Mark Stevens By his own admission, it’s been a ‘painful’ watch for Dafydd Jenkins so far this season. Sidelined after shoulder and knee surgery […]

Sides are coming after us – Phil Dowson

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Gary Fitzgerald Phil Dowson concedes his Saints are still struggling to cope with being targeted by rivals desperate to stick one on the reigning […]

Bath give Saracens lesson in finishing

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Bath ……………………………… 68pts Tries: Penalty 3, Du Toit 14, Redpath 23, Muir 36, 55, 78; Cokanasiga 45, 75; Underhill 61, Lawrence 71 […]

Ethan Roots looking to find his old form

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Ethan Roots started 2024 with a bang, man of the match in Italy on his England debut, but his year ended with […]

Injury blow rules out Stuart McCloskey

29 December 2024 0 comments

Stuart McCloskey is set for a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a “significant hamstring injury” in Ulster’s United Rugby Championship loss to Munster. Ulster […]

Willis: I’m loving my life with Toulouse

22 December 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS WHILE some sides would consider the tag of defending champions as a target on their backs, it appears Toulouse see it more […]

Willis: I’m loving my life with Toulouse

22 December 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS WHILE some sides would consider the tag of defending champions as a target on their backs, it appears Toulouse see it more […]

Nick Tompkins hits the 200-mark for Saracens

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Match Preview – Saracens v Northampton Today. Kick-off 3pm, StoneX Stadium Mark McCall has hailed Nick Tompkins, who makes his 200th appearance […]

Tompkins hits the 200-mark for Saracens

22 December 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Saracens v Northampton Today. Kick-off 3pm, StoneX Stadium MARK McCall has hailed Nick Tompkins, who makes his 200th appearance today for […]

Tompkins hits the 200-mark for Saracens

22 December 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Saracens v Northampton Today. Kick-off 3pm, StoneX Stadium MARK McCall has hailed Nick Tompkins, who makes his 200th appearance today for […]

Show Champions Cup a little more respect

22 December 2024 0 comments

YOU could set the clocks by it. Whenever the Walcot Old Boys team bus began one of its regular 45-mile descents from the sunlit uplands […]

Show Champions Cup a little more respect

22 December 2024 0 comments

YOU could set the clocks by it. Whenever the Walcot Old Boys team bus began one of its regular 45-mile descents from the sunlit uplands […]

Steyn looking forward to a sibling showdown

22 December 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER PREVIEW… Glasgow v Edinburgh Today. Kick-off 3pm, Hampden Park Fit again: Kyle Steyn FIT-AGAIN Scotland wing Kyle Steyn is relishing the prospect […]

Kyle Steyn looking forward to a sibling showdown

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Match Preview Glasgow v Edinburgh Today. Kick-off 3pm, Hampden Park Fit-again Scotland wing Kyle Steyn is relishing the prospect of making his […]

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