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Tag: Champions Cup

Saracens know how to win – Tompkins

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK With the Premiership run-in hotting up, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins claims ‘experience matters’ in these blockbuster end-of-season contests and says his side […]

Langdon is quick to make his point

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Northampton have placed an emphasis this season on putting pace in the legs of their players and that suits Curtis Langdon, a […]

Scotland lock Gray heads for Exeter exit

28 April 2024 0 comments

SCOTLAND lock Jonny Gray has left Exeter with immediate effect to “explore other playing opportunities”. The 30-year-old joined the Chiefs in 2020 but has not […]

Scarlets move in to sign Hepburn

28 April 2024 0 comments

Scarlets have signed Scotland prop Alec Hepburn from Exeter for next season. The Australian-born 31-year-old helped the Chiefs win the Champions Cup in 2020 and […]

Leinster all-stars set for blockbuster battle

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Having finally toppled their Champions Cup bogey team La Rochelle, next up for Leinster is Premiership pacesetters Northampton Saints and flanker Will […]

Leinster manage to stem the flow

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BRIAN FINN Stormers ……. 42 Leinster………..12 LEINSTER suffered another chastening experience in South Africa as their understrenth side were hammered by five tries to […]

Ulster …………..38 Benetton ……. 34

28 April 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON ULSTER interim coach Richie Murphy is hopeful they have turned a corner and are poised to secure a knockout place in the […]

Sharks battle past Quins to keep play-off hopes alive

21 April 2024 0 comments

Sale Sharks…………………………37 Tries: Curry 3, Dugdale 7, Reed 40+2, 64; Quirke 59 Conversions: Ford 4, 40+4 Penalties: Ford 16, 44 Harlequins………………………….31 Tries: Lynagh 24, 35; […]

Be quick! McKellar’s lowdown on Leinster

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Northampton had the chance last night to quiz Dan McKellar about their Champions Cup semi-final opponents Leinster but, before the East Midlands […]

Furbank: We were spoonfed too much

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Furbank feels Northampton’s rise this season is down to a pre-season meeting when the players resolved to take more responsibility. The […]

Exeter forward Davis shocked by cancer diagnosis

21 April 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Such is the nature of rugby union, players often tend to think lumps and bumps are part and parcel of the modern-day […]

Johann has brought us true belief, says Bayliss

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bath have turned themselves from also-rans to title contenders in less than two years under Johann van Graan and to Josh Bayliss […]

We knew we had to swing the bat – Porter

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Few gave Harlequins a chance at Bordeaux-Begles last weekend, but where there was a Will Porter there was a way. The 25-year […]

Sorrell pleased to see English clubs stand up

21 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Despite their fierce London rivalry with Harlequins, Saracens backs coach Kevin Sorrell is pleased two Premiership sides reached the last four of […]

Barrett’s Leinster move seems strange to me

21 April 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK JORDIE Barrett’s signing by Leinster on a six-month contract from December until the end of next season looks […]

Sanderson: We can’t fall in closing stages

21 April 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Sale Sharks v Harlequins Today. Kick-off 3pm, AJ Bell Stadium SUCCESSFUL Grand National punter Alex Sanderson knows victory against Harlequins today […]

Wilson: Our test is to back up victory over Bordeaux

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Return: Joe Marler NEVER mind the 50-22, it is the 80-20 that is commanding the attention of Harlequins as they enter the […]

Lam knows Diamond’s Newcastle will be tough to crack

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Ready: Virimi Vakatawa PAT Lam has told his players to be aware of the Steve Diamond effect when Bristol face Newcastle this […]

I’m loving every single minute

21 April 2024 0 comments

Mark Stevens finds former Exeter Chiefs playmaker Joe Simmonds enjoying his new life in France In the picturesque town of Pau nestled at the foot […]

Try-fest with big issues below the surface

21 April 2024 0 comments

The Paris Games, more formally known as the XXXIII Olympiad, are almost upon us and the Rugby Sevens schedule is full to overflowing. Yet there […]

Outsiders aiming for a place in the final

21 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks ahead to the Champions Cup semi-finals where Quins and Saints are facing an uphill battle BEFORE this season’s Champions Cup started, there […]

S Africa is crying out for its own league

21 April 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IF I remember my A level geography correctly, Africa is moving […]

Nominees listed for top award

21 April 2024 0 comments

Northampton pair Courtney Lawes and Fin Smith, and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith have been nominated for the Champions Cup player of the year award. Leinster […]

JIFF looks likely to play a vital role

21 April 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON – FRENCH COLUMN It’s logical – as the final stop-start sprint in a hard-fought Top 14 season begins – to think purely in […]

Premiership previews: Round 15

19 April 2024 0 comments

The Gallagher Premiership returns this week after a two-week Champions/Challenge Cup hiatus, and with teams second through to eighth all on eight wins and separated […]

England didn’t understand Sinckler – Crane

19 April 2024 0 comments

Jordan Crane feels England have failed to get the best out of Kyle Sinckler during his international career, with the tighthead prop set to be […]

Wales legend Owens retires at 37

17 April 2024 0 comments

Former Wales captain Ken Owens has retired from professional rugby aged 37. The ‘Sheriff’ was the oldest ever-player to hold the role, as he played […]

Leinster sign Barrett for 2024/25 season

15 April 2024 0 comments

Leinster have confirmed the signing of experienced All Black utility back Jordie Barrett on a short-term deal from December to the end of next season. […]

Toulouse hammer Exeter to set up semi-final against Quins

14 April 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Toulouse……………64 Tries: Ntamack 8, Willis 32, Kinghorn 48, 56; Ahki 51, 75; Dupont 58, Malia 67, 79 Conversions: Kinghorn 9, 33, 49, […]

Baxter backs world club champs

14 April 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter welcomes plans for a new club world championship providing it is financially viable. Slated to start […]

Coming to grief on the road to Morocco

14 April 2024 0 comments

Mark Stevens talks to Exeter chairman Tony Rowe about his love of classic rallying across all corners of the world WIDELY regarded as one of […]

All over for Lewington

14 April 2024 0 comments

Saracens wing Alex Lewington will retire at the end of the season. The 32-year-old, who was part of Saracens’ Champions Cup and Premiership double-winning team […]

Ramm: We are up for a fight to the finish

14 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES James Ramm believes Northampton’s exploits in the Champions Cup will boost their bid to not only make the Premiership play-offs again but […]

Hendy making most of having his legs on ‘back to front’ – Dowson

14 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Phil Dowson believes George Hendy is a wing unlike any other – because he has his legs on back to front. The […]

Green seizes day for dazzling Quins

14 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bordeaux-Begles ………..41pts Tries: Lucu 19, Buros 24, Depoortere 42, Bielle-Biarrey 59, Tambwe 64, 75 Conversions: Lucu 25, 43, 60, 65 Penalties: Lucu […]

Millard: We knew we had to dig deep

14 April 2024 0 comments

Billy Millard said Harlequins knew they would have to dig deep to reach their first Champions Cup semi-final after travelling to a side that the […]

Saints on rampage as Bulls fall apart

14 April 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Northampton Saints….. 59pts Tries: Ramm 10, 47; Lawes 15, Sleightholme 20, Mitchell 24, 67; Coles 40, Dingwall 50, Augustus 72 Conversions: Smith […]

Time for props to take their share of the glory

14 April 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED OVERMATCHED teams usually find themselves facing the music without having to listen to any. It was different for Lyon, who schlepped […]

Rugby schedule has little to do with player welfare

14 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A roll of drums and a fanfare of trumpets late last summer heralded a new title sponsor […]

Time to create a new dynasty

14 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at what Mark McCall needs to do at Saracens as several big names head for the exit door WHEN Saracens first won […]

Series 3, Episode 33: Matt Dawson on England, Northampton and the Champions Cup

11 April 2024 0 comments

This is a big one! Plenty on the menu for host Ollie Little and columnists Nick Cain, Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett as they are […]

Northampton Saints player ratings vs Munster

8 April 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Northampton Saints produced a memorable display to earn their first Champions Cup knockout victory in 13 years against tournament stalwarts Munster. Phil […]

Dowson impressed by ‘freak athlete’ Hendy

7 April 2024 0 comments

Northampton Saints head coach heaped praise on George Hendy after his two second half tries sealed a 24-14 win over Munster in the Investec Champions […]

Saints battle past Munster to secure quarter-final spot

7 April 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Northampton Saints……………………………….24 Tries: Ramm 10, Freeman 35, Hendy 60, 72 Conversions: Smith 10, 36 Munster………………………………………………..14 Tries: O’Brien 15, Haley 27 Conversions: Crowley […]

Loader still has England in sight

7 April 2024 0 comments

Ben Loader still dreams of playing for England and is hoping his performances in Cape Town for the Stormers will one day offer a route […]

Manny stars for Baxter’s battling Chiefs

7 April 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Exeter ………………………….21pts Tries: Vintcent 23, Fisilau 56, Roots 66 Conversions: Slade 23, 56, 66 Bath ……………………………..15pts Tries: du Toit 21, Hill 28 […]

‘It came down to small margins’

7 April 2024 0 comments

Disappointed Bath boss Johann van Graan insists his side will ‘regroup’ in the wake of their Champions Cup exit. “We are incredibly disappointed, because we […]

Riley crashes over to snatch Stoop thriller

7 April 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Harlequins ………………….. 28pts Tries: Esterhuizen 23, Smith 34, Murley 40+2, Riley 76 Conversions: Smith 25, 35, 40+3, 78 Glasgow………………………. 24pts Tries: Cummings […]

Leinster march on to face old foes

7 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster……………………….. 36pts Tries: Gibson-Park 12, 23, 29; Henshaw 49, Conan 71 Conversions: R Byrne 13, 30, 50; H Byrne 72 Penalties: R […]

Powerful Bulls lay down a marker

7 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Bulls ………………59 Lyon………………. 19 The Bulls reached the Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history and sounded a warning […]

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