Challenge Cup

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Challenge Cup news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

stdClass Object ( [id] => 5 [league_name] => Challenge Cup [league_logo_id] => 0 [league_logo_url] => [parent_league_id] => 0 [wp_league_id] => 13 )

Bath

Benetton Treviso

Biarritz

Bristol

Brive

Cardiff

Connacht

Dragons

Edinburgh

Glasgow

Gloucester

Lions

London Irish

Lyon

Newcastle

Paris

Pau

Perpignan

Saracens

Scarlets

Toulon

Wasps

Worcester

Zebre

Darcy Graham sparks Edinburgh into life

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Luke Jarmyn Edinburgh ……..58 Bayonne ……….. 12 Darcy Graham showed what Edinburgh missed in their defeat to Gloucester as the winger heralded his return […]

Ospreys crash to earth

15 December 2024 0 comments

■ By SIMON THOMAS Montpellier ……………. 59pts Tries: Martins 11, DuGuid 15, Uelese 29, Coly 37, Akrab 43, Moustin 52, Cadot 54, Forletta 62, Tambwe […]

Wales duo out for revenge

15 December 2024 0 comments

■ By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Scarlets v Black Lion Today. Kick-off 1pm, Parc y Scarlets WALES internationals Sam Costelow and Gareth Davies resume their half-back […]

Montpellier are pushed all the way by Dragons

8 December 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Dragons …………. 14pts Tries: Basham 26, O’Brien 40 Conversions: O’Brien 27, 40 Montpellier ….. 18pts Tries: Tambwe 13, Tauleigne 21 Conversion: Barreau […]

Morgan returns to boost Ospreys

8 December 2024 0 comments

Preview Ospreys v Lions By BEN JAYCOCK Today. 3.15pm WINGER Keelan Giles brings up a century of Ospreys appearances today as his side welcome South […]

We are going to have a real go at Pau, says Diamond

8 December 2024 0 comments

PREVIEW… By PAUL REES Ospreys v Lions Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stade du Hameau STEVE Diamond has picked a strong side for today’s Challenge Cup clash […]

Gloucester on a roll after standing up to Edinburgh

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Luke Jarmyn Gloucester ……… 15pts Tries: Blake 10, Tuisue 64 Conversion: Carreras 11 Penalty: Carreras 45 Edinburgh ……….. 10pts Try: Goosen 36 Conversion: Thompson […]

Bayonne ……… 17 Scarlets ……… 16

8 December 2024 0 comments

■By TOM CLEMENTS JORIS Segonds broke Scarlets’ hearts with a late penalty that denied the Welsh side an opening round victory. Ioan Lloyd nudged the […]

Connacht …… 43 Zebre …………… 12

8 December 2024 0 comments

■By JOHN FALLON IRISH sevens star Chay Mullins crowned his Connacht debut with a hat-trick. Academy players Sean Naughton and Fiachna Barrett also made their […]

Emanuel marks historic Cardiff debut in style

8 December 2024 0 comments

■By SIMON THOMAS Lyon ………………..37pts Tries: Dumortier 7, 38, Parisien 25, Charcosset 48, Gonzalez 63 Conversions: Meliande 26, 49, 64 Penalties: Meliande 70, Gonzalez 75 […]

Cheetahs v Perpignan

8 December 2024 0 comments

Preview Today. 1pm INVITATIONAL outfit the Cheetahs, led by DoR Frans Steyn, picked up two wins from four last season and qualified for the knockouts […]

Spirits are not dampened as Ailes inspires victory

8 December 2024 0 comments

By TOM MARKHAM Sedgley Park………28 Rosslyn Park………….0 ROSSLYN Park were sunk in stormy conditions at Park Lane, as Sedgley come away with their first win […]

Ludlow: Sharks took it to Test level

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Gloucester captain Lewis Ludlow was dejected after the defeat to the Sharks in the Challenge Cup final but is proud of his […]

Ox Nche: ‘You don’t win a scrum alone, you win it together.’

23 May 2024 0 comments

In the words of Springboks and Sharks prop Ox Nche, “salads don’t win scrums”; but what does win you scrums? During the World Cup, South […]

Challenge Cup Final Preview – More than just a trophy on the line

23 May 2024 0 comments

The final fixture of the EPCR Challenge Cup takes place on Friday night, with Gloucester and the Sharks both desperate to put a shine on […]

Powell and Sharks looking to make European history

23 May 2024 0 comments

South African outfit the Sharks sit on the cusp of history, but Director of Rugby Neil Powell knows his team need to be at their […]

Ludlow’s up for the Sharks challenge

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Despite suffering a 14-try whitewash last weekend and finishing second bottom in the Premiership for a second straight year, Lewis Ludlow believes […]

Tbilisi win was key – Skivington

12 May 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE George Skivington has credited the European Challenge Cup win against Black Lion in Tbilisi as the moment Gloucester turned their season around. […]

Am: Chance to win silverware shows we’re on right track

5 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK The Sharks have endured an emotional rollercoaster this season but, after booking their place in the Challenge Cup final with yesterday’s sensational […]

Hotshot Hastings has the final say

5 May 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ………………….. 40pts Tries: Hathaway 6, Blake 29, Hastings 58, Clarke 61, Thorley 78 Conversions: Hastings 29, 58, 61 Penalties: Hastings 19, […]

Coach is happy to chase a second trophy

5 May 2024 0 comments

Gloucester head coach George Skivington confirmed that his side had targeted the cup competitions after victory against Benetton took them to a second final of […]

Masuku hits the target for Sharks

5 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Sharks ……………..32pts Tries: Koch 61, Mapimpi 71 Conversions: Masuku 62, 72 Penalties: Masuku 4, 9, 14, 19, 26, 29 Clermont…………. 31pts Tries: […]

EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final preview

3 May 2024 0 comments

For the second year in a row each of the four Challenge Cup semi-finalists come from a different country, but it’s a side representing a […]

Sharks too strong for ordinary Edinburgh

14 April 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Sharks ……………36pts Tries: Am 16, J Venter 26, Mbonambi 55 Conversions: Masuku 17, 27, 56 Penalties: Masuku 48, 52, 65, 70; Bosch […]

On-target Carreras makes no mistake

14 April 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ………23pts Tries: Blake 30 Penalties: Carreras 6, 18, 34, 49, 60, 65 Ospreys…………… 13pts Tries: Giles 13 Conversions: O Williams 13 […]

Murphy promises new focus after Ulster are demolished by Clermont

14 April 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Clermont………..53pts Tries: Yato 18, 68, Sowakula 36, 60, Newsome 44, Simmons 64, Jurand 80 Conversions: Belleau 19, 37, 45, 61, 65, Bezy […]

Coach praises efforts in defence

14 April 2024 0 comments

GLOUCESTER director of rugby George Skivington praised his side’s defensive effort. He said: “After missing so many tackles in our league fixture against Bristol, we’ve […]

Connacht know they must rise to the occasion

14 April 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON PREVIEW… Benetton v Connacht Today. Kick-off 12.30pm CONNACHT know they will have to go up a gear to see off Benetton today. […]

Pienaar heads the list for Europe’s golden oldies

14 April 2024 0 comments

In the course of wheeling their way into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last weekend against the Cheetahs, the Michelin Men of Clermont brought a somewhat […]

EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final preview

11 April 2024 0 comments

Eight countries from seven different nations remain in the Challenge Cup as it reaches the quarter-final stage, with an Anglo-Welsh clash getting things underway on […]

Ulster set for massive fight

7 April 2024 0 comments

Preview Montpellier v Ulster Today. 12.30pm ULSTER interim head coach Richie Murphy says a ‘massive test’ awaits in Montpellier. Ulster have lost their last two […]

Clermont survive second-half scare

7 April 2024 0 comments

Clermont ……..27 Cheetahs …….22 ■By BEN JAYCOCK THREE-TIME Challenge Cup winners Clermont held off a Cheetahs fightback to earn a place in the last eight. […]

Umaga stars for 14-man Benetton

7 April 2024 0 comments

Benetton ……..27 Lions ……………. 17 ■By SAM JACKSON THE Lions were booted out of the Challenge Cup by a Benetton side that played half the […]

Carreras’ boot keeps Gloucester in control

7 April 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ……… 30pts Tries: Mercer 8, May 27, Llewellyn 32 Conversions: Carreras 8, 27, 32 Penalties: Carreras 54, 60, 79 Castres …………….25pts […]

Dominant Ospreys out-muscle the weakened Sharks

7 April 2024 0 comments

■By ROGER PANTING mance from them and a tion has to be made of the 30 metres out from his own Ospreys …………. 20pts Tries: […]

Bundee’s back to boost Connacht

7 April 2024 0 comments

Preview Pau v Connacht Today. 5.30pm IRELAND duo Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham come into the starting XV as Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins names […]

Sisi leads way on 100th appearance

7 April 2024 0 comments

Preview Sharks v Zebre Today. 3pm DAVID Sisi captains Zebre on his 100th appearance for the club as the Italian side hope to secure a […]

EPCR Challenge Cup last 16 preview

4 April 2024 0 comments

Teams from seven nations are represented in the round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup, which gets underway on Friday night as Gloucester host […]

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 […]

Edinburgh claim vital bonus point to proceed

21 January 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Scarlets ………… 19pts Tries: Roberts 14, Conbeer 79, Penalty 80 Conversion: Lloyd 79 Edinburgh……… 31pts Tries: Vellacott 3, Nel 7, Van der […]

Gloucester seal home advantage for last 16

21 January 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ………35pts Tries: Atkinson 9, Clarke 50, Hastings 68, Tuisue 72 Conversions: Hastings 9, 50, Carreras 68 Penalties: Hastings 25, 60, Carreras […]

Wales prop Thomas ruled out of Ospreys’ South African safari

21 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Lions v Ospreys Today. Kick-off 1pm, Ellis Park THE Ospreys have already qualified for the Challenge Cup knockout stages but know […]

Black Lion …….. 3 Clermont ………36

21 January 2024 0 comments

CLERMONT secured home advantage in the last 16 with a five-try rout of the Georgian newcomers. The Top 14 giants and three-time former winners ended […]

Pau ………………..28 Zebre …………….27

21 January 2024 0 comments

JOE Simmonds was the star of the show as he contributed 18 points in Pau’s win over Italian side Zebre. Zebre fly-half Geronimo Prisciantelli missed […]

Oyonnax ……….28 Cheetahs ……..27

21 January 2024 0 comments

JULES Solan stepped up to slot a match winning conversion in injury time to complete Oyonnax’s comeback victory after Adrien Bordenave scored a try in […]

Benetton ………27 Montpellier …19

21 January 2024 0 comments

TOMAS Albornoz ran the show to secure Benetton home advantage in the last 16 and boost his chances of taking over from Nicolas Sanchez as […]

Tough for Falcons as Diamond gets ready

21 January 2024 0 comments

■ By PAUL REES NEWCASTLE’S players will have their fourth boss in less than a year when Steve Diamond starts work as consultant director of […]

Brown returns as Dragons aim to make it four in a row

21 January 2024 0 comments

PREVIEW… Dragons v Sharks By BEN JAYCOCK Today. Kick-off 5.30pm, Rodney Parade THE Dragons are aiming for four victories on the spin at Rodney Parade […]

Challenge Cup Friday and Saturday previews

19 January 2024 0 comments

Half of the places provided by the EPCR Challenge Cup pool stages for the last 16 have already been decided. Six sides are through, and […]

Cockerill handed Georgia job

18 January 2024 0 comments

Former Leicester Tigers boss and England assistant Richard Cockerill has been named head coach of the Georgian national team and their club side Black Lion. […]