Champions Cup

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

Kolbe makes his return

8 December 2019 0 comments

POOL 5 PREVIEW… Toulouse v Montepellier Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, Stade Ernest Wallon WORLD Cup hero Cheslin Kolbe makes his return to Toulouse colours for today’s […]

PRL secrecy is an insult to all club rugby fans

8 December 2019 1 comment

NICK CAIN IS Premiership Rugby fit for purpose? Is the governing body of the multi-million pound club game in England understaffed, overworked or just plain […]

This snub to Lions does game disservice

8 December 2019 0 comments

PRL’s decision this week to deny the 2021 Lions a crucial extra week of preparation for their tour of South Africa – and the chance […]

Lyon finally break their Champions Cup duck

8 December 2019 0 comments

LYON cruised to their first ever win in the Heineken Champions Cup at Matmut Stadium de Gerland after eight successive defeats in the competition and […]

Feel the gap – Saints are hit by 7-try pummeling

8 December 2019 0 comments

■From NICK CAIN at Franklin’s Gardens Rout: Ed Byrne dives over for the final Leinster try PICTURE: Getty Images NORTHAMPTON may be sitting at the […]

Storming comeback keep the Warriors’ hopes alive

8 December 2019 0 comments

■By GARY HEATLY On target: Adam Hastings GLASGOW Warriors battled back from 18-6 down just before half-time to defeat La Rochelle in a cracking Champions […]

Sexton waits on knee scan

8 December 2019 0 comments

JOHNNY Sexton is on the injury-list again after sustaining a ligament injury to his right knee. Leinster rugby director Leo Cullen said he was not […]

Curry orders Sharks to put on a killer show

8 December 2019 1 comment

■By JON NEWOMBE Disciplined: Ben Curry has given away just three penalties in ten games for Sale PICTURE: Getty Images BEN Curry wants his side […]

Cooney gives Quins late kick in the teeth

8 December 2019 1 comment

■By GARY FITZGERALD Diving in: Flanker Sean Reidy goes over for Ulster PICTURES: Getty Images Cool head: John Cooney kicked Ulster to victory PAUL Gustard […]

Kirsten out to bully his Bok mates

8 December 2019 0 comments

SOUTH African bruiser Jannes Kirsten says Exeter are hell-bent on putting one foot into the Champions Cup quarter-finals by making it three wins from three […]

Robbo: It’s hard to lose like that

8 December 2019 0 comments

JOHN Cooney feels his side’s nail-biting victory proves the Ulster men have the stomach for a real European dogfight this season. The scrum-half slotted the […]

TEAMS: Leinster take counter-measures to combat Naiyaravoro

6 December 2019 0 comments

Full team news for this weekend’s Champions Cup action

Allen Clarke leaves Ospreys after ‘dark period’ in season

26 November 2019 0 comments

The Ospreys head coach leaves the region following a difficult start to the season

Johnson turns on the power for Wasps

24 November 2019 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Debut try: Malakai Fekitoa breaks clear to score PICTURES: Getty Images Valued: Jacob Umaga Skill: Matteo Minozzi WASPS needed to produce some […]

Joe blow gives Dai Exeter problem

24 November 2019 1 comment

WASPS boss Dai Young fears Joe Launchbury will miss Saturday’s Premiership match at Exeter due to a calf injury. The England lock was led off […]

Cockerill denied byJalibert’s 78th minute penalty saver for Bordeaux

24 November 2019 0 comments

By GARY HEATLY EDINBURGH Rugby head coach Richard Cockerill was frustrated that his side switched off in the closing stages to allow Bordeaux- Begles to […]

World Cup stars have energised squad says Ross

24 November 2019 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE Japan hero: England flanker Tom Curry returns for Sale Sharks Captain: Jono Ross CLUB captain Jono Ross hopes Sale Sharks can feed […]

Savage Bears serve Brive a tasty bagle

24 November 2019 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD Flair: Try-scorer Harry Randall threatens Brive again PAT Lam acclaimed his Bears romp in France as “a big statement” in their desire […]

Quins win ugly to keep their Euro dream alive

24 November 2019 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD Star turn: Marcus Smith breaks the tackle of Christian Judge PICTURE: Getty Images PAUL Gustard praised the effort and energy of his […]

Thacker proud of defence progress

24 November 2019 0 comments

HARRY Thacker challenged his rampant Bears team-mates to keep on rolling out the wins and impressive displays after giving Brive a painful mauling. The hooker […]

Skilful Burns pulls the strings to tie up win over Clermont

24 November 2019 2 comments

By RONAN O’NEILL Accomplished: Billy Burns ULSTER head coach Dan McFarland was thrilled with his on-field generals after a crucial victory over Clermont in the […]

Walker’s try in vain as Pumas ace puts boot in

24 November 2019 0 comments

ROUND-UP STADE FRANCAIS edged out Zebre 12-13 at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi with the boot of Argentine fly-half Nicolas Sanchez ultimately proving decisive. France centre Gael […]

Hooper: We just couldn’t threaten

24 November 2019 1 comment

STUART Hooper was left bemoaning his side’s failure to put scoreboard pressure on their rivals as Bath’s European campaign hit the buffers at the Stoop. […]

Hardwick on target to frustrate the Blues

24 November 2019 1 comment

By JAMES CANDY In front: Jordan Coghlan goes over to score for Leicester PICTURE: Getty Images A LAST gasp Tom Hardwick penalty condemned the Cardiff […]

Hanrahan drop-goal goes wide so it’s a tie

24 November 2019 0 comments

By RONAN O’BRIEN MUNSTER full-back Mike Haley insisted they were thrilled to secure a draw even though his side should have beaten Racing 92 at […]

Harmony? Eddie has put boys under a bus

24 November 2019 3 comments

CHRIS HEWETT England’s coaching staff do not always sing from the same hymn sheet. Sometimes, they struggle to preach the same religion. Brian Ashton hardly […]

Boot-boy Ramos gets Toulouse over the line

24 November 2019 1 comment

By STEFFAN THOMAS ANDYFRIEND praised the resilience of his Connacht side despite falling to defeat to Toulouse at the Stade Ernest-Wallon. Tries from Sebastien Bezy, […]

Just magic if Kerevi had not been joking

24 November 2019 2 comments

SAMU Kerevi, the most effective Wallaby in a largely ineffective Australian side at the World Cup, now says he was “having a bit of a […]

Normal service as Daly inspires Saracens to scale Euro heights

24 November 2019 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER It’s a cracker: Rotimi Segun dives over to score Saracens second try PICTURES: Getty Images AFTER an eerily quiet opening quarter, debutant […]

Nerveless Dan gives Saints late salvation

24 November 2019 0 comments

By ALEX BYWATER First blood: Tom Collins goes over for Saints DAN Biggar showed nerves of steel to keep Northampton unbeaten in Europe, but it […]

I hope we made Nigel Wray proud says Jamie

24 November 2019 0 comments

ENGLAND hooker Jamie George, returning to action after the World Cup, said he hopes Saracens win over Ospreys made under-fire owner Nigel Wray proud after […]

Lawes back to take on Tigers?

24 November 2019 0 comments

Match-winner: Saints fly-half Dan Biggar on the attack PICTURES: Getty Images CHRIS Boyd set his sights on the Premiership meeting with Northampton’s biggest rivals Leicester […]

Ackermann rings the changes for Montpellier test

24 November 2019 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY New lease: Joe Simpson is feeling rejuvenated at Kingsholm SCRUM-HALFJoe Simpson insists Gloucester are faced with no other choice but to rotate […]

Supreme Sexton helps Leinster nullify mighty giants of Lyon pack

24 November 2019 1 comment

By TOM PRITCHARD A RESILIENT defensive performance against a giant French opposition and a man-of-the-match display from Johnny Sexton saw Leinster triumph in Lyon to […]

Warriors fall to Castres power at breakdown

24 November 2019 0 comments

By TIM LEWIS Held: No way through for Geoffrey Palis of Castres WORCESTER came up short in France as they were outmuscled by a strong […]

It’s ten out of ten for Exeter as stars shine

24 November 2019 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR Kick chase: Chiefs wing Tom O’Flaherty dives over to score their fourth try PICTURES: Getty Images Try: Henry Slade EXETER made it […]

Franco and Irish defy musclemen of Bayonne

24 November 2019 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Touchdown: Ben Meehan scores for Irish PICTURE: Getty Images FRANCO van der Merwe produced a colossal captain’s display as Irish held off […]

Nowell conjures a magic moment

24 November 2019 0 comments

JACK NOWELL, who aims to make up for his World Cup disappointment with European success, said: “We played well – but we can be better.” […]

Brilliant Basham sparks Ryan’s ice-age Dragons

24 November 2019 0 comments

By JAMES CANDY TAINE Basham warmed up for what could be a Test debut with another standout display as the Dragons made it two from […]

89th minute kick hands Scarlets second defeat

24 November 2019 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Dead-eye: Anthony Belleau kicks the winning points THE Scarlets were left heartbroken as Toulon snatched victory deep into injury time with the […]

TEAMS: Elliot Daly handed first start for Saracens in Champions Cup

22 November 2019 0 comments

Elliot Daly returns after World Cup rest period to start at full-back for Saracens

EPCR fine Saracens for Champions Cup media even no-show

19 November 2019 0 comments

EPCR issue statement confirming Saracens have been fined for not sending Mark McCall or Brad Barritt to the Cardiff launch

Chiefs give Euro itch a welcome scratch

17 November 2019 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Fast start: Dave Dennis goes over for Exeter after eight minutes PICTURE: AFP THE European Cup has become a real bugbear for […]

Ringrose hat-trick fires a Leinster Cup warning

17 November 2019 0 comments

By RONAN O’BRIEN GARRY Ringrose scored a brilliant hat-trick of tries as Leinster got their Heineken Champions Cup campaign off to a powerful start against […]

Sharks fightback falls short despite boost from bench

17 November 2019 0 comments

By GARY HEATLY Over: DTH Van Der Merwe bursts through GLASGOW Warriors survived a second half fightback from Sale Sharks to record a victory in […]

Bath and Underhill run into Ulster brick wall

17 November 2019 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Breaking free: Rob Lyttle wins the race to touch down a kick ahead for Ulster’s second try PICTURES: Getty Images SAM Underhill […]

Roberts: Now we’ve got to win two away

17 November 2019 0 comments

BATH’S Wales veteran centre Jamie Roberts groaned after this scrappy one-point defeat: “It’s devastating because we should have won. “Ulster were efficient. They didn’t play […]

Quins are crushed by Yato, the Fijian fury

17 November 2019 0 comments

By JAMES HARRINGTON Destroyer: Peceli Yato SHELLSHOCKED Harlequins could do little in the face of a Peceli Yato-led 80- minute Clermont onslaught. It combined power […]

We came to win, says Gustard, it hurts to lose like this

17 November 2019 0 comments

DISAPPOINTED Quins coach Paul Gustard could only be philosophical following the hammering, Quins’ third defeat in a row in all competitions, which he described as […]

Munster power makes it so tough for Ospreys

17 November 2019 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS All cheer: Munster’s James Cronin scores the bonus point try as players celebrate PICTURES: INPHO/Gary Carr THE Ospreys’ early season struggles continued […]

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