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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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 […]

French clubs likely to cook up a storm in Champions Cup

15 November 2019 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher looks at the contenders to win the European crown

Champions Cup test can help Matt Kvesic endorse England bid

14 November 2019 0 comments

Exeter Chiefs travel to face La Rochelle this weekend in Round One of the Champions Cup

French clubs likely to cook up a storm

10 November 2019 1 comment

BRENDAN GALLAGHER casts his eye over the main contenders for this season’s European crown Wondrous: Bok star Cheslin Kolbe can be the match-winner for Toulouse […]

Haywood: Time for the Saints kids to step up

10 November 2019 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS BACK from long-term injury with points to prove, Northampton hooker Mikey Haywood wants the young Saints to rise to the challenge of […]

Warrior Hartley forced to bow out to injury

10 November 2019 0 comments

Triumph: Dylan Hartley holds up the Six Nations trophy as captain after winning the Grand Slam in 2016 PICTURES: Getty Images By NEALE HARVEY NORTHAMPTON […]

Truth behind that email offering Jack his dream job

10 November 2019 0 comments

IT WAS a hoax good enough to grace any April Fool’s Day. But it ended with the Portuguese Rugby Federation threatening to call in Scotland […]

Champions Cup draw: Exeter’s Stuart Hogg gets Scotstoun return

19 June 2019 0 comments

Full Champions Cup pool draw

Mako Vunipola to miss Saracens title tilt but should be fit for World Cup, says McCall

16 May 2019 0 comments

Mako’s Champions Cup final injury keeps him out of remaining Premiership games, but not World Cup

Super Sarries reclaim their crown thanks to tank Billy

12 May 2019 1 comment

From NICK CAIN at St James’ Park Fightback: Sean Maitland scores before half-time Power play: Billy Vunipola touches down for Saracens’ winning try PICTURES: Getty […]

New Tottenham Hotspur stadium to host 2021 European rugby finals

10 May 2019 0 comments

A stadium with a capacity of 62,062

Billy does his talking on the pitch for super Sarries

21 April 2019 0 comments

■From NICK CAIN at the Ricoh Threat: Liam Williams breaks with the ball SARACENS put a smile back on the face of English rugby yesterday. […]

Lancaster: Leinster will turn it on for the big game

21 April 2019 1 comment

■By DECLAN ROONEY Starts: Sean O’Brien No.10: Antoine Dupont FLY-HALF Johnny Sexton returns to face Toulouse in the semi-final of Leinster’s Champions Cup defence. The […]

Mark McCall names Saracens side for Champions Cup semi-final

19 April 2019 0 comments

Brad Barritt is back to lead Sarries against Munster

Earls double tops and tails composed Munster win

31 March 2019 0 comments

By GARY HEATLY MUNSTER showed great resolve and defensive strength to edge out Edinburgh in a cracking last eight tie at Murrayfield. The visitors were […]

No deception, Dave, Sarries did just score seven tries!

31 March 2019 3 comments

By NICK CAIN Joy: Brad Barritt celebrates with Jackson Wray and Sean Maitland after scoring Saracens’ third try SARACENS were meant to be the great […]

Barritt injury potentially devastating says McCall

31 March 2019 1 comment

MARK McCall said Saracens had adapted impressively to losing Owen Farrell on the morning of the match after his wife went into labour, making their […]

Byrne takes advantage of Stockdale’s sloppy finish

31 March 2019 0 comments

By RONAN O’BRIEN ROSS Byrne fought off cramp and kicked a touchline penalty to send champions Leinster into the semi-final after Jacob Stockdale’s handling error […]

Russell’s back for revenge mission

31 March 2019 0 comments

Preview Racing 92 v Toulouse Today, Kick-off 3.15pm SCOTLAND fly-half Finn Russell starts for Racing 92 as one of seven alterations to the side which […]

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals to support Doddie Weir foundation, EPCR announce

5 March 2019 0 comments

Newcastle and St James’ Park will host the two European finals in May

Ulster issue lifetime ban to supporter who allegedly abused Simon Zebo

23 January 2019 0 comments

Ulster conducted an investigation in the wake of allegations arising during their Champions Cup match against Zebo’s Racing 92

Back row battle crucial to Wasps revenge mission

20 January 2019 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Cavalry charge: Joe Launchbury, main, Nathan Hughes, left, and Dan Robson return PICTURES: Getty Images Big test: Brad Shields BACK ROW bruiser […]

JJ’s back as Walker extends his run

20 January 2019 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Starts: Jonathan Joseph ENGLAND centre Jonathan Joseph makes his long-awaited return for Bath in a game that is far from meaningless, according […]

Chiefs left stunned by late Carbery knockout

20 January 2019 0 comments

By DECLAN ROONEY Only try of the game: Exeter celebrate after Don Armand powers over in the opening quarter Match-winner: Munster fly-half Joey Carbery EXETER […]

Baxter planning for next season

20 January 2019 1 comment

ROB Baxter was not too downbeat after his side’s exit from the Champions Cup and praised their passion for the battle at Thomond Park. Exeter […]

Vaipulu try puts the spoilers on Gloucester away day

20 January 2019 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Fast start: Henry Trinder goes over to score Gloucester’s first try after 80 seconds PICTURES: Getty Images Body blow: Maama Vaipulu scores […]

Banahan focuses on the positives

20 January 2019 0 comments

MATT Banahan shrugged off the disappointment to praise the youngsters who performed superbly for Gloucester. Johan Ackermann picked a youthful outfit for the visit to […]

Lane burns off criticism to help Blues end on high

20 January 2019 1 comment

By ROB COLE OWEN Lane brought the Arms Park crowd to its feet with the pick of his side’s five tries and got his coach […]

Maro leads the charge as Sarries power in

20 January 2019 1 comment

Welcome back: Billy Vunipola scores Saracens’ third try PICTURES: Getty Images Break: Ben Spencer scores Saracens’ first try MARO Itoje produced a command performance despite […]

Delighted McCall: Itoje was incredible

20 January 2019 1 comment

SARACENS boss Mark McCall saluted a supercharged performance by Maro Itoje for helping Saracens clinch a home quarter-final. “When we talked at halftime about improving […]

Pivac: Get out the cheque book, we must keep Johnny

20 January 2019 2 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Heavy traffic: Hadleigh Parkes on the ball WAYNE Pivac has urged the Scarlets board to do all they can to keep hold […]

Battling Tigers just can’t get over line

20 January 2019 1 comment

By ROB WILDMAN Hurdles race: Leicester’s Matt Toomua is tackled by Marty Moore PICTURES: Getty Images Try scorer: Baloucoune A FEROCIOUS contest fell the way […]

Murphy: We have to be smarter

20 January 2019 0 comments

LEICESTER head coach Geordan Murphy said his team lost their way in the second half. “We were not very smart,” he explained in how Tigers […]

Edinburgh top Pool 5 to make it a Scottish

20 January 2019 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN RICHARD Cockerill believes his improving Edinburgh side can topple anyone at home after they continued their unbeaten run at Murrayfield to seal […]

Rock bottom Falcons rue one that got away

20 January 2019 0 comments

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Touch of class: Filip Nakosi scores Toulon’s second PICTURES: Getty Images Michael Young of Newcastle Falcons breaks through to score his side’s […]

Richards wants a response at Sharks

20 January 2019 1 comment

DEAN Richards denied his side are struggling for confidence after their seventh straight defeat in all competition. Richards is adamant his men can stop the […]

Ireland international defies injury doubts to return for Munster

18 January 2019 0 comments

Peter O’Mahony fit to face Exeter

Richard Cockerill names unchanged side to face Montpellier

17 January 2019 0 comments

Edinburgh name unchanged team for Montpellier clash

Newcastle Falcons vs Toulon: Champions Cup Preview

16 January 2019 0 comments

Newcastle Falcons vs Toulon – 18/1/19 Dean Richard’s Newcastle Falcons suffered a heavy 8-45 defeat to French side Montpellier in their last Champions Cup match, […]

Edinburgh vs Montpellier: Champions Cup Preview

16 January 2019 0 comments

Edinburgh vs Montpellier – 18/1/19 It’s first versus second on Friday night in Pool 5 of the Champions Cup. Edinburgh have won four out of […]

Sinoti Sinoti commits future to Newcastle Falcons

15 January 2019 0 comments

‘The supporters have been awesome right from day one’ – Sinoti Sinoti

Johan: We need action not words

13 January 2019 1 comment

GLOUCESTER head coach Johan Ackermann was critical of his side’s inability to match words with actions after a collapse against Munster which saw them exit […]

Joe rap for late penalty decision

13 January 2019 2 comments

JOE Launchbury kept his cool after remonstrating with referee Ben Woodhouse over the late penalty which piled on Wasps’ European misery. The visitors were angered […]

We want to be the ones dominating says Lees

13 January 2019 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY CHIEFS talisman Jack Nowell returns as Exeter embark on a revenge mission against Castres to keep their Champions Cup hopes alive. Nowell […]