Champions Cup

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

Toulon beat Leinster to march on to Heineken Cup semi-final

6 April 2014 0 comments

Brian O’Driscoll has played his last Heineken Cup game as Leinster crashed out in the quarter-finals losing to Toulon 29-14 at the Stade Mayol. In […]

Richard Wigglesworth: Saracens have to embrace not fear Ravenhill

4 April 2014 0 comments

Mark McCall’s Saracens travel to Ulster tomorrow for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals and scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth hopes they can embrace the atmosphere and reach last […]

Exeter aim to be Euro champs in five years

26 March 2014 0 comments

Matt Jess insists there are “no limits” to what Exeter Chiefs can achieve.

New Euro Cup ‘will be worth £100m’

25 March 2014 0 comments

The new shape of European rugby will finally be confirmed this week with the potential to generate £100m-a-year and revolutionise the game.

New Euro Cup will be based in Switzerland

18 February 2014 1 comment

The peace plan aimed at ending Europe’s rugby war will revolve around a new organisation at a new base in a country famous for its neutrality – Switzerland.

I could play on for one more year, says Jonny Wilkinson

17 December 2013 1 comment

Jonny Wilkinson came off the bench on Saturday to score the bonus-point try that helped put champions Toulon firmly in control of their Heineken Cup pool and then announced he could play on for another year after all.

English clubs to boycott Heineken Cup

5 December 2013 0 comments

Premiership Rugby tonight confirmed that the English clubs will NOT take part in the 2014-2015 Heineken Cup following a meeting in London.

Extra place will tempt the Celts to sign up for Champions Cup

8 November 2013 11 comments

The significant change to the play-off structure has been made in response to the Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Italian Unions refusing to give their teams the green light for any competition not approved by the game’s governing body, the IRB.

Chase on to sponsor the £10m Champions Cup

29 October 2013 2 comments

Five global brands are in the market to sponsor the proposed Champions’ Cup at a minimum asking price of £10m-a-season.

Consensus reached in Dublin over Heineken Cup row

25 October 2013 2 comments

A consensus has been reached over the Heineken Cup row at a meeting in Dublin today.

Peace set to break out over Europe

22 October 2013 5 comments

The war over Europe could be settled soon with all six nations reunited under the new Anglo-French banner, the Champions’ Cup.

Wales want more cash to join new European Cup

15 October 2013 0 comments

The Anglo-French promoters of the Champions’ Cup will have to guarantee the Welsh regions a better deal if they join the new Europe.

Perpignan revival can help James Hook’s Wales bid

12 October 2013 0 comments

James Hook hopes Perpignan’s return to the Heineken Cup can propel him back into Wales reckoning.

Welsh get Euro Cup deadline of October 31

8 October 2013 0 comments

The four Welsh regions are being set a deadline of October 31 for joining the Anglo-French vision of the new Europe, the Champions’ Cup.

Nigel Wray warns the IRB a Euro Cup veto would end in court

1 October 2013 1 comment

Saracens chairman Nigel Wray has warned that any attempt by the International Rugby Board to veto the proposed Rugby Champions Cup will end up defeated in court.

Welsh clubs in talks over Heineken breakaway

24 September 2013 0 comments

Two Welsh regions have declared their interest in joining the new Europe under Anglo-French direction from next season. PRL chief executive Mark McCafferty confirmed the Welsh move yesterday along with others but refused to name names.

Welsh clubs urged: Join Heineken breakaway

17 September 2013 0 comments

The four Welsh regions are being invited to break Celtic ranks and join the Anglo-French plan for a new Europe.

No U-turn on Europe promises Premiership boss Mark McCafferty

20 August 2013 4 comments

England‘s Premiership clubs are adamant there will be no u-turn on their crusade for a new European Cup, promising it will increase annual revenue by […]

Jonny Wilkinson’s just top draw for star-struck Henry Slade

11 June 2013 1 comment

Henry Slade grew up idolising Jonny Wilkinson and always hoped to meet him. But share the same pitch? Never in his wildest dreams did he […]

French act to head off revolt over Heineken Cup

21 May 2013 0 comments

France called a crisis meeting over Europe yesterday aimed at averting the planned Anglo-French breakaway to launch an alternative tournament. The Dublin summit, held hours […]

Toulon beat Saracens to reach the Heineken Cup final

28 April 2013 0 comments

Toulon have set up an all-French Heineken Cup final after beating Saracens 24-12 at Twickenham today. Englishman Jonny Wilkinson kicked all of the ‘Rouges and […]

Just get rid of the hit-squad to solve this scrum farce

12 April 2013 3 comments

Scrum guru Phil Keith-Roach claims the chaos and controversy surrounding the set-piece would be gone within a month if the IRB removed one sentence from […]

Andrew Sheridan is backed for Lions call-up by rival Dan Cole

5 April 2013 1 comment

Leicester prop Dan Cole prepared for his first competitive tussle with Andrew Sheridan next week by insisting the Lions cannot afford to ignore the form […]

Quarter-finals showdown for ferocious Leicester Tigers

20 January 2013 0 comments

Leicester claimed a spirited 9-5 win over Toulouse at Welford Road this afternoon to qualify for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals. The outcome of the game […]

Saracens qualify to set up Ulster clash

20 January 2013 0 comments

Saracens secured their place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with a convincing 40-7 bonus-point win over Edinburgh at Vicarage Road. They will host Ulster in […]

Leicester Tigers set for ‘winner-takes-all’ clash with Toulouse

13 January 2013 1 comment

Leicester Tigers have set themselves for a ‘winner-takes-all’ clash with Toulouse after securing a 15-15 draw against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium today. The […]

Northampton beat Castres but look set for Amlin future

11 January 2013 0 comments

Northampton Saints are almost out of the Heineken Cup despite a 18-12 win over Castres at Franklin’s Gardens tonight. With Ulster certain to top Poll […]

Heineken Cup round 4: Preview and Predictions

14 December 2012 0 comments

Pool 1 Edinburgh v Racing Metro After over a year on the sidelines, Edinburgh welcome Ben Cairs back in their starting line-up for the reception […]

“A loss would see us wave the Heineken Cup goodbye” – Julian Salvi

13 December 2012 0 comments

Securing away points is crucial for any team looking to make it out of the Heineken Cup group stages but for Leicester it seems a […]

Invincible Clermont battle past Leinster

9 December 2012 1 comment

Clermont claimed a very hard-fought 15-12 win over Leinster at the Stade Marcel Michelin in the third round of the Heineken Cup today. This win […]

Brave 14-men Cardiff Blues fall short against Montpellier

9 December 2012 0 comments

Cardiff Blues suffered a 35-24 defeat to Montpellier at the Arms Park in the third round of the Heineken Cup today. The Welsh side had […]

Live: Clermont v Leinster

9 December 2012 1 comment

Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as Clermont take on Leinster in the third round of the Heineken Cup at the Stade Marcel […]

Ulster ease past Northampton with bonus-point win at the Gardens

7 December 2012 0 comments

Ulster remained undefeated this season with a convincing 25-6 bonus-point win at Northampton tonight. But more important than the win, their domination and the way […]

Heineken Cup round 3: preview and predictions

7 December 2012 0 comments

Pool 1 Munster v Saracens Dave O’Callaghan will make his first Heineken Cup start for Munster against Saracens in Thomond Park tomorrow. O’Callaghan will become […]

“We’re going to the Gardens to win” – Mark Anscombe

6 December 2012 0 comments

Securing a losing bonus-point during your Heineken Cup travels is vital to any team hoping to go through the group stages but Ulster head coach […]

Tigers roar again with superb win over Ospreys

21 October 2012 0 comments

Three tries in a frantic last ten minutes helped Leicester to a crucial 39-22 bonus-point win over the Ospreys at Welford Road. The game was […]

Jonny’s boots hand Toulon vital away win in Cardiff

21 October 2012 0 comments

A second half try from Steffon Armitage and a kicking lesson from Jonny Wilkinson helped Toulon to their second win in as many games to […]

Patient Ulster get the goods in rainy Glasgow

19 October 2012 0 comments

A second half try from flanker Chris Henry helped Ulster to a 19-8 win over Glasgow to put the Irish in control of their pool […]

“It will be hard but we’re a different team now,” – Chris Robshaw

19 October 2012 1 comment

Tomorrow, Harlequins are travelling back to Galway to face Connacht, the exact same place their dream of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals got away last […]

Heineken Cup round 2: preview and predictions

19 October 2012 0 comments

Pool 1 Munster v Edinburgh Munster will be disappointed they did not close the game out last Racing Metro last week, conceding two late penalties. […]

Ulster leave it late but Ruan Pienaar secures the five points

12 October 2012 0 comments

Ulster had to wait until the third minute of stoppage time and a try from Springbok Ruan Pienaar to secure a 41-17 bonus-point win over […]

Heineken Cup round 1: preview and predictions

12 October 2012 0 comments

Pool 1 Edinburgh v Saracens Edinburgh make six changes to their starting line-up to take on Saracens at Murrayfield. Internationals Tom Brown and Richie Rees […]

English will offer £100m bait to land their jackpot

18 September 2012 1 comment

England‘s Premier clubs will go into Tuesday’s meeting with their Heineken Cup colleagues with a £100m cheque to place on the bargaining table. Premier Rugby […]

ERC “dismayed” over Anglo-French threats.

23 August 2012 3 comments

As exclusively revealed by Peter Jackson in The Rugby Paper on May 6th, English and French clubs have given an ultimatum to the ERC to […]

Henry Thomas relishing Andrew Sheridan Heineken Cup rematch

17 August 2012 0 comments

Henry Thomas is eager for the chance to turn the tables on former tutor Andrew Sheridan this season after Sale‘s graduation to the Heineken Cup. […]

Serge Blanco lets me know if I’m kicking too much says Iain Balshaw

7 August 2012 2 comments

World Cup winner Iain Balshaw knows all about instinctive rugby and would love England to show more of it. We meet in Biarritz on France’s […]

Moment in Time: Northampton Saints and the 2000 Heineken Cup final

6 August 2012 0 comments

Few people had rated Northampton’s chances of lifting the Heineken Cup. Still fewer gave them a prayer after they had lost their second Pool match […]

Northampton captain Dylan Hartley urges Saints to shake off that losers’ tag

24 July 2012 0 comments

Saints captain Dylan Hartley has demanded his side shake off their tag as the nearly men of English rugby. While Northampton have won plenty of […]

Moment in Time: London Wasps and 2004 Heineken Cup Semi Final

24 July 2012 0 comments

Stunning game. Truly stunning result. Quite simply, this Anglo-Irish showdown in Dublin was one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, Heineken matches of all […]