Champions Cup

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

stdClass Object ( [id] => 4 [league_id] => 4 [season_name] => Champions Cup Regular Season [season_slug] => champions-cup-regular-season [season_start] => 2021 [season_end] => 2022 [wp_league_id] => 47 [status] => 1 )

Stade Francais’ two reds clear the way for Munster to take control

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Kevin Fallon Munster ………….33pts Tries: Abrahams 16, Daly 30, Kendellen 50, Farrell 55, Coombes 79 Conversions: Crowley 16, 30, 51, 56 Stade Francais .. […]

George Horne hat-trick seals it for Glasgow Warriors

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Glasgow Warriors …. 38pts Tries: Horne 2, 12, 39; Rowe 16, Jones 23, Cummings 64 Conversions: Horne 3, 13, 17; Jordan 24 […]

It felt like a Test match-Ewels

8 December 2024 0 comments

BATH skipper Charlie Ewels believed they had enough chances to win. The England second row said: “I liked how we stayed calm and also that […]

Joe Heyes hoping to put on a magic show in Bordeaux

8 December 2024 0 comments

Match Preview By Jon Newcombe Bordeaux v Leicester Tigers Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stade Chaban-Delmas Joe Heyes is hoping that Leicester can rekindle a bit of […]

Sharks vs Exeter Chiefs – Champions Cup Preview

7 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports We have an action-packed rugby weekend to look forward to over the coming days as the Champions Cup gets underway. […]

Champions Cup potential breakout stars

6 December 2024 0 comments

Every year, an unexpected player rises to perform on the European stage, with it being a great place for both young and fringe talent to get a bit […]

Best Champions Cup matchups of the weekend

6 December 2024 0 comments

The Investec Champions Cup kicks off this weekend, with the best of the Premiership, Top 14 and URC battling it out to be crowned the […]

Bath vs La Rochelle – Champions Cup Preview

6 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports Under the lights this Friday, we will see two European giants, Bath and La Rochelle, clash in a sensational contest. […]

Will this be the year a South African club lifts the Champions Cup trophy?

5 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports The most significant competition in club rugby kicks off this weekend as the Champions Cup gets underway. Teams from the […]

Jacques Vermeulen excited to visit old friends

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Exeter start their Champions Cup campaign away in South Africa on Saturday, but Jacques Vermeulen will feel very much at home. The […]

European Cup must only be for elite

14 July 2024 0 comments

Nick Cain Column When an elite competition like the European Cup comes up with a dullard draw which has deposed two-time champions La Rochelle playing […]

Champions Cup to stick with format

7 July 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE CEO: Jacques Raynaud Fans hoping for a return to the old four-team, six pools Champions Cup format in the halcyon Heineken days […]

Plumtree: We must sort out the logistics

2 June 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Sharks head coach John Plumtree believes the Champions Cup is the greatest club competition out there but has called for increased alignment […]

Sorry, but that’s not all right, Jacques

2 June 2024 0 comments

A great European Cup final last weekend had only one blemish, when the limp attempt to tighten the rules around water-carriers made by World Rugby […]

Awesome! Toulouse make it a super six

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Champions Cup final player of the match and European rugby’s biggest star Antoine Dupont revelled in captaining Toulouse […]

Toulouse provide a lesson in brilliance

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster……………………….. 22pts Tries: van der Flier 93 Conversions: Frawley 94 Penalties: Byrne 18, 43, 46, 65; Frawley 77 Toulouse ……………………… 31pts Tries: […]

Champions Cup Final Preview – Europe’s best set to provide fireworks

24 May 2024 0 comments

European rugby’s two most successful sides battle it out for Champions Cup glory as Leinster face Toulouse in the final on Saturday afternoon at Tottenham […]

Ex-Wasps buzzing for European glory

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Thibaud Flament has risen from Loughborough University’s fifth team to become a French international with the intention of next weekend becoming a […]

‘Play big matches at neutral venues’

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Danny Wilson’s has backed calls to play Champions Cup semi-finals at a neutral venue after Toulouse and Leinster enjoyed home city advantage […]

Graham: Guys were in tears after that defeat but we’ll fight back

12 May 2024 0 comments

Sam Graham believes Northampton can turn the heartache of losing last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-final to their advantage as they set their sights on the […]

Power of the four musketeers

12 May 2024 0 comments

A common theme of last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-finals was the influence of the four scrum-halves, the catalysts of teams that look to get the […]

Toulouse overcome Quins to join Leinster in eighth final

5 May 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Toulouse………………………………………….38 Tries: Lebel 4, Mauvaka 19, Flament 27, Dupont 33, 37; Mallía 68 Conversions: Kinghorn 21, 35, 38; Ramos 70 Harlequins………………………………………..26 Tries: […]

Saints so close to stunning Leinster

5 May 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY at Croke Park Northampton boss Phil Dowson was left to rue the one that got away after Saints went down 20-17 to […]

Quins have to climb very steep mountain

5 May 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK WHEN Harlequins face Toulouse this afternoon in their first European Cup semi-final in south-west France, it will be […]

Leinster made to fight all the way

5 May 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster…………………………20pts Tries: Lowe 10, 15, 43 Conversion: Byrne 11 Penalty: Byrne 29 Northampton Saints…… 17pts Tries: Hendy 58, Seabrook 73 Conversions: Smith […]

It’ll be tough for us but we’ll meet fire with fire, says Care

5 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Toulouse vs Harlequins Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stadium de Toulouse WHEN Harlequins went to Bordeaux last month they vowed to swing the […]

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 05/05/24

3 May 2024 0 comments

For only the second time in eight seasons there are two English teams in the Champions Cup semi-finals, and we’ll have action and reaction from Northampton’s trip […]

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 […]

Time for Saints to be true to themselves

28 April 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK THE contest between the 9-10 pairings of Leinster’s Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne and Northampton’s Alex Mitchell and […]

Leinster’s workload merits little sympathy

28 April 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK LEINSTER are worried about the pressure that could prevent them from winning a European Cup and URC […]

‘Ireland in blue’ will provide stiffest test

28 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Phil Dowson and Leo Cullen first crossed paths in European action 10 seasons ago when Northampton did […]

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 […]

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 […]

Ban teams who pick reserves for knock-out stages

21 April 2024 0 comments

The Bulls are not the first outfit to undermine the European Cup by picking an understrength team, with some French clubs – Bourgoin in particular […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

Quins and Saints on the march in Europe

14 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Two English clubs are through to the semi-finals of the Champions Cup after stunning victories against high class opposition yesterday. Harlequins fought […]

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 […]

The pinball wizard who can fire Exeter

14 April 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IMMANUEL Feyi-Waboso was a pretty unknown factor before the Six Nations, but the 21-year-old winger’s rise from Cardiff […]

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 […]

Sparkling Leinster get it right this time

14 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster……………………….. 40pts Tries: Lowe 16, 60; Gibson-Park 37, Baird 42, Sheehan 56 Conversions: Byrne 18, 38, 43 Penalties: Byrne 7, 27, 31 […]

Doris: Croke will be massive

14 April 2024 0 comments

Leinster’s victorious squad are looking forward to their ‘home” semi-final at the 82,000 capacity Croke Park, two miles across Dublin from the Aviva Stadium. Skipper […]

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 […]

Another barmy idea from the men in suits

14 April 2024 0 comments

The Ministry of Silly Walks was a Monty Python sketch which lampooned bureaucratic inefficiency. Rugby Union requires something similar to shame the unaccountable administrators turning […]

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 […]

Investec Champions Cup quarter-final preview

12 April 2024 0 comments

La Rochelle head to Dublin looking to end Leinster’s hopes of a fifth Champions Cup title for the fourth consecutive season in a hugely exciting […]

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 […]

Champions Cup

Recent Posts

Search