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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Sale youngsters get a lesson in finishing

14 January 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Stormers……………………….31pts Tries: Dayimani 7, Hartzenberg 22, Zas 33, 51 Conversions: Libbok 8, 23, 34, 52 Penalties: Libbok 60 Sale ……………………………… 24pts Tries: […]

Saints looking good but easy win leaves much to be desired

14 January 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN Northampton are playing attacking rugby which combines skill, speed, flair, and precision, and their hammering of Bayonne on Friday night at Franklin’s Gardens […]

Champions Cup round three Friday and Saturday preview

12 January 2024 0 comments

The 2023/24 Champions Cup resumes with an eagerly anticipated third round of pool-stage matches. English teams have performed exceptionally well up to this point, with […]

Launchbury’s impressed by French fitness

31 December 2023 0 comments

TRP Podcast By NICK POWELL Joe Launchbury feels giant Toulouse lock Emmanuel Meafou’s form reflects a growing trend of Top 14 forwards adding fitness alongside […]

Toulouse are the most entrancing side of them all

24 December 2023 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Dupont or no Dupont, Ntamack or no Ntamack, this latest edition of the Champions Cup may well turn out to be […]

The French out in front? That’s not how it looks

24 December 2023 0 comments

With 12 victories in 16 games, Paul Rees reflects on a promising start by English clubs in the Champions Cup It has been a chastening […]

Series 3, Episode 19: Champions Cup recap and Big Game preview with Joe Launchbury

20 December 2023 0 comments

The Rugby Paper Podcast’s final episode of 2023 looks back at two thrilling weekends of Champions Cup action as well as looking ahead to the […]

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Sunday round-up

18 December 2023 0 comments

Narrow victories for Exeter and Leicester ensured English teams came away with more wins than losses on a second-straight weekend of Champions Cup action. Although, […]

Gonzalez is enjoying his new lease of life

17 December 2023 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Saracens …………………….. 55pts Tries: Gonzalez 7; George 32,40, Hartley 42, 63, Maitland 54, Cinti 56, Dan 70 Conversions: Farrell 43, 55, 64 […]

Connacht holding on to the positives

17 December 2023 0 comments

CONNACHT head coach Pete Wilkins praised his side’s never-say-attitude as they grabbed a bonus point to keep their knockout hopes alive. After the 41-5 smashing […]

Regard has the final word for Lyon in pulsating win over the Bulls

17 December 2023 0 comments

By ALFIE ROSE Lyon………………..29pts Tries: Dumortier 22, Pacheco 38, Parisien 45, Charcosset 61, Regard 71 Conversions: Page-Relo 23, Jackson 62 Bulls ……………….28pts Tries: Burger 1, […]

Bordeaux put Bears through the mixer

17 December 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bordeaux…………………….. 36pts Tries: Lucu 4, Bielle-Biarrey 16, Penaud 32, Tapuai 55, Nanette 66 Conversions: Lucu 5, 33, 56; Jalibert 67 Penalties: Lucu […]

Lam: I’m proud of how we played

17 December 2023 0 comments

ALTHOUGH his team were well beaten, Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam was pleased with much of what he saw. He said: “I’m very proud […]

Cardiff push Bath’s all-stars to the limit

17 December 2023 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Cardiff ………………………… 32pts Tries: Adams 4, 19; Hamer-Webb 37, Thomas 43 Conversions: de Beer 5, 20, 44 Penalties: de Beer 18, 26 […]

McCloskey confident Ulster can get back on right track

17 December 2023 0 comments

By KEVIN FALLON Ulster ……………..31pts Tries: Timoney 3, 46; McCloskey 22, Rea 36 Conversions: Cooney 4, 23, 37, 47 Penalties: Cooney 70 Racing 92 ………15pts […]

Quins out to collect another big scalp

17 December 2023 0 comments

■By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Harlequins v Toulouse Today, kick-off 3.15pm Twickenham Stoop FULL of confidence after their brilliant 31-28 win away to Racing 92, Harlequins […]

Lockett’s late score has Saints believing

17 December 2023 0 comments

ROB WILDMAN Northampton………………. 22pts Tries: Seabrook 6, Furbank 28, 57; Lockett 77 Conversions: Smith 77 Toulon …………………………..19pts Tries: Jaminet 54, Ribbans 65 Penalties: Herve 5, […]

‘We had resilience to see it through’

17 December 2023 0 comments

SAINTS boss Phil Dowson praised his team’s resilience. He felt Northampton has lost momentum like the previous win over Glasgow but attributed the win to […]

Warriors win ugly to keep Euro hopes alive

17 December 2023 0 comments

■By BRYN PALMER Bayonne………… 11pts Try: Bosch 33 Penalties: Lopez 28, 49 Glasgow…………12pts Tries: Miller 37, McKay 56 Conversion: Thompson 38 GLASGOW’S Champions Cup hopes […]

Baxter: We must be ready for war

17 December 2023 0 comments

■By MARK STEVENS PREVIEW… Exeter v Munster Today, kick-off 1pm Sandy Park Delight: Exeter celebrate their last-gasp win in Toulon PICTURE: Alamy ROB Baxter this […]

Sale give Leinster plenty of problems

17 December 2023 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Leinster……………………….. 37pts Tries: van der Flier 40, Gibson-Park 43, Henshaw 57, Baird 62, Healy 70 Conversions: Frawley 57, 63, Prendergast 71 Penalties: […]

Ringrose relieved to get win

17 December 2023 0 comments

LEINSTER joint captain Garry Ringrose was relieved to get the win after being forced to dig deeper than anticipated. “We are delighted to get five […]

La Rochelle beaten again as Libbok lands 81st-minute conversion

17 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Stormers………..21pts Tries: Loader 52, Venter 79 Conversions: Libbok 81 Penalties: Libbok 36, 41, 44 La Rochelle……20pts Tries: Kerr-Barlow 7, Tanga 46 Conversions: […]

Rogerson is aiming to shine in Paris

17 December 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN FLANKER Matt Rogerson has re-found his love for rugby at Leicester Tigers after going through the turmoil of London Irish, and is […]

Toulouse’s victory over Quins is top of my list

17 December 2023 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS THE greatest single performance in the Heineken Cup? That’s a tricky one, there have been so many, but when pressed I normally opt […]

Ryan has to wise up and show respect

17 December 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Maybe one day James Ryan will find it in him to send a note of gratitude to […]

French giants are the ones to beat again, says O’Driscoll

17 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Three-time Champions Cup winner Brian O’Driscoll believes English sides will be up against it again in Europe this season when the tournament […]

Social media can hurt even the best

17 December 2023 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Last weekend saw some of the best rugby we have seen this season, including the World […]

Champions Cup round two Friday and Saturday preview

15 December 2023 0 comments

The 2023/24 Champions Cup began with a bang last weekend, showcasing thrilling moments and a remarkable start for English teams, as seven out of the […]

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Sunday round-up

11 December 2023 0 comments

Sunday saw a fourth meeting in as many seasons of La Rochelle and Leinster in the Champions Cup, with their last two clashes both having […]

Quins stun Racing in Paris thriller

10 December 2023 0 comments

Racing 92…………………………….28 Tries: Le Garrec 15, 42; Gibert 40, Diallo 58 Conversions: Le Garrec 16, 40+1, 43, 59 Harlequins…………………………..31 Tries: Smith 22, Esterhuizen 25, Dombrandt […]

French power will be so tough to overcome

10 December 2023 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK English clubs are up against it in the Champions Cup because they are competing against French clubs which […]

Saracens make it too easy for Bulls

10 December 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bulls …………………………….. 27pts Tries: Kriel 2, Swanepoel 39, Moodie 48 Conversions: Daly 61, McFarland 71 Goosen 3, 39, 49 Penalties: Saracens ……………………… […]

Ice-cool Sheedy the hero for Bears

10 December 2023 0 comments

By TOM BRADSHAW Bristol ………………………….. 36pts Tries: Lane 5, Luatua 23, Thacker 30, Randall 48, Oghre 53 Conversions: Sheedy 6, 24, 31, 49 Drop goals: […]

Rampant Bath storm to the winning post

10 December 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bath ……………………………… 37pts Tries: Cokanasiga 27, 73; Dunn 45, du Toit 69, Gallagher 79 Conversions: Spencer 46, 70; Bailey 80 Penalties: Spencer […]

Seven-try Toulouse too swift for Cardiff

10 December 2023 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Toulouse …………………….. 52pts Tries: Lebel 5, Arnold 9, Kinghorn 26, 80; Jelonch 38, Retiere 46, Placines 70 Conversions: Ramos 6, 10, 27, […]

Slade leads Chiefs on smash and grab raid

10 December 2023 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Toulon ………………………….. 18pts Tries: Gigashvili 20, White 24 Conversion: Herve 21 Penalties: Herve 35, 38 Exeter …………………………… 19pts Tries: Skinner 16, Norey […]

Freeman double has Saints on the march

10 December 2023 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Glasgow……………………….. 19pts Tries: Cancelliere 4, Smith 68, Penalty 77 Conversions: Thompson 69 Northampton………………. 28pts Tries: Lawes 13, Freeman 20, 29 Conversions: Smith […]

Sorry to see European Champions Cup lose its shine

10 December 2023 0 comments

The quality of rugby union’s competitions is crucial to its future as a professional sport. However, what we are witnessing is gold standard club/provincial competitions […]

No room at the top for Welsh regions

10 December 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW AS Anglo-Welsh duels of the blood-and-guts variety go, one springs foremost to mind: a humdinger of a […]

Champions Cup round one Friday and Saturday preview

8 December 2023 0 comments

The 2023/24 Champions Cup kicks off this weekend, with England captain Owen Farrell set to return to action for Saracens for the first-time since announcing […]

Big clubs ready to rumble

3 December 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees looks forward to the Champions Cup, kicking off this weekend THE Champions Cup returns this week with a tweaked format that does away […]

“Shameful” – McCall blasts treatment of Farrell

30 November 2023 0 comments

Owen Farrell‘s club boss Mark McCall has described treatment of him as “shameful” and “not right” after the England captain announced he was taking a […]

Sexton escapes World Cup punishment in hearing

17 July 2023 0 comments

Johnny Sexton has been handed a three-match ban for his conduct after the European Champions Cup Final but will be available to play throughout the […]

McKellar’s tough opening with Tigers

16 July 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Dan McKellar has vowed to bring success to Leicester, but they will have to do it the hard way in the Heineken […]

Champions Cup fixtures

16 July 2023 0 comments

It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs … Continue reading… Access all our premium content from as little as 14p […]

Champions Cup draw suits Bears

25 June 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bristol Bears sneaked into the Champions Cup through the cat flap rather than the back door, but they will be more content […]

Series 2, Episode 24: European Cup format and reattempting an England XV

21 June 2023 0 comments

This week on the Rugby Paper Podcast, host Ollie Little is joined by columnists Brendan Gallagher, Nick Cain and Chris Hewett to discuss the format […]

Heineken pull plug on Europe

18 June 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON EXCLUSIVE Global brewing giants Heineken are to step down as title sponsors of rugby’s Champions Cup, leaving tournament organisers with a big […]