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_name] => Champions Cup [league_logo_id] => 0 [league_logo_url] => [parent_league_id] => 0 [wp_league_id] => 47 )

Bath

Bordeaux

Bulls

Castres

Clermont

Edinburgh

Exeter

Glasgow

Gloucester

Harlequins

La Rochelle

Leinster

Lyon

Montpellier

Northampton

Ospreys

Racing 92

Sale

Saracens

Sharks

Ulster

A red for Slade but Chiefs in good shape

15 January 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Blue Bulls ……………………. 39pts Tries: Louw 15, Kriel 24, Vermaak 36, Simelane 42 , 70; Grobbelaar 51 Conversions: Smith 15, 43, Goosen […]

Daly shows his class as Saracens run riot

15 January 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Saracens …………………….. 48pts Tries: Lozowski 10, Daly 16, 18, 23; Riccioni 32, Christie 35, Earl 80 Conversions: Goode 11, 17, 20, 35, […]

Champions Cup Friday and Saturday preview

13 January 2023 0 comments

It’s an incredibly busy Friday and Saturday in the Heineken Champions Cup, with nine fixtures over the next two days as the teams tee up […]

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter

Baxter: We’ll go in hard against Bulls

8 January 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Exeter will be at full strength next weekend when they face the Bulls in Pretoria as they look to clinch a home […]

Why it’s time for a world in union

31 December 2022 0 comments

Paul Rees says this season’s Heineken Champions Cup highlights the need for a Global, joined up season Nothing highlights the need for a joined up, […]

Imitation games are so sad for real fans

23 December 2022 1 comment

By Peter Jackson Once upon a time, the Heineken Cup was so good that there were weekends when it surpassed the Six Nations as a […]

Harlequins battle hard to edge 14-man Racing

18 December 2022 0 comments

Harlequins 14-10 Racing 92 Harlequins produced a spirited performance in dire conditions to earn an important win against Racing 92. Quins led early as hooker […]

Sharks look for repeat performance over Toulouse

18 December 2022 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Fully fit: Sale’s Akker van der Merwe in action Akker van der Merwe admits Sale Sharks will have to redouble their efforts […]

Furbank ready for Munster challenge

18 December 2022 1 comment

By PAUL REES George Furbank does not yet know who he has to impress to make England’s Six Nations squad after the sacking of head […]

Harlequins in the mood to gain revenge against Racing

18 December 2022 2 comments

By PAUL REES It feels like a new club: Quins coach Nick Evans The last time Harlequins faced Racing 92 at The Stoop, they suffered […]

Creevy hit with four-week ban

18 December 2022 2 comments

London Irish hooker Agustin Creevy has received a four-week ban following his red card in the Champions Cup defeat by Montpellier last Friday. Argentine Creevy […]

Cowan-Dickie puts Chiefs in command

18 December 2022 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR Exeter…………………………… 44pts Tries: Ewers 11, Cowan-Dickie 16, 30, 46, Slade 36, Kata 56 Conversions: J Simmonds 11, 30, 36, 46 Penalties: J […]

Hepher excited by new wave

18 December 2022 0 comments

Exeter head coach Ali Hepher is “excited” to see his new wave of young prospects like Sam Maunder, Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tsiunza making their […]

Coach McFarland left to wonder as Ulster show true grit to give La Rochelle a scare

18 December 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Ulster………………29pts Tries: Henderson 43, Cooney 59, Vermeulen 63, Stewart 75 Conversions: Cooney 44, 60, 75 Penalties: Cooney 80 La Rochelle…….36pts Tries: Dulin […]

Atkinson on target to steer Leicester home

18 December 2022 2 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester……………………… 23pts Tries: Wiese 18, Montoya 26 Conversions: Atkinson 18, 26 Penalties: Atkinson 37, 51, 69 Clermont……………………….. 16pts Tries: Bezy 79 Conversions: […]

Borthwick just won’t talk about England

18 December 2022 0 comments

Leicester boss Steve Borthwick gave the clearest public hint afterwards that he could be on the way to join England very soon. Borthwick refused to […]

Lyon pushed aside as Sarries march on

18 December 2022 0 comments

By PAUL REES Lyon………………………………..20pts Tries: Kaabèche 27, 32; Smith 41 Conversions: Smith 42 Penalties: Smith 65 Saracens……………………… 28pts Tries: George 13, Earl 20, Maitland 54 […]

Winning in France is huge – George

18 December 2022 0 comments

Jamie George was proud of the character shown to secure the win despite going down to 14 men. “We’re happy with the result, that’s all […]

Stormers keep Irish on the back foot

18 December 2022 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Stormers………………………. 34pts Tries: Englebrecht 8 Dayimini 41, Zas 45, Pokomeal 80+1 Conversions: Libbok 9, 42, 46, 80+2 Penalties: Libbok 39, 60 London […]

Captain Rogerson: We’re disappointed to come up short

18 December 2022 1 comment

London Irish captain Matt Rogerson is taking the positives from their defeat to the Stormers. “There’s a lot of good stuff in there,” he said. […]

Famous win puts an end to Ospreys Euro drought

18 December 2022 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Montpellier….. 10pts Tries: Paenga-Amosa 55 Conversions: Carbonel 56 Penalties: Carbonel 4 Ospreys…………. 21pts Tries: Parry 20, K Williams 31, Morris 61 Conversions: […]

Weakened Gloucester hammered by Leinster

18 December 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Leinster…………….57pts Tries: Lowe 12, 54; van der Flier 17, Kelleher 25, 40; Ryan 36, McGrath 46, Larmour 75, Doris 80 Conversions: R […]

Edinburgh front up to keep their hopes alive

18 December 2022 1 comment

By BRYN PALMER Edinburgh………. 31pts Tries: Mata 19, Pen try 36, Savala 47, Vellacott 65 Conversions: Boffelli 19, 48, 66 Penalties: Boffelli 76 Castres…………… 20pts […]

Bosch keeps Sharks on track

18 December 2022 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Bordeaux……… 16 Sharks………….. 19 Curwin Bosch scored 14 points as the Sharks dug deep to see off Bordeaux Begles to make it […]

Six of the best for super Sale

11 December 2022 0 comments

Sale Sharks……………..39 Tries: Curry 15, D Du Preez 21, R Du Preez 48, Curtis 64, McGuigan 70, Reed 77 Conversions: D Du Preez 22, 65, […]

James has sights set on success in Europe

11 December 2022 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Having reached the quarter-finals in the first two seasons of Alex Sanderson’s tenure as DoR, Sale Sharks are hellbent on going even […]

Chiefs find their form to blast out a Euro warning

11 December 2022 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Castres………………………….. 12pts Penalties: Dumora 22, 30, 34, 40 Exeter…………………………… 27pts Tries: S Simmonds 19, Ewers 27, Maunder 44, Woodburn 60 Conversions: J […]

Leinster smash Racing and prepare for Gloucester duel

11 December 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Racing…………… 10pts Tries: Wade 74 Conversions: Russell 75 Penalties: Russell 25 Leinster………… 42pts Tries: Porter 3, Sheehan 32, Ringrose 37, van der […]

Battling Quins can’t survive in Shark Tank

11 December 2022 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Sharks………………………….. 39pts Tries: Mbonambi 11, Mapimpi 17, 27; Kok 50, Chamberlain 78 Conversions: Bosch: 12, 18, 51, 80 Penalties: Bosch 16, 62 […]

Plisson has the drop on Stormers to steer Clermont home

11 December 2022 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK Clermont………. 24pts Tries: Newsome 46, Raka 62 Conversions: Plisson 48 Penalties: Plisson 17, 54, 73 Drop-goal: Plisson 70 Stormers……….. 14pts Tries: Fourie […]

Chapman comes on to break the gloom

11 December 2022 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester…….22pts Tries: Varney 24, Tuisue 63, Socino 68, Chapman 76 Conversions: Carreras 76 Bordeaux………. 17pts Tries: Falatea 2, Willis 38 Conversions: Holmes […]

We’re back right where we want to be – McCall

11 December 2022 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Preview Saracens v Edinburgh Today. Kick-off 3.15 Last proper hit out: Ben Earl scores in win over Northampton in November Sarries DoR […]

Creevy’s red puts Irish on back foot

11 December 2022 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING London Irish…….27pts Tries: Gonzalez 25, 37; Cinti 30 Conversions: Jackson 25, 30, 37 Penalties: Jackson 9, Jennings 78 Montpellier……..32pts Tries: Reinach 40, […]

England stars are back in

11 December 2022 0 comments

Preview Sale v Ulster Today. Kick-off 1pm SALE welcome back four England players for Ulster’s visit to the AJ Bell Stadium in their Pool B […]

Borthwick keeps his focus on Tigers task

11 December 2022 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD Preview Ospreys v Leicester Today. Kick-off 5.30pm STEVE Borthwick pushed aside thoughts on his own coaching future to warn his Tigers of […]

Lewies: Quins up for Tank challenge

4 December 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Stephan Lewies is convinced the “world class attack and spine” at Harlequins puts them in prime shape to be finally crowned champions […]

Pollard on hunt for game’s top trophies

4 December 2022 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Handre Pollard plans to use his Tigers stripes to go club trophy hunting and also put him in perfect shape to help […]

Penxe out to put the heat on Harlequins

4 December 2022 0 comments

Yaw Penxe intends to use his blistering pace and dancing feet on the European stage to put Harlequins in a spin when Sharks become the […]

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup fixture lists: Premiership sides set to head to South Africa

21 July 2022 0 comments

The round-by-round fixtures for the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup tournament have been announced. Teams were split into four tiers for […]

European draws set for 28 June

20 June 2022 0 comments

The pool draws for the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup tournaments will be held at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on 28 June, EPCR confirmed […]

Five South African clubs enter Europe next season

2 June 2022 1 comment

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup organisers have announced five South African club sides will play in European competition next season. The Stormers, Bulls and Sharks, […]

La Rochelle keep their cool to rule in Europe

29 May 2022 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster…………..21pts Penalties: Sexton 5, 8, 22, 40+1, 47, 57 R Byrne 65 La Rochelle ……24pts Tries: Rhule 10, Bourgarit 60, Retiere […]

Leinster’s Tadhg Furlong and James Lowe fit for Champions Cup final against La Rochelle

27 May 2022 0 comments

Leinster’s Tadhg Furlong and James Lowe have been passed fit to start Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup final against La Rochelle in Marseille. The pair’s fitness […]

Late Ihaia West try sends La Rochelle to Champions Cup final

15 May 2022 0 comments

A late Ihaia West try ended Racing 92’s stiff resistance as La Rochelle booked their place in a second successive Champions Cup final. Ronan O’Gara’s […]

Sexton leads the way as Leinster gun for fifth star

15 May 2022 1 comment

By JOHN FALLON Leinster …………40pts Tries: Lowe 15, 50; Van der Flier 20, Keenan 79 Conversions: Sexton 16, 21, 52; Byrne 80 Penalties: Sexton 5, […]

Alex Sanderson: Reduction of Premiership salary cap making it harder for English teams to compete in Europe

9 May 2022 0 comments

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson feels the reduction of the Premiership salary cap is making it harder for English teams to compete in […]

Finn Russell stars as Racing 92 overcome Sale Sharks to reach Champions Cup semis

8 May 2022 1 comment

Racing 92 (6) 41 Tries: Thomas, Russell, Imhoff, Spring Cons: Le Garrec 2, Machenaud Pens: Le Garrec 5 Sale Sharks (10) 22 Tries: Tuilagi, Van der Merwe, B Curry Cons: Du Preez 2 Pens: Du […]

Heartbreak for Munster as Toulouse keep their nerve in shootout

8 May 2022 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Munster ………… 24pts Tries: Kendellen 10, Earls 39, Haley 44 Conversions: Carbery 11, 40, 45 Penalties: Carbery 57 Toulouse ….. …..24pts Tries: […]

Smith’s miss leaves Quins a point short

17 April 2022 1 comment

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins ……..33pts Tries: Jones 1, Dombrandt 16, Marchant 29, Lynagh 38, 75 Conversions: Smith 2, 17, 30, 39 Montpellier ……20pts Tries: […]