Champions Cup

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

O’Driscoll: Defeat was emotional

11 June 2023 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Leinster and Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll feels Leinster’s second-straight Champions Cup Final defeat to La Rochelle could “leave a mark”. O’Driscoll was […]

Leinster defeat in final a “body blow” – O’Driscoll

31 May 2023 0 comments

Leinster and Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll expressed immense sympathy for his former club’s defeat in the Champions Cup Final, and feels a second-straight showpiece defeat […]

O’Gara breaks Leinster hearts

21 May 2023 0 comments

La Rochelle retained the Champions Cup by breaking Leinster’s hearts for the second year running in a thrilling final in Dublin. Leo Cullen’s side opened […]

We’ll get over the line some day says Cullen

21 May 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Leinster head coach Leo Cullen feels they just need to continue putting themselves in the positions to win finals and they’ll eventually […]

Colombe try leaves the Aviva stunned

21 May 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Leinster……………………….. 26pts Tries: Danty 19, Seuteni 37, Colombe 71 Conversions: Hastoy 20, 38, 72 Penalties: Hastoy 42, 49 La Rochelle …………………. 27pts […]

European Champions Cup final preview

19 May 2023 0 comments

357 days and 62 matches later, the Heineken Champions Cup final is poised for a hugely-anticipated rematch as Leinster take on La Rochelle. This time […]

Bath battle back to grab elite spot

14 May 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES The final round of the regular Premiership season boiled down to who would claim England’s final place in next season’s Champions Cup. […]

Doris looking for revenge against La Rochelle

14 May 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Caelan Doris is hellbent on inflicting revenge on Saturday when Leinster meet La Rochelle in a re-run of last season’s Champions Cup […]

Series 2, Episode 17: Irish superiority in Europe with Stephen Ferris

1 May 2023 0 comments

In a blockbuster weekend of rugby, the Red Roses claimed the Grand Slam in a record-breaking decider at HQ, and La Rochelle and Leinster set […]

La Rochelle set up Leinster rematch with dominant Exeter win

30 April 2023 0 comments

By Nick Powell, Online Editor La Rochelle………………47 Tries: Rhule 9, 44; Seuteni 23, Aldritt 34, Kerr-Barlow 40, 68 Conversions: Hastoy 10, 24, 40+1, 45, 69 […]

Simmonds: We can take down holders

30 April 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Joe Simmonds is adamant Exeter Chiefs’ collective desire and mental steel can help them overcome the individual flair and brilliance of holders […]

Toulouse all at sea as Leinster take it

30 April 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster…………………………41pts Tries: Conan 16, 20; Sheehan 26, Van de Flier 57, Jenkins 63 Conversions: Byrne 17, 21, 27, 58, 64 Penalties: Byrne […]

Sio keen for Chiefs to go out on a high

30 April 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… La Rochelle v Exeter Today, kick-off 3pm Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux Having suffered heartache in his swansong appearance for the Brumbies, Scott […]

Welsh quartet deserve no favours

30 April 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON Cardiff lost 50 per cent of their matches in the URC and duly failed to finish in the Champions Cup qualifying zone. That […]

Champions Cup semi-final preview

28 April 2023 0 comments

The knockout stages of the Heineken Champions Cup have provided plenty of thrills already this season, but which of the four familiar semi-finalists will make […]

Wales face danger of no team in Heineken Champions Cup

23 April 2023 0 comments

EXCLUSIVE By JON NEWCOMBE Wales are in danger of not having any representation in the Heineken Champions Cup for the first time in history the […]

Sloppy Sarries dumped out by Kerr-Barlow brace

9 April 2023 0 comments

By Nick Powell, Online Editor La Rochelle……………….24 Tries: Kerr-Barlow 34, 59 Conversions: Hastoy 35 Penalties: Hastoy 2, 5, 24, 68 Saracens……………….10 Tries: Mawi 65 Conversions: […]

Baxter’s rebuilding mission

9 April 2023 0 comments

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says he is aiming to build a side that will be dominant for the next five years. The Chiefs have signed […]

Rampant Chiefs demolish Stormers

9 April 2023 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR Exeter ………………………….. 42pts Tries: Wyatt 13, Nowell 21, Woodburn 29, S Simmonds 45, Yeandle 73, Cairns 78 Conversions: Simmonds 14, 21, 30, […]

Irish galacticos on song as Leicester are sent packing

9 April 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster……………………….. 55pts Tries: Ringrose 2, 16; Gibson-Park 52, Penalty 55, Penny 61, O’Brien 71, McKee 79 Conversions: Byrne 3, 17, 53, 62, […]

Toulouse hit the turbos to cruise clear of Sharks

9 April 2023 0 comments

By CAM STEPHENS Toulouse …………………. 54pts Tries: Mallia 35, 56, Ramos 47, 72; Mauvaka 68, Retiere 75, Ntamack 78 Conversions: Ramos 47, 70, 73, 77, […]

Itoje sets sights on toppling champions

9 April 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… La Rochelle v Saracens Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stade Marcel-Deflandre Visit infinitysportstravel.com to view our packages or call us on 0203 725 […]

O’Gara turning to Seuteni to plug gaps

9 April 2023 0 comments

Champions Cup holders La Rochelle have looked to strengthen their midfield to face Saracens after bringing in UJ Seuteni at outside centre channel. Raymond Rhule […]

Countries now battling to find their place in a new world order

9 April 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees sees the Heineken Champions Cup growing in size but wonders whether that is making things better The Heineken Champions Cup has become bigger. […]

Cup rugby needs an injection of jeopardy

9 April 2023 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT The Heineken Cup, as we knew and loved it when Friday nights at Sardis Road and Saturday afternoons at Thomond Park were almost […]

Heineken Champions Cup Quarter-Final Preview

7 April 2023 0 comments

We’re down to the final eight as the Champions Cup enters the quarter-finals stage. Three English sides, two French, two South African and one Irish […]

Prem will keep its eight clubs in Europe

2 April 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES The Gallagher Premiership will continue to supply eight clubs to the Heineken Champions Cup next season despite two of their number folding […]

Gloucester so close to stunning triumph

2 April 2023 1 comment

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER La Rochelle …………………. 29pts Tries: Bourgarit 21, Thomas 25, 77; Kerr Barlow 45 Conversions: Hastoy 23, 46, 79 Penalties: Hastoy 5 Gloucester […]

‘I’m very proud – and gutted’

2 April 2023 0 comments

Gloucester coach George Skivington had nothing but praise for his team after their narrow loss to reigning European champions La Rochelle. “I can only be […]

Too little, too late as Quins wilt in the sun

2 April 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Stormers……………………… 32pts Tries: Fourie 1, 28; Kitshoff 8, Willemse 47, Engelbrecht 74 Conversions: Libbock 2, 76 Penalties: Libbock 55 Harlequins ………………….. 28pts […]

Matson: We were not at our best

2 April 2023 0 comments

Tabai Matson refused to blame the South African heat for Quins’ latest Champions Cup demise. “We’ve been here all week, acclimatising and were fit enough,” […]

Leinster get the job done against Northern rivals

2 April 2023 0 comments

By KEVIN FALLON Leinster…………………………30pts Tries: Baird 19, Gibson-Park 54, Porter 63 Conversions: R Byrne 19, 55, 64 Penalties: R Byrne 12, 25, 37 Ulster ……………………………. […]

Poor discipline bites Munster in Shark tank

2 April 2023 0 comments

By TOM SHEEDY Sharks ………….50pts Tries: Mbonambi 45, 49, Hendrikse 17, Etzebeth 25, Kok 54, Bosch 58, Mapimpio 64 Conversions: Bosch 18, 26, 46, 55, […]

Wiese comes to the rescue for Leicester

2 April 2023 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester ………………………16pts Tries: Wiese 51 Conversions: Pollard 51 Penalties: Pollard 4, 59, 70 Edinburgh………………………. 6pts Penalties: Boffelli 42, 50 Jasper Wiese made […]

Heineken Champions Cup Last 16 Preview

31 March 2023 0 comments

For the first time in the tournament’s history, the Champions Cup will see one-off Last 16 games played to decide who progresses to the quarter-finals. […]

Saracens sweat on Farrell for Euro clash

26 March 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES England captain Owen Farrell is a doubt for Saracens in the last 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup against the Ospreys next […]

French fade away as Champions Cup heads to the business stage

29 January 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES The Heineken Champions Cup is still occasionally referred to as Europe, but the presence of three South African franchises has transformed the […]

Quins back to their best to maul Sharks

22 January 2023 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Harlequins ………………….. 39pts Tries: Care 5, Dombrandt 8, Murley 17, Lewies 42, David 51 Conversions: Smith 6, 9, 18, 52 Penalties: Smith […]

Matson: Great feeling to win again

22 January 2023 2 comments

Quins coach Tabai Matson was a relieved man as his side showed their true selves and won for the first time since December 18. The […]

Chiefs are grateful for home comforts

22 January 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Exeter Chiefs ……………… 40pts Tries: Slade 28 Penalty 36, 72; S Simmonds 52, Nowell 77, Tshiunza 80 Conversions: Slade 29, Slade 53, […]

Woodburn wants to win it for his mates

22 January 2023 0 comments

Man of the match Olly Woodburn wants to make this year special with so many of his friends set to leave Exeter in the summer. […]

Two sent off adds to misery for Saints

22 January 2023 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Northampton ……………….. 13pts Tries: James 54 Conversions: Smith 54 Penalties: Smith 12, 46 La Rochelle ………………….. 31pts Tries: Botia 27, Brettes 49, […]

We weren’t ruthless enough out there, complains O’Gara

22 January 2023 1 comment

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara wasn’t happy with his side’s performance. He said: “When they went down to 14, we became involved in an […]

Twelvetrees cuts through the noise

22 January 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Bordeaux-Begles ……….. 17pts Tries: Gimbert 14, Boniface 50 Conversions: Jallibert 15, 51 Penalty: Jallibert 2 Gloucester ………………….. 26pts Tries: McGuigan 22, 64, […]

‘To come here and win is massive’

22 January 2023 1 comment

George Skivington hailed Gloucester’s rare victory in France as a big step forward as his injury ravaged side recovered from last week’s home thumping by […]

Drama as Williams steals it at the last

22 January 2023 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Leicester …………………….. 26pts Tries: van Poortvliet 15, Simmons 48 Conversions: Pollard 15, 48 Penalties: Pollard 3, 19, 67, 69 Ospreys ……………………….. 27pts […]

Booth: Stressful and amazing

22 January 2023 0 comments

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth praised the superb entertainment on offer. “I didn’t think the drama of last week’s win could be bettered but it […]

Stylish Lyon put Bulls to bed

22 January 2023 0 comments

■By BEN JAYCOCK Lyon …………….. 31 Bulls ………………. 7 LYON produced a sensational performance to defeat a tired-looking Bulls on Friday night and put themselves […]

All over for Sale as Ulster prove worth

22 January 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Ulster …………………………… 22pts Tries: Lyttle 19, Herring 64, Vermeulen 76 Conversions: Cooney 65, 78 Penalties: Doak 38 Sale ………………………………. 11pts Tries: B […]

Sarries set for a battle of the stars

22 January 2023 0 comments

PREVIEW… Edinburgh v Saracens Today. Kick-off 5.30pm, DAM Health Stadium By JON NEWCOMBE Proud: Alex Lozowski makes his 150th appearance for Saracens PICTURES: Getty Images […]

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