Champions Cup

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

Montpellier will be a tough challenge for us, says Basham

22 January 2023 0 comments

PREVIEW… Montpellier v London Irish Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stadium Altrad By PAUL REES JOSH Basham put his rugby career on hold to study for a […]

O’Brien double as Leinster top pool

22 January 2023 2 comments

Leinster…………36pts Tries: O’Brien 14, 73; Keenan 52, 69, van der Flier 65, Ringrose 80 Conversions: R Byrne 15, 69, H Byrne 80 Racing 92 …….. […]

Champions Cup Friday and Saturday preview: Final Round

20 January 2023 0 comments

It’s the final round of the 2022/23 Champions Cup group stages, and though half of the sides in the last 16 have already been settled, […]

Season 2 Episode 2 – Eddie’s back, England’s squad and Gus Warr on the Champions Cup

17 January 2023 0 comments

Eddie Jones is back in green and gold! The Jones saga takes yet another turn as he replaces Dave Rennie at Australia‘s helm. Host Ollie […]

Classy Leinster put Gloucester to sword

15 January 2023 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ……………………14pts Tries: Penalty 25, 64 Leinster……………………….. 49pts Tries: Larmour 4, Ala’alatoa 11, Osborne 27, Doris 40, Keenan 46, van der Flier […]

Osborne starting to show his worth

15 January 2023 0 comments

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen hailed the performance of young centre, Jamie Osborne, who is destined to be a star of the future. “He has […]

Wiese red puts Sale on the back foot

15 January 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Sale ………………………………… 5pts Tries: van der Merwe 12 Toulouse …………………….. 27pts Tries: Meafou 69, Cramont 71 Conversions: Jaminet 70 Penalties: Jaminet 25, […]

Sharks facing big test in Ulster

15 January 2023 0 comments

Alex Sanderson said Sale would need to match the pride he expects from Ulster when they travel to Belfast next Saturday for a match they […]

Munster hold off Saints revival

15 January 2023 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Munster ………………………. 27pts Tries: Coombes 9, 29; O’Donoghue 20 Conversions: Carbery 10, 21, 30 Penalties: Carbery 2, 75 Northampton ………………. 23pts Tries: […]

Ludlam: We have to bring higher intensity from the start

15 January 2023 0 comments

Northampton flanker Lewis Ludlam was proud of his side’s fightback after giving Munster a 24-0 headstart. “We probably felt the pressure was off a bit […]

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 […]

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 […]

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