Challenge Cup - News, reports, analysis and opinion

Tag: Challenge Cup

Channelling Teams of the Past: Derby Day Delight and Cup Dreams for Heol-y-Cyw

19 December 2024 0 comments

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports “There is only one way to succeed at anything: to give everything.” This powerful statement from Heol-y-Cyw captain Jordan Hawkins […]

My main priority is to help Bath win a trophy, says Miles Reid

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe An in-house club quiz hit home to Bath’s players just how long it has been since the club were crowned champions of […]

Lions outlast Pau in 80-point thriller

15 December 2024 0 comments

The Lions got off the mark in the Challenge Cup with a win against Section Paloise in a 10-try thriller that was twice delayed due […]

Off-target Gloucester get lesson in finishing

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Luke Jarmyn Vannes………………………….. 43pts Tries: Benmegal 2, 46; Ruru 4, 10; Chateau 65, Blanchard 70 Conversions: Lafage 3, 5, 47, 66, 71 Penalty: Lafage […]

We were a bit Keystone Kops against Pau – Diamond

15 December 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Newcastle v Dragons Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, Kingston Park NEWCASTLE are aiming for their fifth straight home victory when they welcome the […]

Ospreys crash to earth

15 December 2024 0 comments

■ By SIMON THOMAS Montpellier ……………. 59pts Tries: Martins 11, DuGuid 15, Uelese 29, Coly 37, Akrab 43, Moustin 52, Cadot 54, Forletta 62, Tambwe […]

Old pros who say it like it is

15 December 2024 0 comments

HIGHLIGHTS of the latest round of Champions League football ran for 80 minutes on BBC1 last Wednesday. Contrast that to the terrestrial TV coverage for […]

Darge: We’re all set for Toulon challenge

15 December 2024 0 comments

■By BRYN PALMER Hopeful: Rory Darge in action for Glasgow PICTURES: Getty Images SCOTLAND flanker Rory Darge believes Glasgow’s 2023 Challenge Cup final defeat by […]

Montpellier are pushed all the way by Dragons

8 December 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Dragons …………. 14pts Tries: Basham 26, O’Brien 40 Conversions: O’Brien 27, 40 Montpellier ….. 18pts Tries: Tambwe 13, Tauleigne 21 Conversion: Barreau […]

Morgan returns to boost Ospreys

8 December 2024 0 comments

Preview Ospreys v Lions By BEN JAYCOCK Today. 3.15pm WINGER Keelan Giles brings up a century of Ospreys appearances today as his side welcome South […]

We are going to have a real go at Pau, says Diamond

8 December 2024 0 comments

PREVIEW… By PAUL REES Ospreys v Lions Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stade du Hameau STEVE Diamond has picked a strong side for today’s Challenge Cup clash […]

Gloucester on a roll after standing up to Edinburgh

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Luke Jarmyn Gloucester ……… 15pts Tries: Blake 10, Tuisue 64 Conversion: Carreras 11 Penalty: Carreras 45 Edinburgh ……….. 10pts Try: Goosen 36 Conversion: Thompson […]

Sherratt throws Emanuel in at the deep end

8 December 2024 0 comments

■ By ROB COLE STEFF Emanuel became the most high profile graduate of Super Rygbi Cymru when he made his senior debut for Cardiff in […]

Ghezal’s job is to drag Lyon out of a hole

8 December 2024 0 comments

GOOD news has been hard to come by at Top 14 strugglers Lyon in recent weeks. Last Saturday’s defeat at Pau, which saw them drop […]

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. […]

Thomas ready for Edinburgh clash

1 December 2024 0 comments

■By GARY FITZGERALD FRESH from his dream Wales debut, Freddie Thomas has set his sights on helping Gloucester conquer Europe. The second row enjoyed a […]

Skivington: We will recover from big defeat

24 November 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES GLOUCESTER return on Saturday to Northampton for the first time since suffering their heaviest Premiership defeat six months ago, looking for points […]

Lawrence Dallaglio: It will take brains to beat Springboks

10 November 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Lawrence Dallaglio has warned England they need brains and not just brawn to beat world champions South Africa at Twickenham next weekend. […]

Dream Team – Kyle Dench

6 October 2024 0 comments

Kyle Dench, the Otley head coach and former player, who also played centre for Harrogate, Yorkshire & England Counties, chooses the best XV he has […]

Val Rapava-Ruskin adds to Gloucester’s injury problems

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock George Skivington has been dealt a major early season blow as he looks to right the wrongs of the past few seasons […]

I came on against Italy and made a difference – Lee Dickson

29 September 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby – Lee Dickson Enjoying life: Lee Dickson playing for Northampton Saints PICTURES: Getty Images Lee Dickson the former England, Newcastle, Northampton […]

George Skivington keen to build identity

15 September 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Gloucester won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on […]

Classy Darcy wings in for Edinburgh on return from injury

15 September 2024 0 comments

■ By GARY STONE Edinburgh………33pts Tries: Graham 6, Bradbury 31, Vellacott 38, Dodd 42, Cherry 53 Conversions: Thompson 31, 38, Healy 42, 53 Gloucester …….26pts […]

Why are Ospreys letting Booth go?

15 September 2024 0 comments

TOBY Booth achieved more, far more than any other coach in Wales last season. While all around followed the example set by the national team […]

It’s an honour to sign for Cardiff-Mulder

8 September 2024 0 comments

■ By SIMON THOMAS SOUTH African scrum-half Johan Mulder says he is shocked and honoured to have been signed up by Cardiff. The 25-year-old has […]

Am I planning to hang up my boots? Hell, no!

1 September 2024 0 comments

MY LIFE IN RUGBY ALUN WALKER THE CHINNOR HOOKER, FORMERLY OF EALING, NEWCASTLE, NOTTINGHAM, EDINBURGH & SCOTLAND U20s IHAD a bad injury at the start […]

I want that winner’s medal this time around

25 August 2024 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to Bath back rower Miles Reid as he prepares for the new Prem season Miles Reid is saving space on his mantlepiece […]

Premier Sports to cover Champions Cup

18 August 2024 0 comments

THE Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will be shown on Premier Sports in the UK next season, with tournament organisers EPCR agreeing a three-year deal with the subscription channel.

Julian Salvi relishing his role as Georgia defence coach

4 August 2024 0 comments

Julian Salvi has never been one to shy away from a good challenge. Now he is relishing his job as Georgia’s defence coach.

Cardiff sign another scrum-half in Johan Mulder

4 August 2024 0 comments

Cardiff have announced the signing of 24-year-old South African scrum-half Johan Mulder from fellow United Rugby Championship side the Lions.

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 […]

Ex-England centre calls time on career

30 June 2024 0 comments

FORMER England playmaker Billy Twelvetrees has retired at the age of 35 after helping Ealing Trail-finders lift the Championship crown. The Gloucester legend played at […]

Cheika knows he will be judged on results

30 June 2024 0 comments

Leicester were once a byword for stability. Like Liverpool FC, they had a reputation for promoting from within and benefiting from a boot room that […]

Gloucesterer are facing a defining season

30 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS AT THE CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR COACH GEORGE SKIVINGTON AND CEO ALEX BROWN AT KINGSHOLM Gloucester marked their 150th anniversary last season. Celebrated […]

I was offered a NFL trial but it was too big a risk

23 June 2024 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY IAN DAVEY THE FORMER BATH, BEDFORD, EL SALVADOR AND PERTEMPS BEES WINGER WHEN I was 16, in my first season for Colston’s, […]

Balmain agrees one-year deal with Saracens

16 June 2024 0 comments

NEWS EXTRA GLOUCESTER prop Fraser Balmain has moved to Saracens on a one-year contract. The experienced 32-year-old has played 231 matches for Gloucester and Leicester. […]

Steward: Sinfield has given me belief

9 June 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Freddie Steward hopes to enjoy some Southern Hemisphere comfort after coming through what he admits has been one of the most “challenging” […]

I want to improve and be best 9 in the world

9 June 2024 0 comments

Matthew Luddington talks to Gloucester and Italy scrum-half Stephen Varney following his eye-catching campaign Stephen Varney has truly had a breakthrough season. The 23-year-old scrum-half […]

Rugby union and league unite to pay tribute to Rob Burrow

4 June 2024 0 comments

English rugby union will unite with the Rugby Football League and pay tribute to Rob Burrow with a round of applause in the seventh minute […]

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 […]

Clarke confident Gloucester can put the bad times behind them

2 June 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Gloucester will have regrets for their disappointing season that saw the Cherry & Whites finish second bottom in the Premiership for a […]

Gloucester put faith in ‘some old heads’

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES It was typical of Gloucester’s season – make that the last couple – that when they came up against a front five […]

Leinster stalwart Rhys Ruddock to retire at end of season

28 May 2024 0 comments

Leinster back rower Rhys Ruddock has confirmed he will retire from rugby at the end of the season after a decorated 15 seasons at the […]

Ludlow: Sharks took it to Test level

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Gloucester captain Lewis Ludlow was dejected after the defeat to the Sharks in the Challenge Cup final but is proud of his […]

Gloucester can’t live with Sharks

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Gloucester ………………….. 22pts Tries: Tuisue 58, Socino 76, Clarke 79 Conversions: Hastings 58, 77 Penalties: Englefield 23 Sharks …………………………. 36pts Tries: Buthelezi […]

Good to see the winners party like they meant it

26 May 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER Well it was good to see the Sharks celebrate on Friday night like the European Challenge Cup really meant something to them because, […]

Try tsunami sends a mixed message

26 May 2024 0 comments

Peter Jackson looks at an increase in points scored but suggests the figures may be hiding a problem for the Premiership. Over the last seven […]

Collier fits the bill for NZ challenge

26 May 2024 0 comments

READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK England finished the Six Nations with a resurgence, but their next destination, New Zealand, is usually a Red Rose […]