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Tag: Champions Cup

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, […]

Talk of jeopardy is wide of the mark

26 May 2024 0 comments

THINKING ALLOWED It happened during the early stages of the 2003 World Cup in Australia, when two of the union game’s leading administrators – Syd […]

Fantastic four face final tests

26 May 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS FORWARD TO THE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS: NORTHAMPTON v SARACENS AND BATH v SALE NORTHAMPTON The Saints finished at the top of the […]

Young guns who are shining for the Chiefs

26 May 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to Exeter DoR Rob Baxter to find out how his investment in homegrown talent is paying off at 9 and 10 Exeter […]

Poor defence cost us, admits Wilson

26 May 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson has admitted poor defence cost them a place in the play-offs after a disappointing end to the […]

Zebo calls time

26 May 2024 0 comments

Munster flyer Simon Zebo will retire at the end of the season. The 34-year-old was capped 35 times by Ireland, helping his country win the […]

Resting players for big games isn’t on

26 May 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN – A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME It was just a couple of weeks ago that certain people were up in arms […]

Champions Cup Final Preview – Europe’s best set to provide fireworks

24 May 2024 0 comments

European rugby‘s two most successful sides battle it out for Champions Cup glory as Leinster face Toulouse in the final on Saturday afternoon at Tottenham […]

Series 3, Episode 39: Gordon D’Arcy – Champions Cup Final Preview

23 May 2024 0 comments

The highly-anticipated Champions Cup final takes place on Saturday afternoon with two European heavyweights, Leinster and Toulouse, set to provide a mouthwatering end to the […]

Challenge Cup Final Preview – More than just a trophy on the line

23 May 2024 0 comments

The final fixture of the EPCR Challenge Cup takes place on Friday night, with Gloucester and the Sharks both desperate to put a shine on […]

Williams is still the centre of attention

19 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES When Bristol signed Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Virimi Vakatawa last year to boost their midfield, few would have picked James Williams […]

Fighting back from hip injury was my biggest success – Devoto

19 May 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Centre stage: Ollie Devoto playing for Exeter Ollie Devoto has enjoyed many a triumph with Exeter over the years, but he insists […]

Hendy: We want special send off for top Saints

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Northampton flyer George Hendy has enjoyed a breakthrough year with the table toppers and while the likes of Saracens insist they won’t […]

Ex-Wasps buzzing for European glory

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Thibaud Flament has risen from Loughborough University’s fifth team to become a French international with the intention of next weekend becoming a […]

Iceman Cooney lands late killer blow for Ulster

19 May 2024 0 comments

By JIM SHORT Ulster …………… 23 Leinster……….. 21 John Cooney was the hero when his last-minute penalty secured victory for Ulster in a cracking Irish […]

Libbok books spot in play-offs

19 May 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Connacht …….. 12 Stormers………. 16 Connacht coach Pete Wilkins lamented his side’s failure to fire a shot in a must-win clash against […]

Too many coaches taking liberties in selection

19 May 2024 0 comments

It should not be difficult to distinguish between a Premiership rugby match and a game of county cricket: one, full of nuance and subtlety, lasts […]

‘We have to manage load’

19 May 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES EXAMINES THE FALLOUT FROM GLOUCESTER’S 90-0 HIDING BY NORTHAMPTON SAINTS George Skivington has had better weeks. He knew his decision to field a […]

Cup final is genuine clash of the giants

19 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Nearly half of the Champions Cup finals have involved Toulouse or Leinster, the two most successful sides in the competition, but Saturday […]

Dramatic finale puts Brive into play-offs

19 May 2024 0 comments

By JAMES HARRINGTON The ProD2 supplied a final glorious regular-season round for the ages in a perfectly timed reminder to broadcasters interested in bidding for […]

Vunipola trio to depart Saracens

14 May 2024 0 comments

Saracens players Billy, Mako and Manu Vunipola are to leave the North London club at the end of the current campaign. The trio have amassed […]

‘Play big matches at neutral venues’

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Danny Wilson’s has backed calls to play Champions Cup semi-finals at a neutral venue after Toulouse and Leinster enjoyed home city advantage […]

New-boy Roots has his eye on NZ return

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES One of England’s Test debutants this year has a big incentive to make the summer tour to New Zealand – he would […]

Game in England is good, says Ford

12 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES George Ford feels English rugby is on the up after a testing couple of years on and off the field and has […]

Graham: Guys were in tears after that defeat but we’ll fight back

12 May 2024 0 comments

Sam Graham believes Northampton can turn the heartache of losing last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-final to their advantage as they set their sights on the […]

Warning for Vunipola but Sarries carry on as usual

12 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK BILLY Vunipola put his club Saracens through a PR disaster when he was arrested in Mallorca but director of rugby Mark McCall […]

Courtney is so good, both on and off the pitch

12 May 2024 0 comments

CREDIT where it’s due for the Saints’ own Courtney Lawes. For such a big fella he consistently tackles low, plays a strong game and holds […]

Superior Saints go on 14-try rampage

12 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Northampton………………..90pts Tries: Furbank 1, Dingwall 12, Sleightholme 21, 56, 66; Langdon 27, 35; Mitchell 39, Waller 47, Matavesi 50, 78; Iyogun 53, […]

Russell masterclass has Bath in top gear

12 May 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Newcastle……………………. 17pts Tries: Blamire 30, 40+2, Stuart 63 Conversions: Connon 64 Bath ……………………………… 28pts Tries: du Toit 4, Spencer 13, Cokanasiga 27, […]

Leinster get in the mood for a double triumph

12 May 2024 0 comments

Leinster ……….. 61 Ospreys…………14 By SAM JACKSON JORDAN Larmour scored a hat-trick as Leinster showcased their credentials of a possible Champions Cup and URC double […]

Devoto calls it quits at Exeter

12 May 2024 0 comments

EXETER centre Ollie Devoto will leave the club at the end of the season. The 30-yearold has scored 21 tries in 127 appearances during an […]

Rugby’s holy trinity prove the difference

12 May 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED SINCE time immemorial, rugby has been cloaked in its own cliches: Prince Obolensky was always “dashing”; Colin Meads lived his life […]

Power of the four musketeers

12 May 2024 0 comments

A common theme of last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-finals was the influence of the four scrum-halves, the catalysts of teams that look to get the […]

I may sell Toulon for €1 – Lemaitre

12 May 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN A matter of weeks after ProD2 strugglers Biarritz were sold for €1, Toulon owner Bernard Lemaitre suggested he might be willing […]

Chessum out till next season in England and Tigers injury blow

9 May 2024 0 comments

Leicester Tigers lock Ollie Chessum will miss the rest of this domestic season and England‘s summer tour to Japan and New Zealand after shoulder surgery. […]

Series 3, Episode 37: Champions Cup, Dupont and Olympics with Mike Friday

9 May 2024 0 comments

There’s plenty on the agenda for the Rugby Paper Podcast this week. Ollie Little and columnists Brendan Gallagher, Chris Hewett and Nick Cain review English […]

Care extends Quins stay into 19th season

8 May 2024 0 comments

Harlequins and former England scrum-half Danny Care has signed a new contract to spend a 19th season at the London club. The 37-year-old has accumulated […]

Saints so close to stunning Leinster

5 May 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY at Croke Park Northampton boss Phil Dowson was left to rue the one that got away after Saints went down 20-17 to […]

Smith: I’m better at handling mistakes

5 May 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Fin Smith credits his superb form this season to a mental mind-shift that enables him to now take the rough with the […]

Murley admits he’d be tempted to try out league

5 May 2024 0 comments

By STEFAN FROST Cadan Murley has revealed he could cross over codes once he has fulfilled his trophy-winning ambitions at Harlequins. The wing, preparing for […]

Fit-again Ewels enjoying new life under Johann

5 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES When Charlie Ewels suffered knee ligament damage on England’s 2022 tour to Australia, his club Bath were at rock bottom. They had […]

Am: Chance to win silverware shows we’re on right track

5 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK The Sharks have endured an emotional rollercoaster this season but, after booking their place in the Challenge Cup final with yesterday’s sensational […]

It’ll be tough for us but we’ll meet fire with fire, says Care

5 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Toulouse vs Harlequins Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stadium de Toulouse WHEN Harlequins went to Bordeaux last month they vowed to swing the […]

Kinghorn: Move to Toulouse has given me fresh impetus

5 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK BLAIR Kinghorn feels his move to European giants Toulouse has been a career revitalisation after ‘becoming stagnant at Edinburgh’. The versatile 27-yearold […]

Hotshot Hastings has the final say

5 May 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ………………….. 40pts Tries: Hathaway 6, Blake 29, Hastings 58, Clarke 61, Thorley 78 Conversions: Hastings 29, 58, 61 Penalties: Hastings 19, […]