Champions Cup - Page 7 of 31 - News, interviews, reports, analysis

Tag: Champions Cup

Borthwick puts club form at top of his list

21 January 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS COUNTDOWN Paul Rees says change will be gradual rather than sudden as teams renew after World Cup THE first Six Nations after a […]

Hutchinson glad to be back in the fold

21 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Much has been made of the five backs from free-scoring Northampton who have made the Six Nations squad, but just as deserving […]

Champions Cup Friday and Saturday preview

19 January 2024 0 comments

The final weekend of the Champions Cup pool stage promises an exciting round of matches, shaping the destiny of teams vying for spots in the […]

Cockerill handed Georgia job

18 January 2024 0 comments

Former Leicester Tigers boss and England assistant Richard Cockerill has been named head coach of the Georgian national team and their club side Black Lion. […]

Bordeaux thump Saracens to make Champions Cup statement

14 January 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Bordeaux-Begles……………….55 Tries: Bielle-Biarrey 8, 80+1; Buros 12, Lamothe 21, Penaud 35, 57; Depoortere 44, Jalibert 52, Uberti 78 Conversions: Jalibert 9, 13, […]

Bath produce brilliant comeback to confirm qualification

14 January 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Bath…………………………………………29 Tries: Du Toit 35, Barbeary 60, Cokanasiga 63, Muir 72 Conversions: Spencer 61, 64, 73 Penalties: Spencer 13 Racing……………………………………..25 Tries: Le […]

Slade does it again for Exeter

14 January 2024 0 comments

Henry Slade proved to be Exeter’s match winner once again as the Chiefs beat Glasgow 19-17 to book their spot in the Champions Cup knockouts. […]

Townsend: I’ll keep on playing hard

14 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Stu Townsend’s new year resolution is to stay fit after an unlucky run with injuries has left him spending more time in […]

Disappointing Connacht to concentrate on Challenge Cup after Lyon hold on

14 January 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Lyon………………. 34pts Tries: Abrahams 19, 74 Tchaptchet 21, Guillard 52 Conversions: Jackson 15, 22, 53; Berdeu 75 Penalties: Jackson 27, 35 Connacht […]

Bath out to make it three in a row

14 January 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Bath v Racing 92 Today. Kick-off 1pm, The Rec Bath captain Ben Spencer is looking forward to his personal duel with […]

Slade keeps his cool to snatch it for Exeter

14 January 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Exeter ……………………………19pts Tries: Vermeulen 40, Frost 63, Wimbush 77 Conversions: Slade 40, 78 Glasgow………………………..17pts Tries: Rowe 28, Tuipulotu 55 Conversions: Weir 28, […]

Rowntree proud of Munster character as bonus point win keeps them in contention

14 January 2024 0 comments

By TOM SHEEDY Toulon ……………18pts Tries: Paia’aua 23, de Preez 55 Conversion: Jaminet 25 Penalties: Jaminet 16, 35 Munster …………29pts Tries: Nankivell 31, Zebo 37, […]

Sale youngsters get a lesson in finishing

14 January 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Stormers……………………….31pts Tries: Dayimani 7, Hartzenberg 22, Zas 33, 51 Conversions: Libbok 8, 23, 34, 52 Penalties: Libbok 60 Sale ……………………………… 24pts Tries: […]

Cheetahs excited for trip to Dam

14 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Preview Cheetahs v Pau Today. 1pm THE Cheetahs are gearing up for this historic clash as the South African franchise host a […]

No rush to get Tuilagi involved

14 January 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Something of a big deal was made last week about the fact that, a matter of days before Fabien Galthie announces […]

Champions Cup round three Friday and Saturday preview

12 January 2024 0 comments

The 2023/24 Champions Cup resumes with an eagerly anticipated third round of pool-stage matches. English teams have performed exceptionally well up to this point, with […]

Devoto back with a new lease of life

7 January 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Ollie Devoto says he’s been given a new lease of life this season after battling back from a potentially career-ending injury to […]

Freeman sets his sights on England

7 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Tommy Freeman has taken inspiration from club colleague Alex Mitchell as he strives to make England’s Six Nations squad, which will be […]

Sleightholme leads the Saints fightback

7 January 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Exeter ………………………….. 36pts Tries: Vermuelen 5, 22; Feyi-Waboso 13, Townsend 17 Tuima 71 Conversions: Slade 6, 18, 24, 72 Penalty: Slade 61 […]

Newcastle fail again as Quins march on

7 January 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Newcastle……………………… 3pts Penalties: Connon 36 Harlequins ………………….. 24pts Tries: David 2, Esterhuizen 28, Walker 46, Hammond 55 Conversions: Edwards 47, 56 South […]

Class acts who have inspired a generation

7 January 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Jack Rowell, the man behind Bath’s “golden decade” at the back end of the amateur era, bore the mark of a […]

Blow for Ireland as injury rules out Kilcoyne

7 January 2024 0 comments

IRELAND prop Dave Kilcoyne has been ruled out of the Six Nations after his club Munster said he will be out for six months with […]

Premiership previews: Round 11

5 January 2024 0 comments

Round 11 of the Premiership heralds the inaugural weekend of matches in 2024 with just three points separating the top six teams. Round ten smashed […]

Cabango’s out to leave injury woes behind him

31 December 2023 0 comments

By ROB COLE Speed merchant: Cardiff flyer Theo Cabango THEO Cabango is hoping his New Year’s wish comes true and he won’t have any more […]

Reasons to be cheerful for rugby’s year ahead

31 December 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees canvasses the views of Premiership directors of rugby and finds there is a fair amount of optimism IT IS another year the professional […]

Playing against best in the world is good test

31 December 2023 0 comments

NOW we’re into the second year of the expanded Champions Cup, I thought I’d reflect on just how the inclusion of South Africa’s finest club […]

Launchbury’s impressed by French fitness

31 December 2023 0 comments

TRP Podcast By NICK POWELL Joe Launchbury feels giant Toulouse lock Emmanuel Meafou’s form reflects a growing trend of Top 14 forwards adding fitness alongside […]

Simmonds is facing a fight for survival

31 December 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN THE final weekend of 2023 – and we’re almost at the halfway point of the Top 14 season. There’s still a […]

Warr: It’s special to learn from the best

24 December 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Sale Sharks Gus Warr believes that time spent rubbing shoulders and working with the likes of double World Cup winner Faf de […]

Big Game is next in line for upbeat Dombrandt

24 December 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Alex Dombrandt will enjoy a rare break over Christmas before returning to drive Harlequins’ twin assaults on the Premiership and the Champions […]

I can see why Dupont has gold in his sights

24 December 2023 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IT is very hard to think of France without Antoine Dupont as a driving force as both scrum-half […]

It’s been incredible to be here for so long

24 December 2023 0 comments

Jon Newcombe catches up with Saracens DoR Mark McCall, who has been the boss since 2011 With his 13th calendar year as director of rugby […]

Toulouse are the most entrancing side of them all

24 December 2023 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Dupont or no Dupont, Ntamack or no Ntamack, this latest edition of the Champions Cup may well turn out to be […]

Gorging on a Christmas feast of non-stop rugby

24 December 2023 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT Rugby has always been a game of Big Ideas: Carwyn James, the patron saint of Stradey Park, was a thinker of weight and […]

The French out in front? That’s not how it looks

24 December 2023 0 comments

With 12 victories in 16 games, Paul Rees reflects on a promising start by English clubs in the Champions Cup It has been a chastening […]

Derby day double act for regions

24 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Fixtures: Tuesday December 26: Cardiff v Dragons, Kick-off 3pm Scarlets v Ospreys, Kick-off 5.15pm Boxing Day action sees back-to-back Welsh derbies as […]

Quins are in strong position, says Joe

24 December 2023 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Harlequins lock Joe Launchbury feels it’s crucial his team display strong form over the festive period as they strive to adapt their […]

O’Gara’s problems keep on coming

24 December 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Australian hooker Tolu Latu went straight into La Rochelle’s matchday squad for pre-Christmas trip to Stade Francais, days after completing a […]

Series 3, Episode 19: Champions Cup recap and Big Game preview with Joe Launchbury

20 December 2023 0 comments

The Rugby Paper Podcast’s final episode of 2023 looks back at two thrilling weekends of Champions Cup action as well as looking ahead to the […]

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Sunday round-up

18 December 2023 0 comments

Narrow victories for Exeter and Leicester ensured English teams came away with more wins than losses on a second-straight weekend of Champions Cup action. Although, […]

Chief Yeandle still has a lot more to offer

17 December 2023 0 comments

Mark Stevens talks to one of Exeter’s elder statesmen When it comes to Exeter’s biggest triumphs, he’s the Chief often front and centre in all […]

Caulfield loving life back with the Bears

17 December 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Josh Caulfield grew up supporting Bristol and the second row’s despair in the summer when London Irish collapsed turned to elation when […]

Russell: I’ve come here to win titles

17 December 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE While Henry Arundell has chosen to stay at Racing 92 and turn down a move to Bath, Finn Russell is in no […]

Freeman’s switch to 13 has sparked Borthwick’s interest

17 December 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Northampton’s decision to turn Tommy Freeman into a 13 this season has been far from unlucky for the 22-year old who had […]

Ewers happy to take on new challenge

17 December 2023 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS For years the imposing figure of Dave Ewers made a habit of steamrollering his way around Premiership pitches up and down the […]

Gonzalez is enjoying his new lease of life

17 December 2023 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Saracens …………………….. 55pts Tries: Gonzalez 7; George 32,40, Hartley 42, 63, Maitland 54, Cinti 56, Dan 70 Conversions: Farrell 43, 55, 64 […]

Connacht holding on to the positives

17 December 2023 0 comments

CONNACHT head coach Pete Wilkins praised his side’s never-say-attitude as they grabbed a bonus point to keep their knockout hopes alive. After the 41-5 smashing […]

Regard has the final word for Lyon in pulsating win over the Bulls

17 December 2023 0 comments

By ALFIE ROSE Lyon………………..29pts Tries: Dumortier 22, Pacheco 38, Parisien 45, Charcosset 61, Regard 71 Conversions: Page-Relo 23, Jackson 62 Bulls ……………….28pts Tries: Burger 1, […]

Bordeaux put Bears through the mixer

17 December 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bordeaux…………………….. 36pts Tries: Lucu 4, Bielle-Biarrey 16, Penaud 32, Tapuai 55, Nanette 66 Conversions: Lucu 5, 33, 56; Jalibert 67 Penalties: Lucu […]