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#Champions Cup

News about rugby's European Cup competition

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Ronan OGara
SRonan O'Gara: Munster in La Rochelle will be magic. But it will have to wait
RG Snyman celebrates after the game 18/1/2025
Robbie Henshaw: 'You just have to let him do his thing and then work off him'
"You can’t defend him in ones, even twos, you have to send three men into him."

Mon, 20 Jan, 2025

Rory Scannell and Tom Ahern after the game 18/1/2025
Munster will take on Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle in Champions Cup Round of 16
Leinster will take on Harlequins with Ulster facing a tough task when they take on top seeded side Bordeaux Bègles.

Sun, 19 Jan, 2025

Your sport on TV this week: All-Ireland Club Senior finals, Champions and Challenge Cup
Your sport on TV this week: All-Ireland Club Senior finals, Champions and Challenge Cup
It's another action packed weekend of sport with the All-Ireland senior club football and hurling finals, the final round of the Champions and Challenge Cup and the Australian Open - all you need to know about sport on TV this weekend.

Fri, 17 Jan, 2025

Munster’s John Hodnett scores a try and celebrates with Gavin Coombes and Tom Farrell 11/1/2023
S Duncan Casey: Munster restore some faith with win that could define the season
If Stephen Archer wants to play on with Munster for another year, there should be a contract there for the 36-year-old. He is as valuable to this team as he has ever been.

Tue, 14 Jan, 2025

Stade Rochelais v Leinster - Investec Champions Cup Pool 2
S Donal Lenihan: Ailing Champions Cup well served if gallant La Rochelle and Leinster meet again 
Miraculously, both Leinster and Munster found a way to prevail this weekend

Mon, 13 Jan, 2025

Josh van der Flier with Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Jules Favre 12/1/2025
Leinster lean on defence again to 'win ugly' in La Rochelle
This win makes it three in succession for the Irish province against a club that had their number in the 2021 semi-final and in the two deciders that followed.

Mon, 13 Jan, 2025

Dian Bleuler scores a try 11/1/2025
Munster resigned to departure of Dian Bleuler
Peter O'Mahony could return for Munster's clash with Northampton.

Mon, 13 Jan, 2025

Ronan O'Gara ahead of the match 12/1/2025
Ronan O'Gara hoping for another crack at Leinster before the season is out
This 16-14 loss all but guarantees a path away from home come the quarter and semi-final stages of this latest tournament

Sun, 12 Jan, 2025

Tommy Reffell and Iain Henderson 11/1/2025
Ulster sift through Welford woe for positives
There was enough in that first half against the Tigers to suggest the Richie Murphy project can continue to build into something. What that turns out to be remains to be seen

Sun, 12 Jan, 2025

Leinster v La Rochelle - Investec Champions Cup Quarter-Final
S Ronan O'Gara: Time for a hug? Tough love doesn’t work on everybody
Ronan O'Gara opens up about the challenges of coaching La Rochelle, balancing tough love with rebuilding confidence as his team struggles through a tough patch

Sun, 12 Jan, 2025

Your sport on TV this week: Champions and Challenge Cup, Club championship and Team Cup
Your sport on TV this week: Champions and Challenge Cup, Club championship and Team Cup
It's another action packed weekend of sport of TV with the Champions and Challenge Cup back with all four provinces in action. All-Ireland club finals are taking place in Croke Park and the Team Cup - all you need to know here.

Thu, 09 Jan, 2025

John Hodnett scores his second try of the game as Tadhg Beirne celebrates 13/12/2024
S Donal Lenihan: It's the Champions Cup but not as we knew and loved it
If South African teams opt out of the Champions Cup, a swift return to a 20-team format with home-and-away pool games and direct quarter-final progression would be ideal

Wed, 08 Jan, 2025

RG Snyman, Jack Conan and Joe McCarthy 7/1/2025
Leinster in a good place for Champions Cup trip to France
The plan for Tadhg Furlong, who hasn't played since mid-October, is that he will be ready for the Six Nations. 

Wed, 08 Jan, 2025

Vodacom Bulls v Northampton Saints - Investec Champions Cup 2024/2025
Champions Cup rugby reboot: no pools, FA Cup-style and play it after Christmas
The global calendar remains a mess and rugby’s power-brokers need to get a grip after a controversial weekend

Tue, 17 Dec, 2024

Sam Prendergast 14/12/2024
Leo Cullen: 'Some lads didn't go as well as we'd have hoped. Is that the way that we're preparing them?'
Leo Cullen took stock afterwards and, in admitting his frustrations at the day’s work, put it out there that his side was not operating at the level Toulouse had displayed a week earlier when putting 61 points on a flawed Ulster.

Mon, 16 Dec, 2024

RUGBYU-EUR-CUP-LA ROCHELLE-BRISTOL
Five-try La Rochelle blitz Bristol as O'Gara's side edge above Leinster atop Pool 2
Bidding to regain the trophy they won back-to-back in 2022 and 2023, La Rochelle made it two pool stage wins from two with an emphatic victory over their English visitors

Sat, 14 Dec, 2024

Leinster v ASM Clermont Auvergne - Champions Cup Pool 2
Barrett shows class but Clermont and lineout give Leinster plenty of problems in nervy win
Standing out more than any in blue was a malfunctioning set-piece that did untold damage to best-laid plans. Leinster had 16 throws on the evening and could only claim 60% of them. Not nearly good enough.

Sat, 14 Dec, 2024

Yoram Moefana and Maxime Lucu celebrate Guido Pett’s try 14/12/2024
Bordeaux too strong for Ulster as they come from behind to secure bonus point win
Ulster fall to fourth straight defeat and sit bottom of Pool One. 

Sat, 14 Dec, 2024

Bristol Bears v Leinster - Champions Cup Round 1
Jordie Barrett set to make first Leinster start against Clermont
Ulster and Connacht have made a host of changes for their respective clashes with Bordeaux and Perpignan. 

Fri, 13 Dec, 2024

Your sport on TV this week: All Ireland SHC semi-finals, All-Ireland Ladies finals and European Rugby
Your sport on TV this week: All Ireland SHC semi-finals, All-Ireland Ladies finals and European Rugby
It is another action packed weekend of sport on TV with the All-Ireland Club SHC semi-finals, the All-Ireland Ladies Club football finals and all four Irish provinces in action in European Rugby against French opposition - all you need to know here. 

Fri, 13 Dec, 2024

Munster v Stade Francais Paris - Champions Cup Round 1
S Tommy Martin: Why TMS (that’s Too Much Sport) viewing numbers are tumbling
Too Much Rugby is a smaller scale version of Too Much Football, which reaches new levels of bloated madness with next year’s FIFA Club World Cup

Thu, 12 Dec, 2024

Leinster Rugby Squad Training
S Donal Lenihan: Toulouse and Leinster look down from a lofty plateau
Munster are crying out for the stability a long-term director of rugby would bring and allow the new head coach to concentrate solely on the preparation and selection of the side.

Wed, 11 Dec, 2024

Bristol Bears v Leinster - Champions Cup Round 1
Jordie Barrett gives credit to Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose
All Black Barrett headed up a lethal second half Leinster bench onslaught that helped turn the game’s tide in the favour of the four-time European winners.

Tue, 10 Dec, 2024

Northampton Saints v Castres Olympique - Investec Champions Cup 2024/2025
Jeremy Davidson and Castres out to kick-start season with win over old Munster enemy 
Davidson’s future at Castres had been subject to some speculation. The club confirmed last month that his contract will not be renewed at the end of the current campaign.

Tue, 10 Dec, 2024

Munster v Racing 92 - Heineken Champions Cup Pool 4 Round 2
Simon Zebo: Mike Prendergast could get Munster back to European rugby's top table
"He's a fantastic coach. I suppose his attention to detail is fantastic."

Sun, 08 Dec, 2024

Bristol Bears v Leinster - Champions Cup Round 1
Leinster send out early warning as Prendergast claims a brace of tries
The intensity and power of the four-time champions left a trail of destruction in its path in Bristol

Sun, 08 Dec, 2024

2024/2025 Investec Champions Cup European Rugby Challenge Cup Launch 15/10/2024
S Ronan O'Gara: Park Vannes. We are going to sink or swim in Bath
Right now, where we are idling, I’d bite anyone’s hand off for a big performance on Friday night against Bath at The Rec.

Fri, 06 Dec, 2024

TV bib branding 16/1/2016
Premier Sports deal will bring some clarity for rugby fans who can afford it
It was announced on Wednesday that for the next three years at least Premier Sports will be the lead broadcaster for the Champions Cup.

Wed, 14 Aug, 2024

Ryan Baird dejected as he walks past the Investec Champions Cup trophy 25/5/2024
S Ronan O'Gara: They’ll talk out of the sides of their mouth about Leinster now
Insofar as we can employ a comparison, this was Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final last autumn against the All Blacks. The only thing that mattered was getting over the line.

Fri, 31 May, 2024

Leinster v Toulouse - Investec Champions Cup Final
S Donal Lenihan: Dupont the difference as Leinster's Cup of pain overflows
When Leinster look back on this enthralling final they will surely rue the decision to turn down kickable penalties.

Mon, 27 May, 2024

Ryan Baird dejected as he walks past the Investec Champions Cup trophy 25/5/2024
Leinster will have to show their mettle to bounce back from bruising defeat
Toulouse learned from past heartbreak to get over the line in a thriller in London. 

Mon, 27 May, 2024

Leinster v Toulouse - Investec Champions Cup Final
Road back to European honours looks longer than ever for Leinster after latest heartbreak
Somehow, some way, this reversal against Toulouse may be the most dispiriting of the three recent Champions Cup final losses.

Sat, 25 May, 2024

Leinster Rugby Captain's Run and Media Conference
Caelan Doris hopeful Jacques Nienaber impact will help Leinster reclaim Champions Cup crown
"It's about staying in the fight for the full 80, making everything a contest; whether it's a ruck, a tackle or a barge; whatever it is, that's the way he looks at it. He's been brilliant and hopefully we can go one step further."

Sat, 25 May, 2024

Toulouse Captain's Run and Media Conference
S Donal Lenihan: Dupont is a difference-maker. That may prove the difference
The game-deciding factors for Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup final between Leinster and Toulouse at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Kick off is at 2.45.

Sat, 25 May, 2024

Caelan Doris 24/5/2024
Doris believes heavyweight bench key for Leinster's showdown against Toulouse
Leinster Head Coach Leo Cullen has gone with a 6-2 split on the bench believing every replacement has a key role to play in the final. 

Sat, 25 May, 2024

James Ryan 24/5/2024
Leinster have found sweet spot in Champions Cup week, says James Ryan
James Ryan will not shy away using Leinster’s back-to-back Champions Cup final defeats as motivation for Saturday’s third attempt in a row at landing a record-equalling fifth European title.

Sat, 25 May, 2024

Toulouse Captain's Run and Media Conference
Antoine Dupont: Toulouse must stay disciplined in Champions Cup final
Last season’s 41-22 loss saw both playmaking full-back Thomas Ramos and prop Rodrigue Neti sin-binned.

Sat, 25 May, 2024

Antoine Dupont after the game 5/5/2024
S Mick Cleary: Five things to savour in the Champions Cup final
Dupont will be one of the stories of Saturday's Investec Champions Cup final, irrespective what the outcome. It’s as if Jonah Lomu were still with us and about to wreak his particular havoc on a game.

Fri, 24 May, 2024

FRANCE-CINEMA-RUGBY-PREMIERE
S Ronan O'Gara: Toulouse look tastier but Leinster's plain appeal too persuasive to ignore
Sitting in my car with a muffin, it's easy to be seduced by both Leinster and Toulouse, but smarts and stone-cold pragmatism may swing Saturday's Champions Cup final Ireland's way.

Fri, 24 May, 2024

Aer Lingus College Football Classic 2024, Ian Madigan Media Day
Madigan: 'I'd much rather be in Leinster's position than Toulouse's'
Madigan believes Leinster hold the better cards going into this weekend’s showdown in north London.

Thu, 23 May, 2024

Leinster v Northampton Saints - Investec Champions Cup Semi-Final
Ross Byrne central this time to Leinster’s final ambitions
Leinster have utilised 32 different players for this latest Champions Cup campaign, and plenty more again in the URC.

Wed, 22 May, 2024

Stade Toulousain v Cells Sharks: Quarter Finals - Heineken Champions Cup
Emmanuel Meafou: 'We’re expected not just to win but win convincingly, that’s always the bar'
Meafou experienced those two last-four losses to their Irish rivals at first hand and shared in the misery of failing to extend their record haul of five Champions Cup titles.

Wed, 22 May, 2024

Leinster v Northampton Saints - Investec Champions Cup Semi-Final
'No ceiling' to Leinster pack that takes on Toulouse in Champions Cup final
Robin McBryde is relishing the Toulouse challenge but claims that the end result won’t define his happiness either way.

Tue, 21 May, 2024

Luke McGrath with Micheal Ala'Alatoa and Jamison Gibson-Park 3/5/2024
Leo Cullen: It's a privilege to be at Croke Park. It's a magnificent stadium
Leinster have made two changes from their Champions Cup quarter-final victory over La Rochelle. 

Fri, 03 May, 2024

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