Old glories on the rise with Dan Cole reviving Leicester forward power and Toulouse finding European title hunger once more Related: Six Nations set to unveil HSBC as championship’s new title sponsor Continue reading…
Old glories on the rise with Dan Cole reviving Leicester forward power and Toulouse finding European title hunger once more Related: Six Nations set to unveil HSBC as championship’s new title sponsor Continue reading…
Toulon’s nightmare speaks to French woes, Saracens are miles ahead of the pack and Freddie Burns had a weekend to forgetIt seemed as if all talking points would have to revolve around the 52-3 destruction on Friday night of the former multiple champion…
• Leinster 52-3 Wasps• McGrath and James Lowe score two tries eachEven by their usual high standards Leinster could not have launched their defence of the Champions Cup in more emphatic style. This runaway eight-try win over a depleted Wasps represente…
Bath’s attack coach understands why central contracts in Ireland have reaped such big rewardsIn the past few weeks there have been two team sheets that have jumped off the page. Firstly, it was Bath’s “B team” against Saracens in the Premiership, then …
Can anyone stop Leinster from winning an unprecedented fifth title? Are Exeter equipped for a real challenge? We mark your card for Europe’s top competitionA pool featuring four former winners and 11 titles but it is hard to see anything other than Lei…
From Lyon’s back-row star Carl Fearns to rampaging Bath winger Joe Cokanasiga, who could be this year’s standout stars?The 2018-19 Heineken Champions Cup kicks off on Friday in what is always a keenly anticipated weekend in the European club rugby cale…
Wasps have the first shot at the imposing holders in Dublin on Friday but Saracens look ready to wrest back the trophyThe pressing question in European rugby union as the Champions Cup starts is how do you stop Leinster winning it for a record fifth ti…
• Premiership duo join holders in pool boasting 11 previous titles• Saracens to face Glasgow, Lyon and Cardiff Blues in Pool ThreeThe defending champions Leinster have been drawn against Wasps, Bath and Toulouse in next season’s Heineken Champions Cup …
• Leinster 40-32 Scarlets• Leo Cullen’s side too good for stubborn ScarletsIrish rugby’s remarkable season continued as Leinster became only the sixth side to achieve a European and domestic double. Given Ireland’s recent Six Nations Grand Slam, this s…
Leinster want victory on home territory to add to their European Champions Cup and Ireland’s Six Nations grand slamTwo weeks after winning the European Champions Cup, Leinster have the opportunity to complete a green sweep. Victory over the Scarlets in…
The irresistible force meets the immovable object when Exeter play Saracens while Leinster are favourites against ScarletsThe season, domestically at least, ends this weekend. As it came in, so it goes out with players queuing for surgery. Artificial p…
Staging the Champions Cup final in Bilbao showed the benefit of taking a risk or two instead of clinging to the tried and testedThe word final is a relative term in rugby. Leinster’s European Champions Cup victory in Bilbao should logically have repres…
Leinster had the nous to edge a cagey Champions Cup final that looked to be heading for extra time until Racing 92 crackedRacing’s players ran on to the pitch wearing berets, a nod to the host city that is regarded as the capital of the Basque region. …
Who were the stars and who failed to shine as Leinster sealed their fourth European Cup success?Rob Kearney 7 Not quite the attacking force he once was, but never afraid of a cute counterattack. Remains as solid under the high ball as anyone. Reas…
• Leinster 15-12 Racing 92• Isa Nacewa penalty decides nail-biter with two minutes leftIrish rugby’s remarkable year shows absolutely no sign of ending. By no stretch of the imagination was this a classic final but it is impossible to deny the scale of…
• Leinster 15-12 Racing 92• Isa Nacewa penalty decides nail-biter with two minutes leftIrish rugby’s remarkable year shows absolutely no sign of ending. By no stretch of the imagination was this a classic final but it is impossible to deny the scale of…
European Champions Cup final updates from BilbaoThe Breakdown: sign up and get our weekly rugby emailAnd feel free to email Gregg or tweet @GreggBakowski 5.16pm BST 26 min: Murphy offloads smartly and sends Leinster over to the left side of the pitch, …
Former England coach will seek redemption for his international disappointments when Leinster take on Racing 92 in Saturday’s Champions Cup final in BilbaoFor more than 12 centuries pilgrims have travelled to northern Spain in search of spiritual fulfi…
France’s commitment to slow influx of overseas players paying off with 12 Frenchmen to start final against LeinsterIf England’s selection of Brad Shields and the accompanying controversy is a case study into the strained relationship between availabili…
