Tag Archives: Heineken Champions Cup 2019/2020

There will be no shortage of headaches for competition organisers over the coming weeks and months as the Covid-19 pandemic puts a shuddering halt to the 2019/20 season.  With the current rugby season likely to be cancelled, we immediately cast our minds to the 2020/21 campaign and the potential ramifications that this unprecedented time will have on the new season. …

Saracens could face further punishment with the news that European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) have conducted an investigation into the alleged fielding of an ineligible player. The incident is alleged to have occured during the club’s 27-24 win over Racing 92 at Allianz Park in January.  Saracens informed EPCR earlier this week that Tito Lamositele, who came on in the …

The dates and times for this season’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals have been confirmed by EPCR.  On Saturday, April 4, there will be three matches as Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints get underway at Sandy Park with a kick-off time of 3.15 pm (GMT). At the same time, the clash between Clermont Auvergne and Racing 92 will kick-off while the …

Munster 33 Ospreys 6 Sean McMahon reporting from Thomond Park.  It was supposed to be a day of miracles but for Munster, their exit from this season’s Heineken Champions Cup was already confirmed before the players went to bed on Saturday night thanks to the failure of Lyon and Sale in claiming wins in their respective ties yesterday. So for …

Connacht have named their team this weekend’s clash against Montpellier in the Heineken Champions Cup (Sunday KO 3.15 pm).  Connacht’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages were dashed last weekend when they fell to a defeat at home to Toulouse but they are determined to finish their European campaign on a high and this is reflected by the strong team …

Clermont Auvergne 29 – 13 Ulster  A powerful second-half performance from Clermont Auvergne saw the French side secure the win over Ulster in the top of the table Pool 3 clash. Ulster got off to a great start and showed their running intent from the off. A Stuart McCloskey linebreak and offload to Jacob Stockdale saw Ulster go deep into …

Munster have added three fresh faces to their European squad ahead of their season-defining Heineken Champions Cup clash with Racing 92.  The southern province go into Sunday’s clash with Racing 92 in Paris knowing that a win will be necessary to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive. Johann van Graan’s side welcome Ospreys to Thomond Park …

Leinster Rugby have issued an injury update on key duo Johnny Sexton and James Ryan ahead of their Heineken Champions Cup clash with Lyon on Sunday.  The eastern province have already qualified for the quarter-finals of this season’s competition thanks to the four wins they have secured in the pool stages thus far. Sunday’s visit of Lyon will provide a …

EPCR have confirmed that a disciplinary hearing will take place in order to investigate the incident surrounding Munster doctor Jamie Kearns and Saracens and England international Jamie George.  In the second half of Saracens’ 15-6 win over Munster in Round 4 of the Heineken Champions Cup, it is alleged that Kearns directed an abusive comment, or comments, towards George. This …

EPCR have confirmed the referees who will take charge of the fixtures in Rounds 5 & 6 of this season’s Champions Cup.  The ties will be played in January and they will be crucial in determining who reaches the knockout stages of the competition. Leinster are the only team in the competition who have already qualified for the last eight …

Munster Rugby have issued an injury update after Saturday’s loss to Saracens at Allianz Park in the Heineken Champions Cup.  The southern province have provided an update on Peter O’Mahony who pulled out of Saturday’s clash due a groin injury he picked up in the warm-up. Munster have confirmed that their captain has sustained a low-grade adductor injury. Tadhg Beirne, …

There are just two pool rounds left in the Heineken Champions Cup after the culmination of the crucial back-to-back games which took place in December.  In the last edition of our power rankings after Round 2, we predicted that the back-to-back games would play a major role in deciding who would reach the final eight and it proved to be …

Play was suspended in the Heineken Champions Cup clash between the Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks at Sandy Park on Sunday. With the Chiefs leading 21-10 thanks to a brace of tries from Sam Simmonds and one from his younger brother, Joe, referee Pierre Brousse suspended the match in the 63rd minute temporarily due to a biblical hail downpour. A …

EPCR, the governing body of the Champions Cup, have confirmed that they will conduct an investigation into the ugly scenes which occurred during the Pool 4 clash between Saracens and Munster at Allianz Park on Saturday.  During the second half of Saracens’ 15-6 victory over Munster, Jamie George took offence from a comment from a member of Munster’s backroom staff …

Harlequins 10 Ulster 34 Ulster travelled to The Stoop on Friday night to take on a Harlequins side desperate for revenge after letting a nine-point lead slip in the dying minutes last weekend in Belfast. Both sides attempted to feel one another out early on by sending long balls down on top of each other. There were early chances for …

“To be honest, I never had an injury like that before so it was all new to me,” Tiernan O’Halloran tells Pundit Arena as he describes the fractured fibula and ankle ligament injury he suffered at the beginning of the season.  The Clifden native has had his fair share of injuries since he made his Connacht debut against Olympus Madrid …

Connacht travelled to the Kingsholm Stadium to face Gloucester high on confidence after their opening round win over Montpellier followed by an encouraging defeat away to Toulouse in the Champions Cup. Contrast that to the Premiership outfit who hadn’t won in five games and narrowly lost their opening two games of the Champions Cup campaign. However, it was the home …

Captain Peter O’Mahony’s first-half try proved crucial as Munster secured a 10-3 win over Saracens that means they remain undefeated in Pool 4 of the Heineken Champions Cup.  However, late drama ensued in Thomond Park as the southern province were reduced to 14 players with the clock in the red zone when replacement back-row Arno Botha was red-carded for leading …