EPCR confirm new 24-team Champions Cup next season, and Connacht are in
All four Irish provinces have qualified for the tournament, which will involve two pools of 12 teams.
All four Irish provinces have qualified for the tournament, which will involve two pools of 12 teams.
Teams will be allowed to register as many players as they like, including players who have already represented another club in this season’s competitions.
Stuart Lancaster can’t hide his interest in coaching the Lions and his out-half is showing no signs of easing up his chase for a spot on the tour either.
The Leinster senior coach took great interest in finding out how the best team in the southern hemisphere would target the Pro14 champions.
Johann van Graan’s 43-man senior squad looks well set to push on this season.
Threat to Super Rugby has left four of South Africa’s teams in limbo.
EPCR is now looking for a new venue or venues for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup deciders.
The 33-year-old hopes to finish on a high with the Championship-bound club.
The 2020/21 season of European rugby is now due to start on 11/12/13 December.
Eight clubs from each of the leagues would qualify and the competition would be played over eight weekends.
EPCR is considering reformatting the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup for next season.
France has confirmed that major sport will not resume there before September.
The Champions Cup organisers have said that a global club tournament is already under consideration.
The French Rugby Federation president says ‘it could be a breath of fresh air for the whole of world rugby.’
Last year’s inter-pro European quarter-final was an epic.
Leo Cullen’s side were in sensational form as they amassed an incredible 21 straight wins. But the postponed season means the achievement will be a qualified success.
Max Deegan, James Lowe, and Scott Fardy have racked up the most minutes in the squad.
The 2020 finals weekend had been set for Marseille on 22/23 May.
The European club season has been suspended.
The provinces have no certainty around when they will next play.
The suspension includes all collective training by the professional clubs in France.
Leinster and Ulster are due to play Champions Cup quarter-finals on the first weekend of April.
Six of the 23 who helped England trounce Ireland will be on duty with Saracens in the Champions Cup quarter-final.
The number eight has been working his way back from a broken foot since the World Cup.
The French club are not happy.
The English club are free to face Leinster in the quarter-finals, although EPCR can appeal the decision.
The Top 14 club expressed surprise not to have been contacted about the misconduct charge.
EPCR has brought a misconduct complaint against Sarries, who could be facing a fine or points deduction.
RG Snyman and Damian de Allende are likely to become fan favourites at Thomond Park.
You can’t write Saracens off even if you want to.
Without a Champions Cup quarter-final ahead, Munster have room to prime their squad to chase the Pro14 title.
Ulster will play Toulouse away from home.
The Westerners recovered from a 21-0 deficit but were ultimately beaten in a dead-rubber in Pool 5.
Meanwhile, Johann van Graan lamented the ‘moments’ that ensured Munster fell just short of the knock-out stages.
The victory came at an – ahem – cost, with Billy Vunipola forced off with a reported broken arm.
Craig Casey’s try-scoring cameo was a highlight as Munster played out a final pool match with knockout hopes already dashed.
Warriors ran in six tries against Sale to consign Johann Van Graan’s side to an early elimination.
Tom O’Toole suffered a rib injury in his side’s 22-15 win over Bath.
Leo Cullen’s side did enough to clinch the number one seeding for the quarter-finals.
The Ulster scrum-half is brimming with energy and belief in a superb run of form with Ulster.