# European Rugby Champions Cup

January

January 2023

# Work to do

'We need to improve all the time' - Scrum and maul high on Leinster's agenda

The province are unbeaten this season but have had issues around the setpiece.

4.2k

Jan 23rd 2023, 7:15 AM

# Great Scot

Finn Russell welcomes Ben Healy's Scotland switch

The Racing 10 is set to link up with Munster’s Healy in Scotland camp for the Six Nations.

8.7k

Jan 23rd 2023, 6:30 AM

# Leader

Influential Ringrose shows his class as Leinster end pool campaign on a high

The centre is in superb form and provided some brilliant moments against Racing.

6.6k

Jan 22nd 2023, 7:30 AM

# Top seeds

Six-try Leinster made to work before pulling clear of dogged Racing

The province led by just two points at half time but eventually had too much firepower for the French side.

28.2k

Jan 21st 2023, 5:22 PM

# Centre stage

Osborne: 'I'm really proud to have played all the way up through the clubs pathway'

The 21-year-old Leinster player came through the ranks at Naas RFC.

6.8k

Jan 16th 2023, 7:30 AM

# Star Man

'He’s just getting better all the time' - Osborne announces himself on Champions Cup stage

Leo Cullen felt the centre had some ‘outstanding moments’ against Gloucester.

11.0k

Jan 14th 2023, 6:33 PM

# Three from Three

Osborne stars as Leinster bag bonus-point win at Gloucester

The province scored seven tries as they powered to another impressive Champions Cup win.

13.8k

Jan 14th 2023, 3:01 PM

# Preview

Leinster primed to silence Gloucester's Shed despite absence of key leaders

The province go into today’s game without a number of frontliners, including James Lowe, who has returned to New Zealand due to a family issue.

6.6k

Jan 14th 2023, 8:30 AM

# advance

Leicester Tigers book Champions Cup last-16 place with win at Clermont

In a thrilling tie, the two-time European champions edged the try count five to four.

6.7k

Jan 13th 2023, 10:36 PM

# French mission

Fit-again Madigan starts Ulster's daunting trip to holders La Rochelle

Dan McFarland makes nine changes from the side beaten in Treviso last weekend.

9.0k

Jan 13th 2023, 12:56 PM

# Team news

Ross Byrne returns at out-half in strong Leinster XV for Gloucester trip

Cian Healy in line to win his 100th European cap at Kingsholm on Saturday.

12.0k

Jan 13th 2023, 12:37 PM

# Explainer

Plenty on the line as Irish provinces turn attention back to European Cup

All four provinces are in action on Saturday across a busy weekend in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.

5.9k

Jan 13th 2023, 7:00 AM

# Incentive

'The image of having my family and friends there at a final is definitely a motivating factor'

Caelan Doris on why Leinster are determined to add a fifth European star when the Champions Cup final comes to Dublin this year.

10.6k

Jan 12th 2023, 7:15 AM

Last year

2022

# ruled out

Toulouse star to miss Munster Champions Cup clash due to headbutting ban

Thomas Romas has been suspended for five weeks, tournament organisers announced.

11.6k

Dec 21st 2022, 9:02 PM

# bigger stage

Cullen: Munster-Leinster derby at Páirc Uí Chaoimh ‘would be great’ for growing the game

Leinster make the trip down to Thomond Park for a St Stephen’s Day interpro derby next week.

24.9k

Dec 19th 2022, 12:06 PM

# tails up

'It’s huge for us' - Munster step into Christmas on a high after Northampton win

Graham Rowntree was delighted with how his side dug in to beat the Saints at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday.

9.3k

Dec 19th 2022, 6:30 AM

# easy street

Toulouse stroll to comfortable bonus-point win over Sale

Antoine Dupont scored twice as his side ran in seven tries in a 45-19 victory.

7.8k

Dec 18th 2022, 5:08 PM

# Digging deep

Rowntree: 'I'm really proud of them. Our defensive effort was exceptional'

Graham Rowntree highlighted the work being done by defence coach Denis Leamy following Munster’s 17-6 win over Northampton Saints.

12.0k

Dec 18th 2022, 4:01 PM

# Up and Running

Coombes double powers Munster to victory in fiery clash with Northampton

The province did all their scoring in the first half to secure their first Champions Cup win of the season.

35.4k

Dec 18th 2022, 3:02 PM

# Ambition

Munster back playmakers to shine against Northampton and ignite their season

The province have rewarded Jack Crowley with his first start at inside centre after he linked up well with Joey Carbery last weekend.

20.1k

Dec 18th 2022, 8:00 AM

# grounded

Cullen: 'It's important that we're not getting carried away with ourselves'

Friday’s defeat of Gloucester saw Leinster take maximum points from their opening two Champions Cup fixtures.

8.9k

Dec 16th 2022, 11:19 PM

# cloud nine

Leinster put 9 tries past Gloucester in desperately one-sided Champions Cup clash

The province had little trouble dispatching the English side in at the RDS.

36.4k

Dec 16th 2022, 10:02 PM

# attacking mindset

'Munster in Europe, there’s no other expectation than to go over and win'

Munster fullback Mike Haley is preparing to return to a ground he knows well from his days in the Premiership.

6.2k

Dec 16th 2022, 7:15 AM

# change of pace

Ala'alatoa: 'It took me a while to adjust to the way Leinster play'

The tighthead joined the province from New Zealand’s Crusaders in summer 2021.

20.3k

Dec 15th 2022, 5:05 PM

# Packing His Bags

'We would have liked to keep him, it wasn't to be' - Munster disappointed to lose John Ryan

The prop’s move to New Zealand side the Chiefs was confirmed earlier this week.

21.9k

Updated

Dec 15th 2022, 12:02 PM

# playmaker

'He has loads of ability' - Munster impressed by Crowley's stint at centre

Denis Leamy gives his verdict on Sunday’s defeat to Toulouse and looks ahead to this weekend’s trip to Northampton.

11.2k

Dec 14th 2022, 3:54 PM

# Good to be back

James Lowe on Champions Cup mindset and preparing to play Santa for Leinster's 'outcasts'

The winger has looked sharp since returning from the calf injury which ruled him out of the first part of the season.

7.7k

Dec 14th 2022, 7:15 AM

# response

Toulouse proved too strong, but Munster can make trip to Northampton with confidence

Graham Rowntree insists his squad’s progress won’t be derailed by Sunday’s Champions Cup defeat at Thomond Park.

21.1k

Dec 12th 2022, 12:24 PM

# Wrap

Saracens and Leicester narrowly prevail in Champions Cup

It was a good day for English sides in the competition.

7.0k

Dec 11th 2022, 8:20 PM

# outmuscled

'When you play huge teams like this, you’ve got to deal with their power'

Graham Rowntree felt small margins were the difference as Munster fell to a Champions Cup defeat to Toulouse.

27.3k

Dec 11th 2022, 8:01 PM

# hard fought

Munster come up short in thick Thomond fog against dogged Toulouse

The province started brightly before the French side grew into the game to take a deserved opening round Champions Cup win.

33.6k

Dec 11th 2022, 5:13 PM

# too good

Sale open Champions Cup campaign with 6-try thrashing of Ulster

Tom Curry and Daniel Du Preez both went over in the first half at the Salford City Stadium.

15.1k

Dec 11th 2022, 3:33 PM

# heavy hitters

Munster look to give French giants Toulouse a taste of the old Thomond magic

Graham Rowntree’s side need a big performance if they are to get a result against the high-flying Top 14 leaders in Limerick today.

9.8k

Dec 11th 2022, 8:30 AM

# Class

Ronan O'Gara caps brilliant week as La Rochelle ease to win in Champions Cup opener

There was also an historic first in Durban where Sharks became the first South African franchise to take part in the new format.

16.9k

Dec 10th 2022, 9:57 PM

# Up for the challenge

Beirne: 'There's a special feeling around Europe in this club'

The Munster second row feels the province are in a good place ahead of the visit of Toulouse this weekend.

4.8k

Dec 9th 2022, 7:35 AM

# Key Man

Munster prepare plan to contain 'proper Jack-in-the-box' Antoine Dupont

The French scrum-half is part of a star-studded Toulouse team heading to Limerick this weekend.

14.2k

Dec 8th 2022, 8:00 AM

# Staying Put

Exeter's Rob Baxter rules out England job, expresses surprise at timing of Eddie Jones’ exit

Exeter have confirmed long-term deals for Baxter, head coach Ali Hepher, forwards coach Rob Hunter and skills coach Ricky Pellow.

5.9k

Dec 7th 2022, 12:24 PM

# Tough To Take

'I would have taken playing the worst game of my career if we had won'

Last weekend’s defeat to La Rochelle was a disappointing ending to what was a breakthrough season for Jimmy O’Brien on the European stage.

28.2k

Jun 3rd 2022, 3:00 PM

# Under Pressure

Leinster search for answers after another tough day at the scrum

Robin McBryde says the province ‘weren’t good enough’ in Saturday’s Champions Cup final.

9.4k

Jun 2nd 2022, 6:45 AM

# Second best

Sheehan: Champions Cup final defeat 'a hard one to get the head around'

The Leinster hooker says it’s been tough to digest Saturday’s loss to La Rochelle in Marseille.

5.0k

Jun 1st 2022, 7:00 AM