Gloucester and Ospreys to battle in hope of finding consistency April 12, 2024 If, at the turn of the new year, you thought Gloucester would win one of the three competitions they were competing in, many would have laughed. They were on a rotten run in the Premiership but unbeaten in the domestic and European cup competitions. A season of inconsistency. That has continued, in part, through until [...]
Vodacom Bulls have chance at shock Champions Cup upset April 12, 2024 And then there were eight. The Investec Champions Cup round of 16 threw up a couple of incredible ties as those with hopes of lifting club rugby’s most prestigious trophy were tested to the nines. So with four tantalising quarter-final ties ahead of us here are my predictions for the quarter-finals, as well my outside [...]
Champions Cup sponsors Investec team up with School of Hard Knocks charity April 11, 2024 Investec, the leading financial services group and title sponsor of the Investec Champions Cup, has today announced a three-year partnership with School of Hard Knocks (SOHK), a social inclusion charity that uses sport to teach valuable skills to underprivileged people. Through the partnership, Investec will provide participating children with career insights and development days. It [...]
Strawbridge to replace Sinfield in England rugby set-up April 9, 2024 Veteran New Zealand rugby coach Andrew Strawbridge has joined England on a full-time deal after a short stint with Steve Borthwick’s side during the Six Nations. The 59-year-old spent the first four weeks of this year’s Guinness Six Nations with England with the side coming third behind Ireland and France in the competition. “My brief [...]
Champions Cup loss end of era for Saracens with Farrell leaving April 8, 2024 For Owen Farrell, and likely the Vunipola brothers Mako and Billy, the curtain fell on a glittering Investec Champions Cup career with Saracens at the weekend. Because the trio of stalwart players – with over 600 Saracens, 250 England and 16 British and Irish Lions appearances between them – were dumped out of the continental [...]
Investec Champions Cup quarter-final draw, when do teams play? April 7, 2024 Premiership clubs made it three years on the trot with three teams in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals this weekend in a good showing for the domestic game in England. It leaves open the possibility of an all-English final later this year at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Northampton Saints, Exeter Chiefs and Harlequins each won [...]
Saints march on to Champions Cup quarters with win over Munster April 7, 2024 Northampton Saints reached their first quarter-final since 2020 yesterday after a ferocious performance saw them down Irish giants Munster 24-14 in the Investec Champions Cup. The victory at Franklin’s Gardens was hard-fought but with Munster dealing with illness in their camp, Northampton were able to pull away in the dying moments to reach the last [...]
La Rochelle need heroics to emulate Toulon three-peat in Champions Cup April 5, 2024 When La Rochelle reached last year’s Champions Cup final at the Aviva Stadium they became the third team – alongside fellow French Top 14 sides Toulouse and Toulon – to feature in three consecutive finals. Toulouse and La Rochelle managed to win two of their three appearances while Toulon’s Galacticos – featuring the likes of [...]
Ollie Phillips: Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 predictions April 5, 2024 The Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 takes place this weekend and the competition is so difficult to call. There are all-French ties, all-English ties and a number of multinational matches to get the taste buds salivating. I am backing three English Premiership, two United Rugby Championship and three French Top 14 teams to progress [...]
Leicester Tigers fined £47,000 for breaching salary cap April 1, 2024 Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers have been fined £47,000 for breaching the salary cap in the 2019-2020 season. The club has accepted and paid an overrun tax with the club’s chief executive Andrea Pinchen stating: “While disappointed to again have historic salary cap spending relating to 2019/20 season result in this overrun tax, as was [...]