Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Dave Heffernan: 'We were just flat out there, it wasn't good enough'

Heffernan: Connacht didn't deliver against Bordeaux

Hooker Dave Heffernan says Connacht have no time to feel sorry for themselves after their heavy defeat to Bordeaux, with a trip to Saracens looming large.

Rugby • 11 Dec 23

Pete Wlikins saw his side concede six tries

Wilkins promises 'blunt' review for Connacht players

Head coach Pete Wilkins says Connacht will conduct a "pretty blunt" review of their heavy defeat at the hands of Bordeaux-Begles in the Champions Cup.

Rugby • 09 Dec 23

Bordeaux put Connacht to the sword in Champions Cup

Connacht's Champions Cup campaign got off to a disastrous start as they fell to a 41-5 defeat to Bordeaux-Begles and lost Mack Hansen to injury.

Rugby • 08 Dec 23

Champions Cup: Connacht 5-41 Bordeaux-Begles - recap

Follow our minute by minute coverage from the Sportsground, as Conncht begin their Investec Champions Cup campaign with a Pool 1 meeting against Bordeaux-Begles.

Rugby • 08 Dec 23

Bundee Aki is set for his first Connacht appearance of the season

Aki 'good to go' ahead of Connacht clash with Bordeaux

Ireland centre Bundee Aki is "good to go" and will be in the mix for Connacht's Champions Cup clash with Bordeaux Begles on Friday, head coach Pete Wilkins has confirmed.

Rugby • 04 Dec 23

Josh van der Flier scored twice as Leinster claimed a big win over Racing 92

Champions Cup team of the week: Leinster lead the way

Leinster and La Rochelle were the standout performers in the opening round of the Heineken Champions Cup while the newcomers from South Africa also made their mark.

Rugby • 12 Dec 22

Freddie Steward finishes off Leicester's third try

Leicester v Leinster, Munster v Toulouse in quarters

Leinster will travel to Welford Road to take on Leicester Tigers in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals, while Munster will host Toulouse.

Rugby • 16 Apr 22

O'Gara was not on the sideline for the game due to suspension

O'Gara's La Rochelle establish advantage over Bordeaux

Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle won 31-13 at Bordeaux in an all-Top 14 clash in the Heineken Champions Cup last-16.

Rugby • 09 Apr 22

Champions Cup wrap: Parra inspires Clermont to victory

Morgan Parra came off the bench to kick Clermont Auverge to a 25-19 victory over Sale Sharks in the Heineken Champions Cup, while Bordeaux ran in seven tries to comprehensively beat the Scarlets 45-10 at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.

Rugby • 16 Jan 22

Antoine Dupont's late try sealed the result

Toulouse too good for Bordeaux in Champions semi-final

Toulouse are into their first Heineken Champions Cup final in 11 years after beating Bordeaux-Begles 21-9 in the semi-final.

Rugby • 01 May 21

Leinster take on La Rochelle on Sunday, 2 May

Times and dates confirmed for European semi-finals

The dates and kick-off times for the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-finals have been confirmed by the EPCR.

Rugby • 13 Apr 21

Matthieu Jalibert of Bordeaux (c) takes the plaudits after his late heroics

Jalibert kicks Bordeaux into Champions Cup semis

Bordeaux-Begles are through to the Heineken Champions Cup semi-finals for the first time after the kicking of Matthieu Jalibert secured them a dramatic 24-21 victory over Racing 92 at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

Rugby • 11 Apr 21

Lekso Kaulashvili of Bordeaux-Begles is denied a try by the combined efforts of Luke Morahan, Semi Radradra and Steve Luatua of Bristol Bears

Bristol find extra gear to reach Challenge Cup final

Bristol reached their first European final by staging a stirring fightback to beat Challenge Cup opponents Bordeaux-Begles 37-20 after extra time at Ashton Gate.

Rugby • 25 Sep 20

The fixture is now set to be played on the last weekend of September

Ulster confirm Ian Madigan signing

Ulster have announced the signing of former Leinster out-half Ian Madigan who will link up with the province this summer.

Rugby • 14 Mar 20

Connacht's Jack Carty celebrates his try with Caolin Blade

Connacht to face Sale again after making last eight

Connacht are into the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup after a hugely spirited 33-27 victory in France against Bordeaux Begles.

Rugby • 19 Jan 19

Andy Friend: 'The boys didn't stop, they didn't stop whacking them'

'Not good for the heart' - Friend hails Connacht steel

Connacht head coach Andy Friend fancied his men to turn over Sale at the Sportsground, and said he was "proud" of a physical, gritty Challenge Cup display.

Rugby • 13 Jan 19

Colm De Buitlear is on the bench for his side's clash with Bordeaux Bégles

Connacht academy players on the bench against Bordeaux

Connacht head coach Andy Friend has named two academy players on the bench for his side's opening Challenge Cup game against Bordeaux Bégles at the Sportsground on Saturday (kick off 3pm).

Rugby • 12 Oct 18

Joy Neville is blazing a trail as a referee on the international stage.

History made as Neville referees European club fixture

Former Ireland rugby player Joy Neville has made history by becoming the first woman to referee a European professional club fixture.

Rugby • 16 Dec 17

Madigan was impressive from the tee in Bordeaux's win over Ulster

'Settled' Madigan not giving up on Ireland recall

Ian Madigan believes that he has not shown enough good form to warrant an Ireland call-up, but the Bordeaux out-half would not rule out playing some part in the upcoming Six Nations.

Rugby • 22 Jan 17

Bordeaux players react after scoring late on against Ulster

Ulster rue ‘atrocious’ second half display

Ulster performance director Bryn Cunningham described his side's second-half performance against Bordeaux-Begles as "nothing short of atrocious" after seeing victory dramatically snatched from their grasp.

european • 16 Oct 16

Iain Henderson tackles Jandre Marais in the Champions Cup clash

Late blitz condemns Ulster to defeat in Bordeaux

Ulster got their Champions Cup campaign off to a defeat after Bordeaux Begles fought back late in the second half to power to a 28-13 win in Pool 5.

Rugby • 16 Oct 16

Paddy Jackson and Ian Madigan may face off on Sunday

Pienaar hopeful Jackson can edge Madigan battle

Ruan Pienaar is familiar with the threat that Ian Madigan adds to Bordeaux-Begles but is backing fellow Ireland international Paddy Jackson to edge the out-half battle on Sunday.

Rugby • 13 Oct 16

Madigan hit 15 points on his Bordeaux Bègles debut

Madigan boots Bordeaux to Racing victory on debut

Ian Madigan got his Bordeaux Bègles career off to the perfect start as he kicked all his team’s points in the 15-9 home win over reigning champions Racing Metro 92 in the Top 14 season opener.

Rugby • 20 Aug 16