Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Jonny Holland: 'It's devastating for Leinster and redemption in the URC will offer scant consolation'

Leinster paid ultimate price for failing to change tack

Jonny Holland believes Leinster's decision not to change tact against Toulouse, in an effort to stick with their all-out attacking philosophy, cost them dearly in their latest Heineken Champions Cup final defeat.

Rugby • 28 May 24

The Champions Cup will have four pools of six teams next season, with three pools of six in the Challenge Cup

Four pools of six in revamped Champions Cup format

The Heineken Champions Cup will be revamped for next season with four pools of six teams introduced, tournament organisers have announced.

Rugby • 14 Jun 23

The Bristol Bears will play in next season's Champions Cup

Bristol to replace London Irish in Champions Cup

Bristol will replace London Irish in next season's Heineken Champions Cup, tournament organisers have announced.

Rugby • 09 Jun 23

'La Rochelle's firepower will cause Leinster problems if they can keep their discipline'

Leinster-La Rochelle rematch promises fitting crescendo

After two one-sided semi-finals, the final of the Champions Cup is the crescendo that we've all been waiting for.

Rugby • 02 May 23

Ulupano Seuteni (R) congrats his La Rochelle teammate Raymond Rhule on his try

O'Gara's La Rochelle set up blockbuster Leinster final

Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle set up another Heineken Champions Cuip final showdown with Leinster as they powered past Exeter Chiefs 47-28 at Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux on Sunday.

Rugby • 30 Apr 23

Leinster's James Ryan attempts to repel a Toulouse maul

Leinster's Ryan thrilled with defensive fortitude

Leinster captain James Ryan has said the way his team cut down the attacking prowess of Toulouse will give them immense confidence heading into the Heineken Champions Cup final next month.

Rugby • 29 Apr 23

Champions Cup SF recap: Leinster 41-22 Toulouse

Leinster blow Toulouse away to book their spot in the Champions Cup final.

Rugby • 29 Apr 23

Tom Wyatt runs in Exeter's first try in their demolition of the Stormers in the Champions Cup quarter-final in Sandy Park

Exeter Chiefs rout Stormers to book semi-final spot

Exeter emphatically ended South African interest in this season's Heineken Champions Cup as they booked a semi-final place by beating the Stormers 42-17 at Sandy Park.

Rugby • 08 Apr 23

Juan Cruz Mallia of Toulouse on his way to score his side's first try

Toulouse set up Leinster date as they crush Sharks

Toulouse booked a Heineken Champions Cup semi-final date with Leinster following a 54-20 victory over Sharks at Stade Ernest-Wallon.

Rugby • 08 Apr 23

Wigglesworth: Leinster's spending power explains gulf

Leinster have may earned a home route to potential Heineken Champions Cup glory but Leicester head coach Richard Wigglesworth warned the tournament favourites they have "got to go and win it" after past disappointments.

Rugby • 10 Apr 23

Exeter Chiefs' Jack Yeandle celebrates after scoring the winning try

Champions Cup wrap: Exeter through on try countback

Exeter reached the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals on try count after extra-time following a dramatic 33-33 draw with Montpellier at Sandy Park, while Saracens and Toulouse also advance to the last-eight.

Rugby • 02 Apr 23

Leinster will be back at the Aviva Stadium on Friday

Good Friday date confirmed for Leinster against Tigers

Leinster will play their Champions Cup quarter-final with Leicester Tigers on Good Friday, with an 8pm kick-off in the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 02 Apr 23

La Rochelle's French fly-half Antoine Hastoy (3th R) celebrates with team-mates at full-time

La Rochelle's dramatic late win denies Gloucester

Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle scored a late try to beat Gloucester 29-26 and reach the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals.

Rugby • 01 Apr 23

Leinster pulled clear in the second half to progress to the last eight

Leinster hold off Ulster to reach quarter-finals

Leinster are the last remaining Irish side in the Heineken Champions Cup after handing Ulster a 30-15 last-16 defeat at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 01 Apr 23

Jack Crowley, left, and John Hodnett dejected after the defeat

Rowntree dismayed by Munster's Durban drubbing

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree admitted he was 'hugely disappointed' after his side exited the Heineken Champions Cup after a 50-35 defeat to the Sharks in Durban.

Rugby • 01 Apr 23

RG Snyman tries to break the Sharks cover

Munster cut open by ravenous Sharks

A strong second-half performance from the Sharks saw them run out impressive 50-35 winners over Munster in their round of 16 Heinken Champions Cup clash in Durban.

Champions Cup • 01 Apr 23

Jasper Wiese (L) and Tom West celebrate at the final whistle

Leicester set up quarters clash with Leinster or Ulster

Jasper Wiese scored the game's only try on a wet night at Mattioli Woods Welford Road as Leicester Tigers reached the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup with a 16-6 win over Edinburgh.

Rugby • 31 Mar 23

Leinster did the double over Ulster in this season's URC

Champions Cup draw: Leinster v Ulster, Sharks v Munster

Leinster will face Ulster in the last 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup while Munster must travel to Durban to play the Cell C Sharks.

Rugby • 22 Jan 23

Jack O'Donoghue saw red in Munster's win over Northampton

Munster back row O'Donoghue banned for three weeks

Munster back row Jack O'Donoghue has been suspended for three weeks for a high tackle on Northampton's David Ribbans in his side's 27-23 Heineken Champions Cup win at Thomond Park last Saturday.

Rugby • 19 Jan 23

Keatley: Confident Munster starting to show more flair

Ian Keatley says Munster are beginning to show flickers of greater creativity with a string of good results breeding confidence in Graham Rowntree's squad.

Rugby • 16 Jan 23

'Rugby in those conditions is a different game'

La Rochelle-Ulster was a chess match played in a storm

A tactical and strategic battle played out in the eye of a Stade Marcel-Deflandre storm on Saturday - and Ulster almost judged it to perfection.

Rugby • 17 Jan 23

McFarland proud of Ulster effort in loss to La Rochelle

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland was proud of his side's efforts in their "heartbreaking" defeat to La Rochelle but felt they were denied what could have been a decisive penalty try in the low-scoring clash.

Rugby • 15 Jan 23

Ulster suffer late heartbreak against La Rochelle

Ulster suffered Heineken Champions Cup heartbreak after a last-minute La Rochelle try gave the holders victory at Stade Marcel Deflandre.

Rugby • 14 Jan 23

Alex Kendellen, left, and Antoine Frisch celebrate victory at the full-time whistle

14-man Munster withstand Northampton fightback

Fourteen-man Munster hung on to claim a Heineken Champions Cup double over Northampton, with Gavin Coombes scoring two first-half tries to help set up a 27-23 win at Thomond Park.

Rugby • 14 Jan 23

Jordan Larmour gives Leinster an early lead at Kingsholm

Lethal Leinster outclass Gloucester

Leinster cruised into the Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 after sweeping aside Gloucester 49-14 at Kingsholm.

Rugby • 14 Jan 23