Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Ali Williams: 'It's going to be 15 people on either side fighting it out and battling to make inches'

Williams: Toulon not sidetracked by treble bid

World Cup winner Ali Williams insists Toulon are not being distracted by the possibility of making European rugby history this season as they face Leinster for a place in the Champions Cup final.

Rugby • 17 Apr 15

As you were - coach Matt O'Connor makes no changes to the side that beat Bath in the quarter-finals

Leinster stick with tried & trusted for Toulon tie

Leinster have named the same starting XV that beat Bath for their Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon on Sunday.

Rugby • 17 Apr 15

Leinster were beaten out the gate last year

O'Gara: Hurting Leinster ready to erupt in France

Leinster are hurting and ready to “erupt” against Toulon in the Champions Cup semi-final, according to Ronan O’Gara.

Rugby • 17 Apr 15

Jimmy Gopperth (L) has sights firmly set on beating Toulon

Gopperth eyes European final as parting glory

Jimmy Gopperth is targeting a semi-final win over Toulon so the Leinster back can fulfil his dream of ending his time in Ireland with a place the Champions Cup final.

Rugby • 16 Apr 15

Sean Cronin: 'It’s a daunting task but I think we’ve got the group of players here to go over there and get a win'

Cronin issues battle cry to Leinster team-mates

Sean Cronin has called on his Leinster team-mates to play the best game of their careers when they face double Champions Cup winners Toulon in France on Sunday.

Rugby • 16 Apr 15

Wayne Barnes gives a penalty against Ireland

Wayne Barnes to referee Toulon v Leinster

English referee Wayne Barnes will take charge of Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final withToulon on Sunday.

Rugby • 14 Apr 15

Carl Hayman feels Toulon must up their game in order to secure an unprecedented three back-to-back European Cup titles

Hayman: Toulon must improve to win European Cup

Carl Hayman has admitted Toulon "have a lot of work to do" to secure an unprecedented third consecutive European title, despite reaching the Champions Cup semi-finals.

Rugby • 06 Apr 15

Toulon's Delon Armitage breaks with the ball during the win over Wasps

Toulon book semi-final spot against Leinster

Toulon failed to convince but still stepped up their quest for a record-breaking third consecutive European title by edging past Wasps 32-18 at Stade Mayol to book a Champions Cup semi-final clash with Leinster.

Rugby • 05 Apr 15

Sebastien Tillous-Borde will not feature for France against Scotland

Tillous-Borde out of Scotland match

Injured scrum-half Sebastien Tillous-Borde has been ruled out of France's Six Nations opening game against Scotland with manager Philippe Saint-Andre leaving him out of his 31-man squad for Saturday's clash at the Stade de France.

Rugby • 02 Feb 15

A dejected Ulster side trudge off the field after their record loss at Stade Mayol

Wilson disappointed by Ulster defence

Roger Wilson has spoken of his disappointment at the standard of Ulster’s defending in their record 60-22 European defeat at the hands of a rampant Toulon side.

Rugby • 17 Jan 15

Toulon's Argentinian fly-half Nicolas Sanchez touches down

Ulster hammered by champs Toulon

Ulster’s disappointing Champions Cup campaign continued in Toulon as they lost 60-22 to the reigning European champions.

Rugby • 17 Jan 15

Delon Armitage is now free to play on 9 February

Delon Armitage ban reduced to eight weeks

Toulon full-back Delon Armitage has had his 12-week ban for using abusive language reduced to eight on appeal.

Rugby • 09 Jan 15

Toulon and Ulster will clash in round five of the Champions Cup

Ulster to face Toulon at Stade Félix Mayol

The EPCR has confirmed that Ulster's away clash with Toulon will be held at Stade Felix Mayol and not the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice.

Rugby • 16 Dec 14

Delon Armitage may face sanctions for his rant following Toulon's defeat against Leicester

Toulon offer apology to Leicester over rants

Toulon have apologised for Martin Castrogiovanni and Delon Armitage's foul-mouthed rants at a European Champions Cup game against Leicester Tigers last weekend.

Rugby • 10 Dec 14

Romain Taofifenua has been cited for a kick on Stuart Olding

Toulon's Taofifenua cited for alleged kick

Toulon's Romain Taofifenua has been cited for an alleged kick to the head on Ulster's Stuart Olding during the Irish province's 23-13 defeat on Saturday.

Rugby • 28 Oct 14

Ulster's Rory Best and Ian Humphreys dejected after the game

Best: Toulon destroyed us in breakdown

Captain Rory Best conceded it was Ulster’s failures in the breakdown which led to their downfall against Toulon, leaving Neil Doak’s charges’ Champions Cup hopes seemingly in tatters after a 23-13 home defeat.

Rugby • 27 Oct 14

Ulster's Stuart Olding tackles Delon Armitage of Toulon

Toulon seriously dent Ulster's Euro hopes

Ulster suffered a second successive Champions Cup defeat when they went down 23-13 at home to French kingpins Toulon, leaving Neil Doak’s side with just one point from two games in Pool Three.

Rugby • 27 Oct 14

Steffon Armitage warms up prior to the Top 14 rugby clash between Toulon and Aviron Bayonnais

Armitage in talks to sign for Premiership club

Toulon No 8 Steffon Armitage could be set to end his England exile with a surprise return to the Premiership to make himself available for the national team ahead of the 2015 World Cup.

Rugby • 14 Oct 14

Jonny Wilkinson: 'All I can do is thank everyone in the group, the coaches, it's incredible to explain, it's just a pleasure'

Wilkinson signs off in style with Top 14 win

Jonny Wilkinson guided Toulon to Top 14 glory in his last game before retirement as the French side claimed their second trophy of the season with an 18-10 victory over Castres.

Rugby • 01 Jun 14

A person of his stature will undoubtedly bring something more in the frame, says Bernard Laporte

Wilkinson may join Toulon coaching staff

Jonny Wilkinson is set to be added to Toulon's coaching staff next season, according to reports.

Rugby • 28 May 14

Steffon Armitage has been judged to be the best player in Europe

Armitage named ERC European Player of the Year

Steffon Armitage of Heineken Cup champions Toulon has been named ERC European Player of the Year 2014.

Rugby • 26 May 14

Juan Smith crashes over for Toulon's second try

Toulon are crowned Heineken Cup champions

Toulon have been crowned Heineken Cup champions for the second successive season following a convincing 23-6 victory over a listless Saracens side in the event's showpiece final at the Millennium Stadium.

Rugby • 24 May 14

Eoin Sheriff had been a replacement in Saracens' quarter-final win over Ulster

Borthwick return means Sheriff misses out

Steve Borthwick has recovered from injury and will captain Saracens in their Heineken Cup final clash with Toulon, but there is no place for Wexford lock Eoin Sheriff.

Rugby • 23 May 14

Wilkinson to retire at the end of the season

Jonny Wilkinson has announced that he will retire from rugby at the end of this season in a statement published on Toulon's official website.

Rugby • 19 May 14

Rob Penney addresses the press after his side's defeat to Toulon

Penney: Poor penalty calls at scrum crucial

Munster head coach Rob Penney has blamed poor refereeing decisions at the scrum against Toulon as crucial momentum swingers against his side in their Heineken Cup semi-final defeat.

Rugby • 28 Apr 14