Champions Cup

Irish Provinces Add Firepower to Their European Squads

The Irish provinces have added players to their European squads ahead of the quarter-finals

Published

4 years ago

March 14, 2019

Joshua Freeman

Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images

All four Irish provinces have added players to their squads before their respective European quarter-finals.

Under the European Cup rules the teams that have qualified for the knock-out stages are entitled to add up to three players to their respective squads.

Leinster, Munster and Ulster have taken full advantage adding three each to their Champions Cup sides while Connacht have brought two into their Challenge Cup squad.

Leinster, who face Ulster in the last eight in the Aviva on March 30th, have chosen to include a fit-again Joe Tomane, who was released earlier in the competition to receive surgery on his hamstring, winger Barry Daly and prop Vakh Abdaladze.

.@DalyBJOfficial, @JoeTomane29 and Vakh Abdaladze have been added to #LeinsterRugby's European squad ahead of the Heineken #ChampionsCup quarter-final against Ulster, subject to confirmation by EPCR. pic.twitter.com/iM320jQBjI

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) March 14, 2019

On the other side, Ulster have included Luke Marshall, who had been missing through injury, James Hume and Tommy O’Hagan, as they hope to dethrone the reigning champions.

Embed from Getty Images

Munster have brought in James Cronin, Bill Johnston and Jack O’Donoghue for their match away to Edinburgh. The latter could be vital as they are currently without Tommy O’Donnell who is out with a shoulder issue.

SQUAD UPDATE | Dave O'Callaghan returns to full training this week as James Cronin, Bill Johnston and Jack O'Donoghue are nominated as our additional players for the Champions Cup.

Full details > > https://t.co/4tgMs9f6Hz #MUNvZEB #SUAF ? pic.twitter.com/NqiZXkPdlM

— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) March 14, 2019

In the Challenge Cup, Connacht have registered Tom Daly and Stephen Fitzgerald, on loan from Leinster and Munster respectively, for their clash with Sale in two weeks’ time.

The additions are great to have, and we will have to wait and see if any of them play a pivotal role in getting their side through to the final four.

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Champions Cup

Sio poised for Exeter debut

Published

1 month ago

October 28, 2022

Huge Rugby

Australia prop Scott Sio is set to start for his Exeter Chiefs debut as the 2020 Heineken Champions Cup winners visit Gloucester Rugby in the Gallagher Premiership on Friday night.

The 31-year-old, who could get his first taste of EPCR competition when Exeter travel to Castres Olympique in their Heineken Champions Cup Pool A opener on December 10, comes in as one of five changes to the side that started last Saturday’s 22-20 defeat to Saracens.

Captain Jack Yeandle comes in at hooker, with flanker Lewis Pearson the other change in the pack, while fit-again wing Josh Hodge is handed a start along with centre Rory O’Loughlin.

Gloucester, who welcome Union Bordeaux-Bègles in their first Heineken Champions Cup Pool A fixture, also on December 10, have made four alterations to the starting XV for their 22-21 win at London Irish a week ago.

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Get those diaries out, start booking 🗓

Here’s R1️⃣#HeinekenChampionsCup

— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) October 7, 2022

Prop Harry Elrington and lock Cam Jordan are brought in, with Ben Morgan starting at No.8 as Ruan Ackermann shifts to blindside flanker. Lloyd Evans is also called up at full-back, with Santiago Carreras switching to the wing.

Leinster Rugby are the other Heineken Champions Cup side in action on Friday as they make the trip to Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship.

The Irish province are much-changed from their 27-13 victory over Munster Rugby last Saturday, with flanker Scott Penny the only player to retain his place.

Centre Charlie Ngatai, fly-half Ross Byrne, prop Ed Byrne and lock Ross Molony are all involved for last season’s Heineken Champions Cup runners-up, while Tadgh McElroy, Charlie Tector and Ben Brownlee are all potential debutants from the bench.

Content & Images from – EPC Rugby

Champions Cup

Racing 92 v Leinster set for Le Havre

Published

2 months ago

October 7, 2022

Huge Rugby

The EPCR have this morning confirmed the full 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup pool stage fixture dates, kick-off times, venues and TV coverage, including the venue for the December clash between Leinster Rugby and Racing 92 in France.

EPCR had already confirmed this week that BT Sport, as well as RTÉ, ITV and S4C, have all agreed multi-year partnerships for the new broadcast cycle in Ireland and the UK.

BT Sport, who have been a partner since 2015, have recommitted as lead broadcaster in Ireland and the UK until the conclusion of the 2023/24 season.

In addition, RTÉ, has come on board in Ireland to provide free-to-air coverage.

RTÉ has already confirmed that it will broadcast both Leinster Rugby home games in the pool stages of the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup on free-to-air on RTÉ2 television and on RTÉ Player.

The agreements with RTÉ and ITV, which will see each broadcaster cover one Heineken Champions Cup match per round in Ireland and in the UK – including the Final – on a free-to-air basis, also run until the end of the 2023/24 season.

Click HERE for the full 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup pool stage fixtures.

Leinster Rugby will start their campaign on Saturday, 10 December against three-time finalists, Racing 92, in Pool A and that game will be broadcast on BT Sport. The game will be played at the 25,000-capacity Stade Océane in Le Havre.

On Friday, 16 December 2022, at 8pm, Leinster Rugby will host Gloucester Rugby at the RDS Arena for the Round 2, Pool A encounter (live on RTÉ TV).

After the Christmas break, on Saturday 14 January 2023, it’s the return leg, as Leinster visit Kingsholm Stadium to take on Gloucester with a 1pm kick-off (live on ITV).