Champions Cup
Ulster reach Champions Cup quarter finals
Featuring James Nesbitt.

A strong second half showing saw Ulster reach their first European quarter final since 2014, beating Leicester 14-13 this afternoon
It was a scrappy opening half at Welford Road, both sides getting turned over multiple times, and handling errors and misplaced passes the order of the day. Both sides had 5 handling errors after half an hour. Ulster struggles out of touch, several lineout throws going amiss for Rory Best.
Leicester came close to the Ulster line after around 25 minutes, after a rare break from Dan Cole, but a dropped ball saw to that chance. First points of the game went to Leicester, George Ford slotted a penalty kick after 31 minutes.
Ulster had their first sniff of the Leicester 22 shortly before half time. Stuart McCloskey smashed through the Leicester defensive line, but nobody was there to support Dave Shanahan after he took the offload, and the chance was lost, much to the dismay of some of the famous faces in the crowd.
The games first try came with the clock in the red. Quick ball from the Leicester forwards fed George Ford, who stuck a nicely weighted grubber kick through the Ulster defence, for Matt Toomua to touch down. There was a hint of Toomua being in front of the kicker but the ref awarded the try without consulting the TMO. Ford converted from the
The second half started with more of the same. Ulster again letting themselves down with the basics, leaving the ball unprotected at the breakdown a number of times. Leicester went 13-0 ahead after 50 mins, another kick from George Ford.
Ulster squandered a great chance not long later. A penalty well in
The introduction of John Cooney made a huge difference, his direction finally allowed Ulster to string a few phases together in attack, and look threatening. A strong lineout maul saw Marty Moore finally get some points on the board for Ulster, after 58 minutes. Cooney nailed the kick to make it 13-7.
The try put the wind in Ulster’s sails, and they began playing with real confidence. A beautiful chip from Billy Burns bounced into the hands of Robert Baloucoune who touched down under the sticks to put Ulster in front.
While Ulster got the job done today, there is cause for concern. No points until the 55th minute, and 4 lineouts lost on their own throw, they will have much to work on between now and the end of March, when they will have an away
Champions Cup
All You Need To Know | Toulouse v Munster


Munster face Toulouse at Stade Ernest-Wallon for just the second time at the weekend in the fourth and final Pool game of this year’s Champions Cup.
Both sides will be named before 12pm on Friday.
It will be a huge weekend of Champions Cup rugby, see the state of play in the competition here with all 12 teams in Munster’s Pool in with a shout of qualifying for the knock-out stages.
Find out all you need to know ahead of the game below.
Where?
Stade Ernest-Wallon
When?
Sunday, 3.15pm Irish time/4.15pm local
Broadcast
Live on BT Sport, France TV, beIN Sports, SuperSport & FloRugby.
Munster News
Did you know?
The sides have met nine times previously in the competition with Munster and Toulouse winning four times apiece. There was one draw in last year’s quarter-final with Toulouse winning the place-kicking competition to progress.
Gavin Coombes has scored four tries in three Champions Cup matches and is the joint leading try-scorer in the competition.
Munster have played at the Stade Ernest-Wallon twice previously. The first game was a 60-19 defeat to Toulouse in November 1996 and the second was a 27-24 victory over Castres Olympique in November 2011. Coincidentally, Munster’s win over Castres came a week after a win over Northampton at Thomond Park. Both victories were secured with last-minute Ronan O’Gara drop-goals.
Previous Meetings
November 1996
Champions Cup Pool Stage: Toulouse 60-19 Munster, Stade Ernest-Wallon;
May 2000
Champions Cup Semi-Final: Toulouse 25-31 Munster, Stade Chaban Delmas, Bordeaux;
April 2003
Champions Cup Semi-Final: Toulouse 13-12 Munster, Stade Toulouse;
May 2008
Champions Cup Final: Munster 16-13 Toulouse, Millennium Stadium;
April 2014
Champions Cup Quarter-Final: Munster 47-23 Toulouse, Thomond Park;
April 2017
Champions Cup Quarter-Final: Munster 41-16 Toulouse, Thomond Park;
April 2021
Champions Cup Round of 16: Munster 33-40 Toulouse, Thomond Park (behind closed doors);
May 2022
Champions Cup Quarter-Final: Munster 24-24 Toulouse (Toulouse win place-kicking competition), Aviva Stadium;
December 2022
Champions Cup Pool Stage: Munster 13-18 Toulouse, Thomond Park;
Match Officials
Referee: Karl Dickson
AR1: Dan Jones
AR2: Phil Watters
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Tickets
URC Round 14
Friday, February 17, 2023
Munster Rugby v Ospreys, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 15
Friday, March 3, 2023
Munster Rugby v Scarlets, Musgrave Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 16
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Munster Rugby v Glasgow Warriors, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Champions Cup
Disciplinary decisions

Cobus Wiese suspended for two weeks
The Sale Sharks second row, Cobus Wiese, has been suspended for two weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against Stade Toulousain at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Wiese was sent off by the referee, Mike Adamson (Scotland), in the 18th minute of the match for a dangerous clear out on the Stade Toulousain prop, Dorian Aldegheri, in contravention of Law 9.20.
Law 9.20 Dangerous play in a ruck or maul
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.20 relating to dangerous play in a ruck or maul carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks
An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Rhian Williams (Wales), Chair, Mike Ross (Ireland) and Lawrence Sephaka (South Africa) considered video imagery of the incident and heard submissions from Wiese, who accepted the red card decision, from the Sale Sharks Director of Rugby, Alex Sanderson, from the Sale Sharks Team Manager, Scott Needham, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
Following submissions, the committee upheld the red card decision, but decided that the incident should be considered as being in contravention of Law 9.20 (b) which refers to dangerous play at a ruck or maul when a player makes contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders.
Law 9.20 (b) A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.20 (b) carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 4 weeks; Top end: 8 to 52 weeks
It determined that Wiese entered the ruck dangerously making contact with Aldegheri above the line of the shoulders, that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions, and four weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
Due to the player’s good disciplinary record and his guilty plea, it was decided to grant him the full 50% mitigation and the committee therefore reduced the sanction by two weeks before imposing a two-week suspension.
Wiese is free to play on Monday, 30 January 2023, however, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 23 January 2023.
Both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
Henry Slade red card dismissed
The Exeter Chiefs centre, Henry Slade, has had the red card which was issued to him during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against the Vodacom Bulls, dismissed following an independent Disciplinary Hearing.
Slade was sent off by the replacement referee, Thomas Charabas (France), in the 54th minute of the match at Loftus Versfeld for tackling the Vodacom Bulls full back, Kurt-Lee Arendse, in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.
Law 9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent dangerously
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.13 relating to dangerous tackling carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks
An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Jennifer Donovan (Ireland), Chair, Frank Hadden (Scotland) and Yannick Jauzion (France) considered video imagery of the incident and heard evidence from Slade, who did not accept the red card decision, and heard submissions from the player’s legal representative, Richard Smith KC, from the Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The committee decided that while Slade had committed an act of foul play, it did not warrant a sending off. The red card decision was therefore dismissed and he is free to play.
EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
EPCR CHALLENGE CUP
Geoffrey Lanne-Petit suspended for five weeks and Section Paloise fined €25,000 (suspended)
The Section Paloise Attack Coach, Geoffrey Lanne-Petit, has been suspended for five weeks and Section Paloise have been handed a suspended €25,000 fine following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from the club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round 1 match against the Toyota Cheetahs at Stade du Hameau.
EPCR brought a misconduct complaint against Lanne-Petit, who was alleged to have committed an act of misconduct in contravention of EPCR’s Disciplinary Rules by verbally abusing the Assistant Referee, Hollie Davidson (Scotland), following the conclusion of the match.
Also, EPCR brought a second misconduct complaint against Section Paloise who were alleged to have failed to control staff members, and/or persons connected to the club, following the conclusion of the match.
An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Gareth Graham (England), Chair, David Humphreys (Ireland) and Donal Courtney (Ireland) heard evidence and submissions from Lanne-Petit, who accepted the misconduct charge, from the
Section Paloise President, Bernard Pontneau, from the Section Paloise legal representative, Benjamin Peyrelevade, from the Section Paloise Chief Executive, Pierre Lahore and from the Section Paloise Legal Manager, Marie Anglade.
The committee also heard evidence and submissions from the match Assistant Referee, Hollie Davidson, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The committee found that Lanne-Petit had committed an act of misconduct in that he verbally abused Hollie Davidson following the match and it was decided to suspend him for five weeks.
Lanne-Petit is therefore suspended from any match day contact with the Section Paloise playing squad, including, but not limited to, access to the Technical Zone, pitchside, dressing rooms, any team areas and team communications systems until midnight on Sunday, 26 February.
In addition, the committee found that Section Paloise were guilty of failing to control members of their coaching staff and persons connected to the club who disrespected the authority of the match officials following the conclusion of the match.
Section Paloise were fined €25,000 with the amount suspended until the end of the 2023/24 season which would only become payable if Section Paloise are found to have committed a further breach of EPCR’s Disciplinary Rules during that period.
Lanne-Petit, Section Paloise and EPCR have the right to appeal the decisions
Champions Cup
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For Toulouse Trip


The Munster squad have started preparations ahead of Sunday’s Champions Cup clash against Toulouse at a sold-out Stade Ernest-Wallon (3.15pm Irish time, live on BT Sport).
Due to the weather conditions, training has been moved to the main pitch at Thomond Park for this week.
Along with the squad members who were in Champions Cup action against Northampton on Saturday, there were 12 Munster players playing in the AIL for their clubs at the weekend.
Liam O’Connor helped Cork Constitution to a 32-27 victory over Dublin University.
Neil Cronin, Oli Morris, Tony Butler and Mark Donnelly featured for Garryowen in their 19-13 defeat to Clontarf with Morris scoring a try and Butler kicking a penalty.
Darragh McSweeney and Kieran Ryan were in action for Shannon as they were beaten 34-24 by Lansdowne.
Dan Goggin, Eoin O’Connor, Chris Moore, Patrick Campbell and Conor Phillips lined out for Young Munster as they fell to a 21-11 loss to Terenure College.
On the injury front, there is good news for Diarmuid Barron (shoulder) as he has returned to full team training.
Roman Salanoa was removed with an arm injury during the win over Northampton and will be managed by the medical department. His availability for Toulouse will be determined later in the week.
Jack Crowley is being managed following an ankle injury sustained against Northampton and his availability will also be determined later in the week.
Simon Zebo suffered a low-grade knee injury in training last week and is not available this week as he rehabilitates with the medical department. His injury is not expected to be long term.
Continuing to rehab: Jeremy Loughman (thigh), Tom Ahern (shoulder), RG Snyman (knee), Fineen Wycherley (shoulder), Paddy Kelly (head), Jack Daly (knee), Andrew Conway (knee), Keynan Knox (knee), Kiran McDonald (arm).
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