European rugby success in Champions Cup

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The European Champions Cup has been dominated in the last decade by three teams: Leinster, Toulon, and Saracens. This ruthless domination offers up a common question: is there a specific blueprint to achieve European rugby success? Three key principles from that question stand-alone to assist a side to win a European Champions Cup. However, not […] READ MORE


South African prop Maks van Dyk signs for Exeter Chiefs

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Exeter Chiefs have announced the signing of South African prop Maks van Dyk. The prop comes in largely to cover the exodus of tight-head props from Exeter to international duty. Rob Baxter’s men find themselves without Harry Williams and Tomas Francis for the upcoming Autumn Nations Cup. As a result, van Dyk joins Exeter after […] READ MORE



Richie Gray excited by Glasgow Warriors return

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Richie Gray is delighted to be back home in Scotland after re-joining Glasgow Warriors from Toulouse. The 30-year-old returned to Scotland last month and spent two weeks with his family in quarantine before joining up with the Warriors’ squad as they take part in voluntary fitness testing sessions at BT Murrayfield ahead of the return […] READ MORE


Top 25 Champions Cup pool stage performers

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The 2019-20 Champions Cup campaign may be curtailed, but with plans to yet finish the competition off, Last Word takes a look back through the history books to bring you the top 25 teams in terms of points collected in the pool stages.  Champions Cup history – Pool points The points are taken from every […] READ MORE



French rugby renaissance good for northern hemisphere competition

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With three wins from three played, many are wondering if the French are back to their best. Are we witnessing a French rugby renaissance? A strong start in 2020 saw four valuable points gained in their opening Six Nations match victory over England. Within sixty minutes of game two (against Italy) the try bonus point […] READ MORE


Champions Cup power rankings

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With the final stages of Champions Cup pool matches completed Robert Rees takes a look at the final round of power rankings. 1st – Leinster – (-) Leinster retain the top spot and head into the quarter finals with 28 out of a possible 30 points. They rampaged through both Lyon and Benetton in their […] READ MORE



Champions Cup 2019/20: time for a new champion

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Following Saracens’ fine and points deduction in the Gallagher Premiership, the London club are unlikely to be able to compete on both domestic and European fronts this season. They will most likely to also not feature in the Champions Cup next season. Therefore, it is time for a new winner in the Champions Cup 2019/20 […] READ MORE