THE AUTUMN Internationals are just around the corner, with the Irish tasked to banish all memories of that humiliating 60-0 whitewash in Hamilton. If you cast your mind back, Ireland…
European Champions Cup
Europe Round Two: Winners and Losers
YOU CANNOT win the Heineken Cup in Round Two, but you can go some way to losing it. After another action-packed weekend from across the continent, here and the winners…
Why the hype over France’s Gael Fickou
LET'S NOT get carried away. Gael Fickou had a good game for Toulouse in their win over Leicester on Sunday, but was the 18-year-old’s try-scoring performance really that special? Sure,…
Harlequins and Saracens pose strongest English threat in Europe
A BRIEF scan of the results from Round One of the Heineken Cup highlighted that English sides may not be as far off the pace when it comes to the…
Can Exeter’s remarkable rise continue against Leinster?
THIS TIME three years ago, Exeter were still in the RFU Championship, in the middle of a week that started by playing London Welsh at Sandy Park and finished with…
Five players to look out for in the Heineken Cup
IN A competition packed full of Europe's finest players, certain talents will always stand out. Here are five stars set to make a big impression in this season's Heineken Cup:
Edinburgh reject Saracens proposal to play in Cape Town
EDINBURGH RUGBY have rejected a proposal to play their away Heineken Cup match against Saracens at Cape Town Stadium in South Africa, describing the concept as "simply not an option…
Can the French clubs rule in Europe?
WITH THE 2012-13 Heineken Cup starting on Friday how healthy are the French clubs ahead of the opening round? Runaway Top 14 leaders Toulon play Montpellier on Sunday evening but…
Byrne’s gunning for Heineken glory
IT IS a year since Lee Byrne won the last of his 46 caps for Wales, but the 32-year-old full-back hasn’t given up hope of hitting his half century this…
Heineken Cup Pool draw kind to Quins
REIGNING HEINEKEN Cup champions, Leinster, have been drawn in Pool 5 of the 2012/13 tournament and will face ASM Clermont Auvergne, Scarlets and newcomers, Exeter Chiefs, as they attempt to…