Champions Cup

Connacht prepared for ‘serious challenge’ from Saracens in Champions Cup opener

Ciarán Frawley will make his home debut for Connacht at outhalf against English Premiership side

Poignant and significant night for Munster as they face Racing 92

Must-win match for Munster in Champions Cup comes 10 years after Anthony Foley’s death

Leinster to bring evolved attack against Clermont Auvergne as they begin Champions Cup campaign

Champions Cup match has the signs of being a similar tussle, one from which Leinster can again emerge victorious

Lions player Hyron Andrews found dead before Champions Cup game against La Rochelle

SA Rugby said Andrews fell at hotel in tragic accident as squad will play on Saturday to honour teammate

Leinster’s chances of Champions Cup glory look slim for a number of reasons

Perhaps the biggest challenge for Leinster is that they will effectively be trying to win with virtually an entirely home-grown team

Sam Prendergast starts for Leinster against Clermont Auvergne with Joey Carbery named on bench

Ciarán Frawley will make his home debut for Connacht in Champions Cup clash with Saracens on Saturday

Charlie O’Shea and Seán Edogbo to make Champions Cup debuts for Munster

Province will play without a number eight jersey against Racing 92, in tribute to the late Anthony Foley

Champions Cup stats show hope of breaking French stranglehold is clutching at straws

Form book and numbers indicate predictions of another French European triumph are well-founded

Leinster v Clermont Auvergne: The best moments from a European rugby rivalry

From Johnny Sexton’s kicking masterclass to Gordon D’Arcy’s last-minute tackle, a look back at some of the clubs’ Champions Cup encounters

Craig Casey aiming to maximise Páirc Uí Chaoimh factor on emotional night for Munster

Scrumhalf admits he doesn’t know how occasion will affect him but is focused on delivering a performance to honour Anthony Foley

Memory lane reminds Leo Cullen of the challenge awaiting Leinster at Clermont

Province gets Champions Cup campaign under way in France on Saturday

Champions Cup pool guide: Leinster, Munster and Connacht’s opponents reviewed and rated

Toulouse and Bordeaux Bègles joint favourites to win tournament, but shocks may await Top 14 aces

Leinster’s James Ryan looking forward to ‘proper’ French test at Clermont

Dominating at set-pieces is crucial, Leinster lock says

‘The dark arts are slowly going out of the game’: Tadhg Beirne adapting to law tweaks

Munster captain says changes to mauls can ‘clean up the game’

Munster aim to honour Anthony Foley in best way possible – with victory against Racing

Province have several gestures prepared to mark the tenth anniversary of head coach’s death

Champions Cup has a jeopardy problem: can anyone stop France’s Top 14 giants?

But Leinster could be left-field candidate to challenge predictable stranglehold of Toulouse and Bordeaux

Edwin Edogbo and Will Harrison likely to return for Munster’s clash with Racing 92

Tom Ahern and Fineen Wycherley may also be back for Champions Cup opener at Páirc Uí Chaoimh

It’s death by a thousand tweaks for the once-great Champions Cup

Changes to the calendar only weaken a competition that has never been truly loved in England and France

Connacht daring to dream on return to Champions Cup

‘Why can’t a club like Connacht ever potentially win it?’ asks Stuart Lancaster

How are Munster, Leinster and Connacht looking ahead of Champions Cup openers?

Leo Cullen says Leinster need to improve attacking cohesion, although the form of Sam Prendergast is a bright spark

‘Cool, quirky, lots of character’: Leo Cullen wants Laya Arena to be special place to play

After absence of more than two years, Leinster host Cardiff on return to redeveloped home ground

Munster to mark 10th anniversary of Anthony Foley’s death at Champions Cup meeting with Racing 92

Foley died in Paris in 2016 on the morning that Munster were due to face Racing in that year’s Champions Cup

Munster have been digging this hole for years as they slide into tortured mediocrity

Change of leadership at the top of the organisation is desperately needed but there are no miracle cures

‘I’ve been through enough to know how they go’: Leinster’s Jordan Larmour on overcoming injury

Talented winger expects to return to the pitch shortly after straining calf in preseason training

‘Opportunity knocks’: Ian Flanagan’s departure will intensify calls for a Munster reboot

He presided over decline on and off the pitch, the nadir being the bid to sign Roger Randle as attack coach

Leinster to play home Champions Cup pool games at the Laya Arena

Leo Cullen’s side to welcome Sale Sharks and Pau to Dublin

Croke Park could be in the mix to host future Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals

EPCR keen to announce final venues for 2028, 2029 and 2030 as French Top 14 clubs back format changes

Munster’s Jack Crowley focused on rest and reflection amid uncertain injury lay-off

Outhalf has been dealing with a lower limb vascular injury since the end of last season

Confident Connacht ready for stern test as they welcome Stormers to Dexcom

Mack Hansen back in action as Stuart Lancaster looks to thrill home crowd

Head coach Richie Murphy says Ulster have learned lesson from lousy end to last season

Ulster missed out on Champions Cup action for a second season after finishing ninth in the URC and losing Challenge Cup final

Gus McCarthy primed to tame the Lions as Leinster face URC opener in South Africa

Hooker has consistent exposure to the ultimate benchmarking experience for a frontrow forward

‘It just felt like a perfect storm was building here’: Will Connors on Connacht move

Former Leinster man relishing fresh challenge out west and fighting for Ireland place

Clayton McMillan faces formidable task with Munster, with young guns key to any revival

Continuing commitment of head coach and emerging stars crucial to their chances

Connacht face demanding tests ahead but Lancaster effect bodes for improvement

Young players were given their opportunities and flourished under Stuart Lancaster’s watch last season

Premier Sport confident of securing new deal to exclusively show Champions Cup

‘Vast majority accept they aren’t going to get everything for free’: Ryle Nugent on changing attitudes to TV sports coverage

Munster, Leinster and Connacht head to France for preseason games to test out new signings

Edinburgh-bound Ulster now include some of Richie Murphy’s former Ireland under-20s charges

Matt Williams: New Zealand are planning a very public sacrificial act on rugby’s greatest altar

Eden Park could descend into a blowout if Ireland do not lift intensity and quality

Jimmy O’Brien making the most of late call-up after rediscovering his best form

Leinster man taking his opportunities in Nations Championship after injury struggles

‘There’s little moments that are pretty cool’: Prendergast brothers shine in Australia

Sam relishing chance to play alongside Cian as they soak up ‘class’ atmosphere Down Under

Jamie Osborne cements status as Ireland’s Mr Versatile with number 11 role against Australia

Andy Farrell places faith in Leinster fullback’s aerial work and left-footed kicking game for Wallabies clash

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...

Stardust

Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people

Common Ground

How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands