European Challenge Cup

Charlie Sharples marked his 150th competitive appearance for Gloucester with a hat-trick of tries as the Premiership side beat Brive 55-0 in the opening game of the European Rugby Challenge Cup at Kingsholm.

Goodbye Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup, hello European Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup. Welcome to a new era of European club rugby, but how much has really changed?

Edinburgh are preparing to make their debut in the European Rugby Challenge Cup with a clash against in-form French side Bordeaux-Begles at the Stade Andre-Moga.

Northampton prop Silesi Ma'afu has been handed a one-week ban and order to pay £500 costs after punching Leicester hooker Tom Youngs in Thursday's Aviva Premiership semi-final.

Bath booked their place in the Amlin Challenge Cup final with a narrow 24-18 win over Wasps at Adams Park.

Two moments of inspiration from Kahn Fotuali'i saw Northampton to an 18-10 win over Harlequins that kept dreams of an Amlin Cup and Premiership double alive.

Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Davies has blasted his side's 'totally unacceptable' performance in the first half of their Amlin Challenge Cup defeat to Wasps.

Wasps' forward pack played a key role as they booked their place in the semi-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup with a 36-24 win over Gloucester.

The semi-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup will be an all-English affair after Bath thrashed Brive 39-7 to join Harlequins, Northampton and one of Wasps or Gloucester in the last four.

Nick Evans scored 17 points to guide Harlequins to a 29-6 victory over Stade Francais that put the English side into the semi-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Ben Nutley touched down twice as Northampton eased into the semi-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup following a dominant 28-14 triumph over Sale Sharks.

Gloucester grabbed a surprise place in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a stunning success against Perpignan at the Stade Aime Giral.

Worcester saved their best performance in Europe this season for their last Amlin Challenge Cup Pool One match as they finally broke their duck with a 20-13 triumph over Oyonnax.

Sale took a step closer to the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup with victory over Worcester but the game was marred by a serious-looking injury to Warriors' fly-half Paul Warwick.

Wasps can book their place in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a match to spare if they can beat Bayonne at Stade Jean-Dauger in their showdown on the second weekend of January.

Danny Cipriani stole the show as Sale Sharks scored seven tries to overrun Oyonnax 53-14 and regain control of Group One in the Amlin Cup

Worcester's Jeremy Su'a scored after 19 seconds and Biarritz had a prop sent off but that still was not enough for the Warriors to claim their first win in the Amlin Challenge Cup this season.

Worcester's hopes of progressing in the Amlin Challenge Cup are effectively over, prompting director of rugby Dean Ryan to use Thursday night's trip to Biarritz to experiment with selection.

The future of European rugby looks uncertain this off season as the Celtic unions prepare to block proposed changes by Premiership Rugby and the Ligue Nationale Rugby.

If you spend any time reading online rugby forums, there is a chance that at some point you will have seen a debate regarding whether the Northern Hemisphere season needs restructuring.