European Challenge Cup

Bristol Bears clinched the Challenge Cup last season but challenging for European club rugby’s top honour has always been the aim for Pat Lam.

In his latest column for Talking Rugby Union, Italy’s Seb Negri gives his assessment of the Azzurri’s Six Nations and looks ahead to a European weekend with Benetton.

The schedules for the knock out stage of the European competitions have been unveiled on Tuesday following the draws held in in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The European Professional Club Rugby has announced the revised format for the remainder of the 2020/21 season of Champions and Challenge Cup competitions.

Premiership Rugby chief executive Darren Childs has confirmed that EPCR has decided to abandon the final two rounds in the group stage of European Challenge and Champions Cup tournaments.

Premiership Rugby has confirmed that the tournament will have a two-week mid-season break following the concerns over the new strain of Covid-19.

The European Professional Club Rugby have announced that the next two rounds of the Heineken Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup have been suspended temporarily.

European Professional Club Rugby chief executive Vincent Gaillard expressed confidence that the Heineken Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup will be completed even if French clubs pull out of the final two rounds.

The French government has recommended the rugby clubs to not participate in cross-border competitions against British sides due to concerns over Covid-19.

As Gallagher Premiership sides prepare for their return to domestic action, TRU’s Joe Harvey has taken a look at how the English clubs have fared in Europe.

Racing 92 scored a seven-try riot as they trounced Harlequins 49-7 in the second round of the Heineken Champions Cup at Twickenham Stoop.

James Stokes scored a double as London Irish edged out Pau 26-17 in the second round of the European Challenge Cup at Community Stadium.

Carlo Canna kicked two decisive penalties in the final 15 minutes as Zebre edged out Brive in the second round of the European Challenge Cup at Stade Amedee-Domenech.

Newcastle Falcons have registered their first win in the European Challenge Cup as they defeated Castres in the second round at Stade Pierre-Antoine on Friday.

Castres Olympique lock Hans N'kinsi has been handed a six-week ban following an incident in the recently concluded European Rugby Challenge Cup game against Ospreys.

London Irish came up with a five-try performance as they trounced Agen in the opening game of the European Rugby Challenge Cup at Stade Armandie.

Benetton Treviso scored 25 points in the opening half as they went on to beat Stade Francais 20-44 in their European Challenge Cup clash at Stade Jean-Bouin.

A dominant second half performance saw Cardiff Blues hold off Newcastle Falcons 20-33 in the opening round of the European Challenge Cup at Kingston Park on Friday.

Leicester Tigers kick-started their European Challenge Cup campaign with a convincing 39-17 win over Brive at Welford Road on Friday.

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones will miss Ospreys' upcoming European Challenge Cup opener against Castres after a knee injury.