European Champions Cup

Danny Cipriani's red-card proved costly for Gloucester Rugby as they were defeated 36-22 by Munster in their European Champions Cup encounter at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Castres managed to overcome a red-card to Maama Vaipulu as they handed a 29-25 defeat to Exeter Chiefs in their European Champions Cup encounter at Stade Pierre Fabre on Saturday.

Leicester Tigers managed to get their first win in the ongoing European Champions Cup after they went on to beat Scarlets 45-27 in their Pool 4 encounter at Welford Road on Friday.

Toulouse number eight Jerome Kaino has been handed a five-week ban following his yellow-card incident in the opening game of the European Champions Cup against Bath Rugby at Recreation Ground last weekend.

The return of the Heineken Champions Cup certainly delivered last weekend, with compelling matches across the board, and Joe Harvey now turns his attention to Round Two of this year's competition.

Joe Harvey brings you his review from the opening weekend of Heineken Champions Cup action including wins for Gloucester, Saracens and Newcastle Falcons.

Joel Hodgson kicked the decisive penalty goal in the 71st minute as Newcastle Falcons stunned Toulon with a 25-26 win in their European Champions Cup encounter at Stade Felix-Mayol on Sunday.

Glasgow Warriors were left fuming with a number of referee decisions as Saracens scrapped past to a 3-13 victory in their European Champions Cup opener at Scotstoun Stadium on Sunday.

Danny Cipriani came up with an impressive performance under the watchful eyes of Eddie Jones as Gloucester completed a 19-14 win over Castres in their European Champions Cup clash at Kingsholm.

Ulster came up with a better second half performance as they went on to beat Leicester Tigers in their European Champions Cup encounter at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday.

CJ Stander scored the decisive try and Joey Carberry followed with the conversion as Munster managed a 10-10 draw against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday.

Freddie Burns had a tough outing as Bath were edged out 20-22 by Toulouse in their Pool 1 encounter in the European Champions Cup at Recreation Ground on Saturday.

Leinster kick-started their Heineken Champions Cup with a bang as they trounced Wasps 52-3 during their Pool 1 encounter at RDS Arena in Dublin on Friday.

Montpellier winger Nemani Nadolo will miss four months of action as he is set to undergo a knee surgery next week.

As European rugby's elite club competition returns this weekend, TRU's Joe Harvey runs the rule over some of the standout fixtures from the opening round of this year's Heineken Champions Cup.

Newcastle Falcons winger Sinoti Sinoti is backing his side to beat Toulon against the odds when the two teams meet on the European Champions Cup opener at Stade Felix-Mayol on Sunday.

Argentinean international Juan Pablo Socino cannot wait to play against his brother Santiago and Newcastle Falcons later in the year, but for now, all of his focus is on making sure Edinburgh Rugby get off to a good start in the Heineken Champions Cup.

Wales international Tom Prydie is set to miss the European Champions Cup opener for Scarlets against Racing 92 following a shoulder injury.

In Simon Hammersley’s latest column for TRU, the Newcastle Falcon discusses their beginning to the campaign, his fellow Premiership full-backs, rotation in a squad and the special East Midlands derby this weekend.

Marseille's Stade Velodrome has been confirmed as the venue for the European Rugby finals of the 2020 edition.