Munster, Racing 92 and La Rochelle all booked their places in the European Champions Cup playoffs, while Wasps missed out despite beating Ulster. Johann van Graan’s Munster claimed an emphatic 48-3 victory against Castres to top Pool 4 and book a home quarter-final against Toulon. Scrumhalf Rory Kockott put Castres in front with an early penalty, but that’s as good… Read more →
The Scarlets, Clermont and Leinster secured home quarter-finals in the European Champions Cup, while Toulon also booked their place in the playoffs on Saturday. In a straight shootout for top spot in Pool 5, the Scarlets held on desperately to clinch a riveting 30-27 win over Toulon. The result sees the Scarlets secure a first home quarter-final and makes them… Read more →
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has defended Mathieu Bastareaud’s use of a homophobic slur against a Treviso player.
Mathieu Bastareaud has issued an apology, but still faces a lengthy ban after he was cited for alleged verbal abuse during Toulon’s Champions Cup match against Treviso on Sunday.
SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend’s European Champions Cup, European Challenge Cup and Japanese Top League matches involving South African players.
Racing 92 secured a hard-fought 34-30 win over Munster, while there were also European Champions Cup victories for Leinster, Toulon and Castres on Sunday.
Cobus Reinach scored a try as the Northampton Saints upset Clermont 34-21, while there were also European Champions Cup victories for Ulster, Exeter, Harlequins and the Scarlets.
Munster coach Johann van Graan insists that Gerbrandt Grobler’s doping ban is a ‘thing of the past’. Grobler tested positive for an anabolic-androgenic steroid in 2014 while he was still with the Stormers and Western Province, and received a two-year suspension after admitting his guilt. He was then handed an opportunity with French club Racing 92, before signing a three-year deal… Read more →
The Ospreys claimed an impressive 32-15 bonus-point win over the Northampton Saints, while there were also European Champions Cup victories for Clermont, Wasps and Munster. The Ospreys followed up last week’s shock 43-32 victory over Northampton with another clinical display for a crucial victory in the return fixture, which takes them up to second in the Pool 2 standings above… Read more →
Francois Louw was named Man of the Match after Bath’s 26-21 win against Toulon, while there were also European Champions Cup victories for Ulster, Montpellier, the Scarlets, Racing 92 and Leinster. Bath outscored their opponents by three tries to two at The Rec on Saturday, with loosehead prop Beno Obano and Anthony Watson (two) crossing the line. But it was flanker Louw… Read more →
