Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup Round 1 reviews
The Investec Champions Cup returned this weekend, with Round 1 delivering plenty of massive performances across Europe and South Africa.
The opening weekend was also marked by an outpouring of respect for 10bet Lions lock Hyron Andrews, with pre-match tributes held before every Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup fixture in his memory. His passing brought a poignant dimension to the weekend, with players, clubs and supporters coming together to honour Hyron across the competitions.
There were also tributes to Munster legend Anthony Foley at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh ahead of Munster Rugby’s clash with Racing 92, marking a decade since the passing of the former captain, who lifted the Heineken Cup in 2006.
More than 253 000 fans attended matches across the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, up 24% year on year, underlining the continued strength and appeal of EPCR’s club competitions. On the pitch, the action delivered plenty of drama, with six of the 12 Champions Cup matches producing bonus-point wins under this season’s new rules and 109 tries scored across the weekend.
Please find below a comprehensive review including results, updated pools, key data and top performers.
CLICK BELOW FOR ROUND 1 MATCH STATS
Round 1 - Top Performers
Points: 16, Sam Prendergast, Leinster Rugby/Axel Desperes, Section Paloise/Handre Pollard, Vodacom Bulls/George Barton, Gloucester Rugby
Carries: 19, George Barton, Gloucester Rugby
Metres: 218, Cheswill Jooste, Vodacom Bulls
Defenders beaten: 9, Tom Willis, Union Bordeaux Bègles/Theo Attissogbe, Section Paloise
Offloads: 4, Cameron Hanekom, Vodacom Bulls/Yacouba Camara, Montpellier Hérault Rugby/Martin Blum, Stade Français Paris
Tackles: 20, Josh Murphy, Connacht Rugby / Olly Cracknell, Leicester Tigers
Round 1 - Key Stats
George Barton (Gloucester Rugby) made the most carries (19) and scored the joint-most points (16) in Round 1.
Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls) scored 3 tries (= 1st), made 6 clean breaks (1st), and carried for 218 metres (1st) at the weekend.
Zack Winbush (Exeter Chiefs) scored a hat trick at the weekend, made 4 clean breaks, and won a turnover.
Maro Itoje (Saracens) made 4 dominant tackles (=1st) and won 3 turnovers (=1st) in Round 1
Theo Attisogbe (Section Paloise) beat the joint-most defenders (9) at the weekend assisted a try, and won a turnover.
The season opened with a thriller at Kingsholm as defending champions Union Bordeaux Bègles fought back from behind to secure a 36-36 draw with Gloucester Rugby. The result extended Bordeaux’s unbeaten run in the competition, with their last defeat coming in the 2024 quarter-final.
Saturday saw eight matches and Glasgow Warriors made a flying start with a bonus-point win away to Sale Sharks, in an emotional fixture at CorpAcq Stadium following tributes to former teammate Hyron.
Vodacom Bulls opened their campaign with a convincing eight-try bonus-point win against Stade Français Paris, while Leinster Rugby launched their latest bid for a fifth Champions Cup title in style, running in seven tries to secure a comprehensive bonus-point victory away to ASM Clermont Auvergne.
DHL Stormers also impressed at home, scoring seven tries to defeat Bristol Bears and claim a bonus point.
Connacht Rugby marked their return to the top-flight competition with a statement victory over three-time champions Saracens at Dexcom Stadium, prevailing 45-36 in a thrilling 13-try contest.
In an emotional contest at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, the 10bet Lions took to the field following the tragic passing of teammate Andrew. The South African side paid tribute to their lock before facing two-time champions Stade Rochelais, with head coach Ivan van Rooyen saying: “We want to show the respect to Hyron, who was an unbelievable guy, an unbelievable player, a world-class dad and a world-class husband.”
10bet Lions opened the scoring after three minutes, in a match that ended 31-14 to the hosts.
Munster Rugby began their campaign with a 33-25 victory over Racing 92 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, in a poignant fixture marking the 10th anniversary of the passing of Munster legend Anthony Foley.
Reigning EPCR Challenge Cup title holders Montpellier Hérault Rugby rounded off Saturday’s action with a statement 32-14 victory over Bath Rugby at a sold-out Recreation Ground, overturning a half-time deficit.
On Sunday, Section Paloise showed their class against Leicester Tigers, with a decisive late try securing them a bonus- point win.
At a sold-out Stadium de Toulouse, six-time winners Stade Toulousain edged Exeter Chiefs in a thrilling 13-try contest, with Henry Slade missing a last-gasp penalty that would have levelled the match, and Exeter taking a valuable losing bonus point for their efforts.
English champions Northampton Saints held Cardiff Rugby scoreless in the first half before surviving a spirited second-half comeback that saw the Welsh reduce the deficit to two points, before Northampton pulled away to secure a winning start.
The EPCR Challenge Cup roared back into action this weekend with nine action-packed Round 1 matches delivering plenty of tries, dramatic finishes, impressive away performances and several first-time encounters.
Please find below a comprehensive review including results, updated pools, key data and top performers.
CLICK HERE FOR ROUND 1 MATCH STATS
Round 1 - Top Performers
Points: 22, Marcus Smith, Harlequins/Melvyn Jaminet, RC Toulon
Carries: 25, Juarno Augustus, Ulster Rugby
Metres: 141, Luke Morgan, Ospreys
Defenders beaten: 10, Monty Ioane, LOU Rugby
Line-outs won: 12, Guido Petti, Harlequins
Tackles: 34, Harry Beddall, Dragons RFC
Round 1 - Key Stats
Marcus Smith (Harlequins) scored the joint most points in Round 1 (22), 10 of which came from his 2 tries (=1st).
Juarno Augustus (Ulster Rugby) made the most carries at the weekend (25) and 31 post-contact metres (3rd).
Luke Morgan (Ospreys) made the most dominant carries (8), metres (141), and post-contact metres (36) in Round 1, as well as 7 clean breaks (1st).
Monty Ioane (LOU Rugby) beat 10 defenders (1st) and scored a try at the weekend.
Josh Macleod (Scarlets) won 5 turnovers (1st) and made 21 tackles in Round 1.
The action began with two closely fought encounters on Friday, as Dragons RFC edged USAP at Rodney Parade, while RC Toulon made a winning start with an away victory over Edinburgh Rugby at Hive Stadium.
Saturday produced a string of impressive away wins, beginning with an 11-try thriller in Lyon. 2024 winners Hollywoodbets Sharks held their nerve against LOU Rugby, with the Durban side running in a late score to steal a dramatic win.
Meanwhile in Tbilisi, Ospreys made a flying start to their campaign with a convincing 39-14 bonus-point victory over Black Lion in the sides’ first-ever meeting, running in seven tries to secure an impressive away win.
Last season’s finalists Ulster Rugby also impressed on the road, scoring six tries in a 40-21 bonus-point victory over Zebre Parma.
Under the Saturday night lights at Parc y Scarlets, Scarlets completed a commanding home victory, running in seven tries to beat Newcastle Red Bulls 47-14 and claim a bonus-point win. It was another first-time EPCR meeting, on a weekend when all three Welsh clubs emerged victorious in the EPCR Challenge Cup.
On Sunday, another first-time encounter saw three-time winners Harlequins ran rampant at home, with nine tries against RC Vannes to secure a convincing 57-19 bonus point win and launch their campaign in style.
Meanwhile, Aviron Bayonnais edged a hard-fought 29-27 victory over Toyota Cheetahs at home in another first-time encounter, with the South African side earning a losing bonus point for their efforts.
Castres Olympique and Benetton Rugby brought Round 1 to a dramatic conclusion at Stade Pierre-Fabre. The hosts held Benetton scoreless in the first half before a determined fightback saw the Italian side briefly take the lead, only for a 77th-minute try from Castres to seal a thrilling victory.
Comments