Latest news with #ChallengeCup
Daily Record
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
SPFL confirm details for KDM Evolution Trophy league draw
The Challenge Cup has been given a Champions League-style reformat SPFL has confirmed arrangements for the Champions League-style KDM Evolution Trophy league phase fixture launch tomorrow. The draw for what last season was the SPFL Trust Trophy, the Challenge Cup, will take place tomorrow at 1pm. Ten League One, 10 League Two and the same number of Premiership 'B' teams will go into the draw. Each club will play six league phase matches on a broadly regionalised basis, with the top 22 progressing to the knock-out stage, where they will be joined by 10 Championship clubs. The 30 participating clubs have been divided into three pots by division and regionalised into North and South sections. Hamilton Accies are in South Pot A, Clyde and EK are in South Pot B, and Motherwell 'B' are in South Pot C. All 30 clubs will be drawn from their respective pots, which will inform the order in which clubs' league phase fixtures are launched. In total there will be 90 KDM Evolution Trophy league phase fixtures. The league phase will kick off on the midweek of August 12/13, with rounds on 26/27, September 6/7 and 23/24, October 11/12 and November 11. The round of 32 kicks in at December 9/10, with the last 16 on January 6/7. Quarter-finals are January 27/28, semi-final is February 24/25 and the final is March 28/29 or April 4/5.
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast Giants strengthen roster with signing of Great Britain defenceman
The GB star, a dual national having been born in Walsall but grown up in Canada, makes the switch from fellow Elite League side Guildford Flames for the new season, joining Brandon Whistle in moving to the SSE Arena during the off-season. A reliable blue-liner, Jones was part of the Grand Slam-winning Sheffield Steelers in the 2023/24 season and has been a mainstay in the Elite League since joining Fife Flyers in 2019, putting up four goals and nine points in 30 games in Kirkcaldy. That preceded a four-season stay in Sheffield, culminating in the Grand Slam two seasons ago, and his performances at the Utilita Arena saw him called up to the GB squad for the first time in 2021, going on to make 33 appearances at international level, 10 of which have come in the World Championships. In the 2024/25 season, the 28-year-old started off in Romania with CSM Corona Brasov, however Jones later moved back to the Flames in mid-season to anchor their defence, scoring three goals and six points in 16 games for Paul Dixon's men. Now the right-shot defenceman brings his talents to Belfast, joining Bo Hanson and Josh Roach in the line-up and providing head coach Adam Keefe with another excellent option on the back end for their Elite League and Challenge Cup title defences.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Munster to host Gloucester at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in December Champions Cup clash as fixture details confirmed
Munster open their 2025/26 Champions Cup campaign under new coach Clayton McMillan against Bath on Saturday, December 6th before breaking new ground in Europe when taking Gloucester to the home of Cork GAA, Páirc Uí Chaoimh for their round two clash on December 13th. Munster then travel to the Stade Felix Mayol to take on Toulon before rounding off the pool stages at home to Castres Olympique for what will feel like the millionth time they have met. Leinster and La Rochelle will do it all again on Saturday, January 10th when they meet for the seventh time in this competition. No venue is confirmed as yet – the building work at the RDS won't be completed so the province will once again look at match specific venues – but there is a possibility it could be played at Croke Park. READ MORE Leo Cullen 's charges open their campaign against Harlequins, whom they beat in the Round of 16 in last season's tournament. That match is likely to be played at the Aviva Stadium. The URC champions also make the short trip across to the East Midlands to face another perennial foe, the Leicester Tigers for a Friday night game, while their last pool match is away to Bayonne on January 17th. In the Challenge Cup , Ulster open their campaign against Racing 92 on a Friday night at the renamed Affidea Stadium in Belfast, where they will also play their final game against Stade Francais. In between, Richie Murphy's side will visit Cardiff and play the Cheetahs. The South African side have to play the game in Europe at a venue yet to be determined. Stuart Lancaster's first game in charge at Connacht will be a short hop to Wales to take on the Ospreys, who haven't specified their home ground for next season. Connacht will host Georgian side Black Lion at the Dexcom Stadium where they will also be in action against Montauban. They travel to Montpellier in round three. 2025/26 Champions Cup Pool Fixtures Round 1 Saturday, December 6th: Leinster v Harlequins, TBC (5.30pm); Bath v Munster, The Rec (8pm). Round 2 Friday, December 12th: Leicester Tigers v Leinster Rugby, Welford Road (8pm) Saturday, December 13th: Munster v Gloucester, Páirc Uí Chaoimh (5.30pm) Round 3 Saturday, January 10th: Leinster v La Rochelle, TBC (5.30pm) Sunday, January 11th: Toulon v Munster, Stade Felix Mayol (1pm Irish time) Round 4 Saturday, January 17th: Bayonne v Leinster, Stade Jean Dauger (3.15pm Irish time); Munster v Castres Olympique, Thomond Park (5.30pm) 2025/26 Challenge Cup Pool Fixtures Round 1 Friday, December 5th: Ulster v Racing 92, Affidea Stadium (8pm) Sunday, December 7th: Ospreys v Connacht, TBC (3.15pm) Round 2 Saturday, December 13th: Cardiff v Ulster, Cardiff Arms Park (8pm); Connacht v Black Lion, Dexcom Stadium (8pm) Round 3 Sunday, January 11th: Toyota Cheetahs v Ulster, TBC (3.15pm); Montpellier v Connacht GGL Stadium (1pm Irish time) Round 4 Saturday, January 17th: Ulster v Stade Francais, Affidea Stadium (1pm); Connacht v Montauban, Dexcom Stadium (8pm).
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Irish provinces' fixture details for European campaigns
The fixture details for this year's Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup matches involving the four Irish provinces have been will begin their Challenge Cup campaign with a home game against Racing 92 at the newly-named Affidea Stadium in Belfast on Friday 5 December (20:00 GMT).Richie Murphy's side will then travel to face Cardiff away on Saturday 13 December (20:00), before taking on the Cheetahs at a European venue still to be confirmed on Sunday 11 January (15:15) and concluding with a home match against Stade Francais on Saturday 17 January (13:00).In the Champions Cup, Leinster host Harlequins on 6 December (17:30), with the venue to be confirmed, with Munster away to Bath on the same day (20:00)On Friday 12 December, Leinster are on the road to take on Leicester Tigers at Welford Road (20:00), with Munster hosting Gloucester at 17:30 on 13 entertain La Rochelle on Saturday 10 January (17:30), then Munster are away to Toulon on 11 January (13:00).In the final round of pool games, Leinster face Bayonne away on Saturday 17 January (15:15) and Munster play Castres at Thomond Park at 17:30 on the same Challenge Cup campaign commences with a trip to Ospreys on Sunday 7 December (15:15), followed by games at home to Black Lion (Saturday 13 December, 20:00), away to Montpellier (Sunday 11 January, 13:00) and home to US Montauban (Saturday 17 January, 20:00).
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors discover 4 Investec Champions Cup fixtures
Scottish clubs in Europe's premier event land fixture list Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Glasgow Warriors will kick off the 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup on opening night after their match away at Sale Sharks was scheduled for Friday, December 5 at 8pm. Franco Smith's side will head to the Salford Community Stadium to take on the Gallagher Prem outfit, who have Scotland internationalists Arron Reed and Gus Warr as part of their squad. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Edinburgh Rugby have been given a home match to kick off their campaign against Toulon from the Top 14. The French side, who Scotland scrum-half Ben White plays for, are due at the Hive Stadium on Sunday, December 7 at 5.30pm in the final match of the first round of fixtures. Edinburgh Rugby close off their Investec Champions Cup pool-phase fixtures away at Finn Russell and Bath. | SNS Group Edinburgh are in Pool 2 of the competition alongside Bath, Toulon, Munster, Castres and Gloucester, while Warriors have Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Saracens and Sale Sharks in Pool 1. Each team plays four fixtures against the clubs who are not in their domestic leagues, so Edinburgh will not face Munster and Glasgow avoid the Hollywoodbets Sharks, who are in the United Rugby Championship alongside them. The top four in the pool qualify for the last 16 of the tournament, with first and second place being at home and third and fourth away. Finishing fifth results in dropping down to the Challenge Cup, while sixth place results in European elimination. After facing Sale Sharks, Glasgow are at home to Toulouse on Saturday, December 13a at 8pm, with Scotland fly-half Blair Kinghorn among the Top 14 champions' star-studded squad due to visit Scotstoun. In round three, they travel to the Stade Marcel-Michelin to take on Clermont Auvergne on Saturday, January 10 (3.15pm) before closing off at home to Saracens on Sunday, January 18 (5.30pm). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A week on from facing Top 14 opposition, Edinburgh head to France in gameweek two to play Castres at Stade Pierre-Fabre on Sunday, December 14 at 1pm. Their third pool match is at home to Gloucester on Friday, January 9 (8pm) before finishing off away at Bath, who have Scotland fly-half Finn Russell in their squad, on Friday, January 16 (8pm).
