Latest news with #ChampionsCupFinal
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
New Ulster signing receives first Springboks call-up ahead of summer Test series
The rampaging number eight, who will move to Ravenhill over the summer from Northampton Saints, is one of nine uncapped players called up to Rassie Erasmus' 54-man extended panel. South Africa begin their summer schedule with a game against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28, followed by Tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12 respectively and finishing off against Georgia in Nelspruit on July 19. It seems unlikely that 27-year-old Augustus will see any game time as six of the eight back rowers from the Springboks' last squad have been retained, including reigning and two-time World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit and captain Siya Kolisi. However, it says much about the Alexander Bay native that he has been included in the squad after being part of last month's national alignment camp, with Erasmus clearly a fan of the Ulster-bound back row. Augustus has been in red-hot form for Northampton this season and only missed out on their Champions Cup Final against Bordeaux due to injury, helping them reach their first decider since 2011 with a bulldozing performance against Leinster in the Semi-Finals. His call-up, however, could prove to be an issue for Ulster, who were anticipating the former Stormers man being available for the start of the United Rugby Championship campaign on September 26 but may now be without him should he see any action for his country. Even more concerning would be if he impresses sufficiently to be called up to the Springboks squad for firstly the Rugby Championship, which extends into the first weekend of October, and then the Autumn Internationals, when Erasmus' men face France, Italy, Ireland and Wales in November. While Ulster would never prevent a player from representing their country, the intention was for Augustus to be a fulcrum at the centre of their forward pack in their bid to return to the URC Play-Offs next season, and being without one of their marquee players for a significant period – Ulster have six League games before the end of November – would be less than ideal for head coach Richie Murphy. The province are well-stocked in the back row, with James McNabney emerging last season alongside Ireland flanker Nick Timoney and David McCann, and Ireland lock Cormac Izuchukwu also able to step in at blindside flanker, but Augustus was set to provide a new dimension to the loose forward trio.
Vancouver Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver Whitecaps Live: Follow the Champions Cup Final updates from Mexico City
The Vancouver Whitecaps are set to take on Cruz Azul tonight at Estadio Olimpico Universitario in Mexico City for the Champions Cup Final. (Pre-game story or preview goes here, keep it short.) If you aren't able to watch the game in person, scroll down for the play-by-play updates from tonight's game. Hit the refresh button for the latest update. 5:30 p.m. Alright here we go. Half an hour to kickof. There's something like 800 Whitecaps fans in the stands at Estadio Olimpico Univerisitario. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Here's your team news: it's 4-3-3 for the Caps. Ocampo and Adekugbe as wing-backs, Veselinovic the captain partnered by Blackmon in the middle as ever. Cubas the search-and-destroy DM, with Vite and Ngando looked to play as box to box work horses. Brian Whitem of course, is the point of the spear, with two speedsters in Nelson and Ahmed on the wings. 'Two a little more offensive 8s,' Jesper Sorensen says about his lineup. Notes how strong a season J.C. Ngando has been having and why he's favoured over Emmanuel Sabbi, whose pace is rivalled only by Jayden Nelson's, Ralph Priso. Here's the bench too Safe bet we'll see Johnson, Rios and Sabbi at some point. • Who are Cruz Azul? Whitecaps react to their CONCACAF Champions Cup opponents • Five moments that mark the Whitecaps' path to the Champions Cup Final in Mexico City • Whitecaps 3, Miami 1: The respect has to come for Vancouver now pjohnston@
The Province
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Province
Vancouver Whitecaps Live: Follow the Champions Cup Final updates from Mexico City
The Vancouver Whitecaps are set to take on Cruz Azul tonight at Estadio Olimpico Universitario in Mexico City for the Champions Cup Final. Read More
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Jalibert guides Bordeaux-Begles to maiden Champions Cup
The French outfit ran in four tries in their eight-point win, with the returning Damian Penaud grabbing two alongside scores from lock forwards Cyril Cazeaux and Adam Coleman. Bordeaux-Begles' teammates celebrates with the trophy after winning the Champions Cup Final rugby union match between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales, on May 24, 2025. Bordeaux-Begles wins 28 – 20 against Northampton Saints. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) Fly-half Matthieu Jalibert inspired Bordeaux-Begles to a thrilling 28-20 victory over Northampton on Saturday to win the Champions Cup for the first time at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium. Jalibert, 26, was pivotal in three of the French club's four tries before lock Cyril Cazeaux's crucial second-half score sealed a historic success. Northampton's hopes of a second Champions Cup crown were severely damaged as they suffered three key injuries in the opening half an hour including to full-back George Furbank. Pre-match, their director of rugby Phil Dowson was forced to move flanker Henry Pollock to No 8 to cover the injured Juarno Augustus as they eyed making up for defeat in the final to Leinster in 2011 at the same stadium. Dowson also started four players, including lock Temo Mayanavanua, who were fitness doubts coming into the decider. Bordeaux-Begles head coach Yannick Bru was able to start superstar winger Damian Penaud after the tournament's top try scorer this term recovered from an ankle injury suffered in the semi-final win over Toulouse. The English club fired out of the blocks with a similar tempo to their surprise last four win over four-time winners Leinster and led 7-0 after just three minutes. Flanker Alex Coles crashed over and fly-half Fin Smith, one of four British and Irish Lions squad members on show, slotted the simple conversion with the majority of the crowd being Saints fans in full voice. The rip-roaring start slowed down briefly as Saints' Furbank was carried off the field on a stretcher after an in-air collision with Penaud on two minutes after winger James Ramm had left the field with a leg issue. When play resumed the French outfit cut the deficit to two points as Penaud strolled over but Smith's opposite number Jalibert failed with the conversion. Quiet Pollock After a rip-roaring first half the teams were level 20-20 as lock Adam Coleman scored and Penaud his second before Coles claimed a double of his own with the clock in the red. Jalibert's influence was highlighted in the build-up to Coleman's try with a perfectly-timed turnover and his assist for Penaud's later touchdown. Both sides spent spells of the opening 40 down a man as Bordeaux-Begles lost Mahamadou Diaby to the sin bin for a high tackle Saints lock Temo Mayanavanua, who followed Furbank and Ramm of the field. Ollie Sleightholme was yellow carded for Northampton, who were denied the chance to retake the lead two minutes after the break as a previously quiet Pollock had his effort chalked off for obstruction. Just five minutes into the second-half Saints were shown another yellow card as Mayanavanua's replacement Ed Prowse was binned for a high tackle on centre Yoram Moefana. Jalibert kicked Bordeaux-Begles into 23-20 lead from the following penalty with Bru's outfit pressuring the Saints' line. The extra man finally paid off just before the hour mark as Coleman's second-row partner Cazeaux powered through to make it 28-20 and secure the title.
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Maro Itoje captains Lions as 38-man squad revealed including shock call up for England star, 20, and coach's son snubbed
HENRY POLLOCK completed his remarkable rise when the Northampton flanker was named in the British and Irish Lions squad for the summer tour to Australia. Pollock, 20, only made his England debut off the bench in the final Six Nations mauling of Wales in March. 3 Maro Itoje has been named captain of the British and Irish Lions Credit: Reuters 3 Henry Pollock has received a shock call-up Credit: Getty 3 Owen Farrell misses out after an injury-hit year Credit: Getty But a series of thunderous displays, including a huge contribution as Saints shocked Leinster to reach the Champions Cup Final saw Pollock get the Lions call from coach Andy Farrell. While it was celebrations for Pollock, there was heartbreak for England team-mate Jamie George, just months after he also lost the Red Rose captaincy. A 38-man squad dominated by Ireland and England was unveiled in front of a live audience at the Indigo venue of London's O2 complex. England skipper Maro Itoje was confirmed by Farrell as the 47th Lions captain, entering the stage carrying the tour mascot 'Bill' under his arm. READ MORE IN RUGBY 'LOVED BY EVERYONE' Rugby star who won silver at Paris 2024 dies after being hit by train Itoje said: 'It's hard to articulate. It's a tremendous honour and privilege. You think about the people who've held this position before and it's remarkable. 'I will do my very best to ensure I contribute to the success of the tour.' He revealed the news came in a truncated phone conversation when Farrell's words cut out half-way through. England skipper Itoje said: 'I got a call from an Irish number on Tuesday. I don't have many Irish people calling me and didn't have his number saved. 'But I picked it up, heard a Wigan accent and put two and two together - although the signal was quite bad.' Itoje was one of 13 England players named, with surprise inclusion for George's Red Rose hooker rival Luke Cowan and utility back Elliot Daly. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK There was also space for Marcus Smith, moved to full-back for England's Six Nations campaign, as well as Northampton No 10 Fin Smith. Farrell took 15 of his Ireland charges, including 12 from Leinster, with Wales only represented by scrum half Tomos William and back rower Jac Morgan. Leinster Rugby star's filmed plunging into Kings Park stadium swimming pool after win over Sharks in Durban Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn head Scotland's eight selected Lions for the three-Test series against the Wallabies. But Farrell, forced to plan without Ireland back rower Caelan Doris after his shoulder operation, also resisted the temptation to include his son, former England captain Owen, who has suffered an injury-hit season at Racing 92 in France.
