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INJURYAlex MitchellNorthampton Saints — out, remainder of the season
INJURYXavier SaifoloiCrusaders — out, season-ending
INJURYScott BarrettCrusaders — out, season-ending
INJURYHemopo CunninghamBlues — out, season-ending
INJURYJames CameronBlues — out, season-ending
INJURYMitch DrummondCrusaders — out, season-ending
INJURYToby BellCrusaders — out, season-ending
INJURYHugh CooneyLeinster — out, Season-ending
INJURYHenry RobertsonWestern Force — out, season-ending
INJURYJayden SaChiefs — out, season-ending
INJURYBilly SearleLeicester Tigers — out, Remainder of season
INJURYJack YeandleExeter Chiefs — out, remainder of the season
INJURYEthan HookerHollywoodbets Sharks — out, extended spell out
INJURYGabin VilliereRC Toulon — out, season-ending
INJURYBernard van der LindeBath Rugby — out, before end of season
INJURYSacha Feinberg-MngomezuluStormers — doubt
INJURYALEX NANKIVELMUNSTER — out
INJURYKwagga SmithSpringboks — out
INJURYGlen NewmanFijian Drua — out
INJURYFraser HannonFijian Drua — out
INJURYJames DolemanFijian Drua — out
INJURYFijian DruaFijian Drua — out
INJURYStar RedsFijian Drua — out
INJURYThe DruaFijian Drua — out
INJURYBut Queensland'sFijian Drua — out
INJURYThe RedsFijian Drua — out
INJURYThe Queensland RedsFijian Drua — out
INJURYQueensland RedsFijian Drua — out
INJURYCiaran FrawleyLeinster — out, N/A
INJURYJohn BryantQueensland Reds — out
INJURYCharlie GambleNSW Waratahs — out
INJURYFolau FaingaaNSW Waratahs — out
INJURYAustin DurbidgeNSW Waratahs — out
INJURYJimmy TupouMoana Pasifika — out
INJURYJordie BarrettHurricanes — out, 1 week
INJURYNgane PunivaiHurricanes — out, week-to-week
INJURYBilly VunipolaMontpellier — doubt
INJURYTommy O'BrienLeinster — doubt
INJURYAJ MacGintyBristol — return_pending, N/A
INJURYMcDermottReds — return_pending, N/A
INJURYDeon FourieStormers — return_pending, set to return to Cape Town for scans
INJURYTommy ReffellLeicester Tigers — return_pending
INJURYDuhan van der MerweEdinburgh Rugby — return_pending
INJURYJosh van der FlierLeinster Rugby — return_pending, graduated return-to-play protocol
INJURYRobbie HenshawLeinster Rugby — return_pending, graduated return-to-play protocol
TRANSFERSarah Beckettsigns for Sale Sharks
TRANSFERAoife Waferagreed a new deal with Harlequins Women; prop Hannah Duffy retiring.
TRANSFERSteven LuatuaSigns new deal into 10th season with Bristol Bears.
TRANSFERTommaso Menoncellojoins Stade toulousain, engaging until 2029.
TRANSFERHannah Dallavallere-signs with Gloucester-Hartpury
TRANSFERZoe Stratfordagreeing to join Sale Sharks, leaving Gloucester-Hartpury at the end of the season.
TRANSFERApete Narogojoin Toulon for several seasons, according to reports
TRANSFERZoe Stratfordjoins Sale Sharks.
INJURYAlex MitchellNorthampton Saints — out, remainder of the season
INJURYXavier SaifoloiCrusaders — out, season-ending
INJURYScott BarrettCrusaders — out, season-ending
INJURYHemopo CunninghamBlues — out, season-ending
INJURYJames CameronBlues — out, season-ending
INJURYMitch DrummondCrusaders — out, season-ending
INJURYToby BellCrusaders — out, season-ending
INJURYHugh CooneyLeinster — out, Season-ending
INJURYHenry RobertsonWestern Force — out, season-ending
INJURYJayden SaChiefs — out, season-ending
INJURYBilly SearleLeicester Tigers — out, Remainder of season
INJURYJack YeandleExeter Chiefs — out, remainder of the season
INJURYEthan HookerHollywoodbets Sharks — out, extended spell out
INJURYGabin VilliereRC Toulon — out, season-ending
INJURYBernard van der LindeBath Rugby — out, before end of season
INJURYSacha Feinberg-MngomezuluStormers — doubt
INJURYALEX NANKIVELMUNSTER — out
INJURYKwagga SmithSpringboks — out
INJURYGlen NewmanFijian Drua — out
INJURYFraser HannonFijian Drua — out
INJURYJames DolemanFijian Drua — out
INJURYFijian DruaFijian Drua — out
INJURYStar RedsFijian Drua — out
INJURYThe DruaFijian Drua — out
INJURYBut Queensland'sFijian Drua — out
INJURYThe RedsFijian Drua — out
INJURYThe Queensland RedsFijian Drua — out
INJURYQueensland RedsFijian Drua — out
INJURYCiaran FrawleyLeinster — out, N/A
INJURYJohn BryantQueensland Reds — out
INJURYCharlie GambleNSW Waratahs — out
INJURYFolau FaingaaNSW Waratahs — out
INJURYAustin DurbidgeNSW Waratahs — out
INJURYJimmy TupouMoana Pasifika — out
INJURYJordie BarrettHurricanes — out, 1 week
INJURYNgane PunivaiHurricanes — out, week-to-week
INJURYBilly VunipolaMontpellier — doubt
INJURYTommy O'BrienLeinster — doubt
INJURYAJ MacGintyBristol — return_pending, N/A
INJURYMcDermottReds — return_pending, N/A
INJURYDeon FourieStormers — return_pending, set to return to Cape Town for scans
INJURYTommy ReffellLeicester Tigers — return_pending
INJURYDuhan van der MerweEdinburgh Rugby — return_pending
INJURYJosh van der FlierLeinster Rugby — return_pending, graduated return-to-play protocol
INJURYRobbie HenshawLeinster Rugby — return_pending, graduated return-to-play protocol
TRANSFERSarah Beckettsigns for Sale Sharks
TRANSFERAoife Waferagreed a new deal with Harlequins Women; prop Hannah Duffy retiring.
TRANSFERSteven LuatuaSigns new deal into 10th season with Bristol Bears.
TRANSFERTommaso Menoncellojoins Stade toulousain, engaging until 2029.
TRANSFERHannah Dallavallere-signs with Gloucester-Hartpury
TRANSFERZoe Stratfordagreeing to join Sale Sharks, leaving Gloucester-Hartpury at the end of the season.
TRANSFERApete Narogojoin Toulon for several seasons, according to reports
TRANSFERZoe Stratfordjoins Sale Sharks.
Global Rugby. No Filter.
Champions Cup & EPCR · Roundup

Champions Cup & EPCR — Monday 27 April 2026

Monday 27 April 2026

Match of the Day

Semi-final host determined by "home country advantage"

The winner of the Bath versus Northampton Saints quarter-final may find themselves playing the semi-final in Milton Keynes. If the high-seeded Bath side secures the win, they could face their semi-final fixture at the 30,530-seat Stadium MK, capitalizing on what the coverage calls "home country advantage."

The initial quarter-final clash, however, is slated for the Rec in Bath, because Bath held the superior seeding in the pool stages, ranking fourth while Saints were fifth. This advantage—where the higher seed gets the home tie—dissolves at the semi-final stage. That’s why the fixture location becomes a complex draw, potentially leading the winner to the neutral grounds of Milton Keynes.

Separately, the pressure is mounting for Bath, who have two massive matches on the calendar. They played top-of-the-table rivals Northampton Saints in the Premiership just yesterday, before heading to Bordeaux-Bègles, the reigning Champions Cup holders, next weekend. Speaking about these dual commitments, Jeremy Guscott noted that Bath coach Johann van Graan must start with the strongest available pack for the trip to Bordeaux.

Looking at the broader tournament, Toulon appears to be enjoying a positive run, while Leinster is set to challenge them at the Aviva this Saturday. All things considered, three of the four teams participating in the Champions Cup semi-finals were defeated in their respective league matches the previous weekend, leaving the race highly competitive.

Talking Point
The unusual jurisdictional power of "home country advantage" is determining the semi-final location for the Champions Cup, potentially moving the fixture from Bath or Northampton to Milton Keynes.
Stats
  • Bath ranked fourth of the qualifiers for the round-of-16.
  • Northampton Saints were ranked fifth of the qualifiers for the round-of-16.
  • The Stadium MK has a capacity of 30,530.

Other Results & News

In the Top 14, a desperate qualification sprint is underway, with six teams—Pau, Montpellier, Stade Français, Bordeaux-Bègles, and Racing 92—all clustered together for qualification spots 2 through 6. The Champions Cup sees Leinster set to take on Toulon at the Aviva on Saturday. Meanwhile, Bath will face Bordeaux-Bègles at the Stade Atlantique next weekend.

Injury Flash

Quote of the Day

“
"I'm ready to defend [Jefferson Poirot] to try and not [miss the semi-final]" — Yannick Bru

Next Up

Next Fixture* Leinster vs Toulon (Saturday, 16h, at the Aviva). * Bath vs Bordeaux-Bègles (next weekend, at Stade Atlantique). * Top 14 qualification race continues.
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