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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
INJURYDarby LancasterWestern Force — out, season-ending
INJURYHarry GodfreyHurricanes — out, season-ending
INJURYBrett CameronHurricanes — out, season-ending
INJURYReesjan PasitoaHighlanders — out, season-ending
INJURYJosh TengbladHighlanders — out, season-ending
INJURYCatherine HallMystics — out, N/A
INJURYRuan VenterLions — out
INJURYJASReds — out, N/A
INJURYBilly VunipolaMontpellier — doubt
INJURYHunter PaisamiQueensland Reds — out
INJURYIsaac HenryQueensland Reds — out
INJURYJoseph-Aukuso SuaaliiNSW Waratahs — out
INJURYJack GordonNSW Waratahs — out
INJURYLolani FaleivaMoana Pasifika — out
INJURYFehi FineanganofoHurricanes — out
INJURYJosh GrayHurricanes — out
INJURYDrew WildHurricanes — out
INJURYAnaru Paenga-MorganHurricanes — out, 1-2 weeks
INJURYNikora BroughtonHighlanders — out, 2 weeks
INJURYGeorge BellCrusaders — out, 3-4 weeks
INJURYMaloni KunawaveCrusaders — out, 3 weeks
INJURYTaylor CahillCrusaders — out, 2-3 weeks
INJURYLalakai FoketiChiefs — out, tbc
INJURYDamian McKenzieChiefs — out, tbc
INJURYTuaina Taii TualimaBrumbies — out
INJURYJack CrowleyMunster — out
INJURYHenco van WykLions — out
INJURYTommy O'BrienLeinster — doubt
INJURYTadhg FurlongLeinster Rugby — doubt, to be assessed later this week
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
TRANSFERSam Monaghansigns new contract with Gloucester-Hartpury to extend her stay into the 2026-27 Premiership Women's Rugby campaign
TRANSFEREre Enarifrom Hurricanes to the Dragons
TRANSFERApete Narogosigned with Toulon for several seasons
TRANSFERMichaela Brakesigned a new contract with New Zealand Rugby to the end of 2027.
TRANSFERMeryl SmithSigns new contract with Bristol Bears
TRANSFERLiam BelcherSigned a new contract to remain with Cardiff
TRANSFERJohn McKeeSigned for the Welsh region, replacing Marnus van der Merwe
TRANSFEREvie GallagherSigned a new contract with Bristol Bears
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
INJURYDarby LancasterWestern Force — out, season-ending
INJURYHarry GodfreyHurricanes — out, season-ending
INJURYBrett CameronHurricanes — out, season-ending
INJURYReesjan PasitoaHighlanders — out, season-ending
INJURYJosh TengbladHighlanders — out, season-ending
INJURYCatherine HallMystics — out, N/A
INJURYRuan VenterLions — out
INJURYJASReds — out, N/A
INJURYBilly VunipolaMontpellier — doubt
INJURYHunter PaisamiQueensland Reds — out
INJURYIsaac HenryQueensland Reds — out
INJURYJoseph-Aukuso SuaaliiNSW Waratahs — out
INJURYJack GordonNSW Waratahs — out
INJURYLolani FaleivaMoana Pasifika — out
INJURYFehi FineanganofoHurricanes — out
INJURYJosh GrayHurricanes — out
INJURYDrew WildHurricanes — out
INJURYAnaru Paenga-MorganHurricanes — out, 1-2 weeks
INJURYNikora BroughtonHighlanders — out, 2 weeks
INJURYGeorge BellCrusaders — out, 3-4 weeks
INJURYMaloni KunawaveCrusaders — out, 3 weeks
INJURYTaylor CahillCrusaders — out, 2-3 weeks
INJURYLalakai FoketiChiefs — out, tbc
INJURYDamian McKenzieChiefs — out, tbc
INJURYTuaina Taii TualimaBrumbies — out
INJURYJack CrowleyMunster — out
INJURYHenco van WykLions — out
INJURYTommy O'BrienLeinster — doubt
INJURYTadhg FurlongLeinster Rugby — doubt, to be assessed later this week
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
TRANSFERSam Monaghansigns new contract with Gloucester-Hartpury to extend her stay into the 2026-27 Premiership Women's Rugby campaign
TRANSFEREre Enarifrom Hurricanes to the Dragons
TRANSFERApete Narogosigned with Toulon for several seasons
TRANSFERMichaela Brakesigned a new contract with New Zealand Rugby to the end of 2027.
TRANSFERMeryl SmithSigns new contract with Bristol Bears
TRANSFERLiam BelcherSigned a new contract to remain with Cardiff
TRANSFERJohn McKeeSigned for the Welsh region, replacing Marnus van der Merwe
TRANSFEREvie GallagherSigned a new contract with Bristol Bears
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.