Epcr European Rugby Show

Nicky Robinson joins James Burridge and Tom May on the Champions Rugby Show, with the Wales international’s old teams Cardiff Blues, Gloucester and Wasps all in action during Round 3 of the Heineken Champions Cup. Former Ireland centre Kevin Maggs chats about Bath Rugby’s chances against the holders Leinster, while French journalist Léo Faure assesses Leicester Tigers’ hopes of upsetting Racing 92 in Paris. Elsewhere, there’s the clash of Pool 5’s over-achievers Edinburgh and Newcastle, Munster taking on French champions Castres Olympique and Gloucester trying to inflict a third straight Pool 2 defeat on Exeter Chiefs. You’ll also find out which player made both Tom and Nicky nervous! The Champions Rugby Show is the new name for the EPCR European Rugby Show.

The return of the Heineken Champions Cup did not disappoint, with tense games, dramatic finishes, the holders Leinster thumping Wasps, a landmark victory for Newcastle Falcons in Toulon and that OMG moment for Freddie Burns against Toulouse. The former Edinburgh, Gloucester, Newcastle and Scotland scrum half Rory Lawson joins James Burridge and Tom May (once of Toulon and Newcastle) to analyse Round 1 and preview the ten mouthwatering matches ahead in Round 2. Former France captain Raphael Ibanez chats about a mixed start for the French teams and James Downey discusses the performance of his old clubs Munster and Leinster Rugby. We hear from Johnny Sexton, Tom Youngs, Ken Owens, Juan Figallo and Johan Ackermann and chat about the European Rugby Challenge Cup as well.

Former Wales and Cardiff Blues captain Martyn Williams chats to the EPCR European Rugby Show ahead of a new Heineken Champions Cup campaign, as does former Scotland star Andy Nicol, who skippered Bath Rugby to a European title in 1998. Tom May, once of Newcastle Falcons and RC Toulon, and the former Racing 92 and Wasps flanker Florent Rossigneux join James Burridge in the studio to preview the holders Leinster Rugby’s opener against Wasps, Exeter Chiefs v Munster Rugby, Scarlets against last season’s finalists Racing, plus seven other great matches across Round 1 weekend. We hear from Johnny Sexton, Tom Youngs, Dimitri Szarzewski, Matt Garvey, Johann van Graan, Richard Cockerill and Mark McCall during our in-depth preview of the new European Rugby season. Journalist and author Jonathan Bradley discusses his new book about Ulster’s remarkable European Cup success 20 seasons ago, and we look ahead to the start of the European Rugby Challenge Cup as well.

The EPCR European Rugby Show visits Lausanne to bring you exclusive reaction to the Pool Draws for new Heineken Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup campaigns. Former rugby stars Austin Healey, Raphaël Ibañez and Dimitri Yachvili are on hand to help James Burridge and Emma Thurston analyse the teams and the pools in both competitions.

The EPCR European Rugby Show brings you interviews and analysis from Bilbao, after Leinster Rugby defeated Racing 92 15-12 in the European Rugby Champions Cup Final. The Irish side now have a record-equaling four European Cup titles.  James Burridge, Tom May and Emma Thurston have reaction from Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, captain Isa Nacewa and Johnny Sexton. There’s comment from Paul Grayson, a European Cup winner with Northampton Saints, as well as Lawrence Dallaglio, who won the competition twice with Wasps.  You’ll also hear from Danny Wilson and Ed Slater after Cardiff Blues’ thrilling comeback win over Gloucester Rugby in the European Rugby Challenge Cup showpiece. And Brian O’Driscoll talks about the EPCR European Player of the Year presented by Turkish Airlines. 

The EPCR European Rugby Show is in the Basque Country for 2018 Finals Weekend and today James Burridge, Tom May and Emma Thurston are joined by Miles Harrison of Sky Sports to preview the European Rugby Champions Cup Final between Leinster Rugby and Racing 92. We’ve all the team news and you’ll hear from Leinster’s head coach Leo Cullen, captain Isa Nacewa and key man Johnny Sexton, as well as Racing’s Irish forward Donnacha Ryan. Plus we have a coaching profile of Cullen, who could make history with a victory in Saturday’s final. 

2018 Finals Weekend is here and we're in Bilbao for three special episodes. Martyn Hindley, Tom May and Emma Thurston are joined pitchside by BT Sport’s Alastair Eykyn to talk about Friday night’s European Rugby Challenge Cup Final between Cardiff Blues and Gloucester Rugby.  We’ve all the team news, plus you’ll hear from Cardiff head coach Danny Wilson, captain Ellis Jenkins, and full-back Gareth Anscombe as well as Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann and skipper Ed Slater. The Cherry and Whites’ Director of Rugby David Humphreys reminisces about winning the European Cup with Ulster. Don’t forget to also download the EPCR European Rugby Show’s main Finals Weekend preview, which includes interviews with Matt O’Connor, Henry Trinder and Richard Hodges.

With Leinster Rugby set to face Racing 92 in the Champions Cup Final in Bilbao, the former Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor chats about the Irish side and the qualities of its current leader Leo Cullen. He also analyses Racing, who his Leicester Tigers team faced twice in Pool 4. James Burridge, Tom May and Emma Thurston hear from Leo Cullen himself as they preview Finals Weekend, as well as Joe Rokocoko, Ken Owens, Wayne Pivac, Peter O’Mahony and Johann van Graan. Gloucester Rugby centre Henry Trinder and Cardiff Blues defence coach Richard Hodges join us ahead of the European Rugby Challenge Cup Final. Plus, there are reflections on a hat-trick of Champions Cup wins with RC Toulon from Steffon Armitage. Look out for three more episodes of the EPCR European Rugby Show from Bilbao.

Mike Phillips came out of retirement to play for Scarlets earlier this season and the former Wales and Lions scrum-half joins James Burridge, Tom May and Emma Thurston to talk about the Welsh side’s European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final in Dublin. We also hear from Leinster Rugby stars past and present, Denis Hickie and Isa Nacewa. James Downey chats about Munster’s last-four encounter with Racing 92 and we get a French perspective from journalist Leo Faure. There’s a quickfire Q & A with Munster skipper Peter O’Mahony and match-winning memories of the 2001 final from Leicester legend Leon Lloyd. Plus, Dom Waldouck is on the phone ahead of Newcastle Falcons' Challenge Cup semi-final at Gloucester, while Conrad Smith and Steffon Armitage speak about the incentive of making Finals Weekend 2018 in Bilbao, as they prepare for Pau’s match against Cardiff Blues. And David Humphreys makes his selection in the EPCR European Player of the Year 2018 award, presented by Turkish Airlines.

Ex-Ireland and Leinster Rugby winger Denis Hickie and retired Saracens flanker Will Fraser are two of the special guests joining James Burridge, Tom May and Emma Thurston to discuss their former clubs’ massive quarter-final clash in Dublin. Florent Rossigneux gives us his thoughts on his old side Racing 92’s all-French encounter with 2017 finalists ASM Clermont Auvergne. We preview a huge match in Wales for Scarlets against La Rochelle and RC Toulon’s daunting trip to face Munster Rugby at Thomond Park. There’s a Champions Cup Q&A with Saracens skipper Brad Barritt, Thomas Castaignède shares his memories of winning the very first European Cup final and you’ll also hear from Leon Lloyd, who was the hero for Leicester Tigers in the 2001 showpiece. Plus, David Humphreys, Conrad Smith and Steffon Armitage look ahead to a big weekend in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Leinster Rugby have five wins from five in this season’s European Rugby Champions Cup and have already booked their place in the quarter finals. Mike McCarthy joins James Burridge, Tom May and Emma Thurston to analyse his old side’s impressive campaign. It’s crunch time for the fourteen teams that still hope to bag one of the seven remaining berths in the knockout stages and former All Black Carl Hayman helps preview the crucial Pool 5 encounter between Scarlets and RC Toulon. You’ll hear reaction to a dramatic Round 5 weekend from Ken Owens, as well as three directors of rugby - Todd Blackadder, Dai Young and John Kingston. Former France international Thomas Castaignède talks fondly about Saracens and there’s a Champions Cup Q&A with Stuart Hogg of Glasgow Warriors and Scotland.

James Burridge, Tom May and special guests assess the pool stage picture in the European Rugby Champions Cup, ahead of some huge clashes in Round 5\. Former Ireland international Kevin Maggs discusses crucial matches for his old clubs Ulster Rugby and Bath Rugby against La Rochelle and Scarlets respectively. England centre Jamie Noon finished his playing career in France and he chats about ASM Clermont Auvergne’s injury woes, as well as RC Toulon’s qualification prospects. RTE commentator Michael Corcoran gives us an Irish perspective on the progress of Munster, Leinster and Ulster. We hear from Andy Nicol, as Bath mark the 20th anniversary of their European Cup triumph and there’s a Q&A with Northampton Saints and England skipper Dylan Hartley.

Jeremy Guscott is among those who join James Burridge, Tom May and Emma Thurston to reflect on all the drama in Champions Cup Round 3 and preview Round 4’s return fixtures. The England and Lions legend gives his verdict on his old club Bath Rugby’s campaign. Former Saracens captain Alistair Hargreaves helps analyse the holders’ defeat to ASM Clermont Auvergne. James Downey chats about Munster and Leinster’s back-to-back matches against Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs respectively. Ronan O’Gara reflects on his tremendous European Cup career and there’s also a Q&A with Ulster Rugby skipper Rory Best.

James Burridge and Tom May preview Round 3 of the European Rugby Champions Cup, which sees the top two go head-to-head in all five pools. Top coach Mike Ford joins us to discuss the first of two clashes between his most recent clubs, RC Toulon and Bath Rugby (and talks about George, Joe and Leicester as well). Jim Hamilton played in last season’s final for Saracens and he chats about another meeting between his former colleagues and ASM Clermont Auvergne. Florent Rossigneux previews crucial matches for his former sides Wasps and Racing 92, at La Rochelle and Castres Olympique respectively. Dave McIntyre of Newstalk looks ahead to some mouth-watering matches involving Irish teams, as Munster Rugby face Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs take on Leinster Rugby. Plus there’s a Player Profile of Scarlets captain Ken Owens.

James Burridge, Tom May and Emma Thurston review the opening matches in this season’s European Rugby Champions Cup, including a thumping win for the holders Saracens at Northampton. Will Fraser gives us his thoughts on his former team’s impressive start. Ryan Lamb tells James about his La Rochelle side and life in France, after a stand-out display in their win over Harlequins, while Les Kiss and Dai Young talk about Ulster’s defeat of Wasps. We look ahead to Round 2 weekend with the help of Rory Best and John Kingston, there’s a Q&A with Leicester centre Matt Toomua and we’re joined by the man who captained Krasny Yar of Russia to victory over Challenge Cup holders Stade Francais Paris, in one of club rugby’s greatest ever shocks.

James Burridge, Tom May and Emma Thurston bring you a bumper preview of the European Rugby Champions Cup season, ahead of Round 1. Saracens, who are going for a third consecutive title, are just one of twenty formidable teams dreaming of glory next May in Bilbao. You’ll hear from a host of top names during an in-depth preview of the Champions Cup, including Brad Barritt, Dylan Hartley, Isa Nacewa, Rob Baxter, Vern Cotter, Peter O’Mahony, Ken Owens, Stuart Hogg and Damien Chouly. There’s a one-to-one with Ronan O’Gara, a Q&A with Ospreys centre Ashley Beck, plus the former Scotland scrum half Rory Lawson gives us his views on the competition. James, Tom and Emma also chat about the European Rugby Challenge Cup and get involved with Fantasy Rugby on ChampionsCupRugby.com.

Saracens secured back-to-back European Rugby Champions Cup titles with a 28-17 victory over ASM Clermont Auvergne at BT Murrayfield Stadium. Former European champions Matt Dawson and Paul Grayson help us review the Final and we've also reaction from Saracens' Director of Rugby Mark McCall, record-breaking try scorer Chris Ashton and man of the match Billy Vunipola. Clermont's Damien Chouly and Nick Abendanon speak about their disappointment while Brian O’Driscoll praises Owen Farrell, who was voted the EPCR European Champions Cup Player of the Year presented by Turkish Airlines. We hear from Gonzalo Quesada after his Stade Français Paris side beat Gloucester Rugby in the European Rugby Challenge Cup Final on Friday, as well as from Gloucester's David Humphreys. James Burridge is joined by epcrugby.com's Emma Thurston and Midi Olympique’s Léo Faure to wrap up Finals Weekend in Edinburgh.

Saracens’ Mark McCall and Brad Barritt talk to the media at BT Murrayfield ahead of the European Rugby Champions Cup Final and you’ll also hear what ASM Clermont Auvergne’s Franck Azéma and Damien Chouly have been saying. Martyn Hindley and Emma Thurston are joined by Sky Sport’s Miles Harrison to preview Saturday’s showpiece match.

You’ll hear from David Humphreys, Greig Laidlaw, Willi Heinz, Gonzalo Quesada, Sergio Parisse and Will Genia as Gloucester Rugby and Stade Français Paris talk to the media at BT Murrayfield ahead of the European Rugby Challenge Cup Final. Martyn Hindley and Emma Thurston are joined by BT Sport’s Nick Mullins to preview the big match.

James Burridge, Tom May and Emma Thurston preview a bumper EPCR Finals Weekend at BT Murrayfield, and speak to three famous names ahead of the Champions Cup showpiece on Saturday 13th May – former Saracens man Jacques Burger, Clermont old-boy Lee Byrne, and the all important man in the middle, match referee Nigel Owens. The panel also speak to Gloucester’s John Afoa and Midi Olympique journalist, Léo Faure, ahead of the Challenge Cup Final on Friday, which is another Anglo-French affair. And we discuss the European Rugby Continental Shield Final, the 3rd match of Finals Weekend, with the help of Krasny Yar captain, Vasily Artemyev. Plus we analyse the final five nominees in the running for the EPCR European Player of the Year 2017 presented by Turkish Airlines.