477 : Leinster v Harlequins preview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST

LEINSTER : 15. Jimmy O’Brien 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Ciarán Frawley 11. Jordan Larmour 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Paddy McCarthy 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Thomas Clarkson 4. RG Snyman 5. Joe McCarthy 6. Jack Conan 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Caelan Doris (c)

16. Rónan Kelleher 17. Jack Boyle 18. Tadhg Furlong 19. Diarmuid Mangan 20. Max Deegan 21. Luke McGrath 22. Harry Byrne 23. Rieko Ioane

HARLEQUINS : 15. Cameron Anderson, 14. Cassius Cleaves, 13. Oscar Beard, 12. Luke Northmore, 11. Cadan Murley (c), 10. Jarrod Evans, 9. Will Porter

1. Boris Wenger, 2. Jack Walker, 3. Harry Williams, 4. Kieran Treadwell, 5. Stephan Lewies, 6. Zach Carr, 7. Will Evans, 8. Tom Lawday

16. George Turner, 17. Will Hobson, 18. Pedro Delgado, 19. Joe Launchbury, 20. Lucas Schmid, 21. Lucas Friday, 22. Jamie Benson, 23. Bryn Bradley

Investec Champions Cup 25/26 – Round 1

Saturday, December 6, 2025

Aviva Stadium

KO 5:30pm

Live on : Premier Sports 1

Referee : Craig Evans (WRU)

AR1 : Adam Jones (WRU)

AR2 : Ben Breakspear (WRU)

TMO : Keith David (WRU)

Harpin’ on…the Champions’ Cup contenders

Every Tuesday we post a “bonus chat” from our Sunday evening wrap pod recording, here’s the latest one.

This is the lead-in : “Next weekend sees the opening round of the Champions Cup, and rather than engage in the annual complaints about the format which doesn’t seem to be moving the needle with the organisers, we thought instead we’d start our coverage by looking at the various contenders for winning the 2026 final in Bilbao, which Leinster fans won’t need reminding is where we won our fourth, and crucially our most recent, star. I suppose David before you list your contenders from around the continent I should probably ask, are Leinster one of them?“

432 : Leinster v Northampton preview

Our guest : MARK JACKSON

LEINSTER : 15. Hugo Keenan 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Robbie Henshaw 11. James Lowe 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Cian Healy 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. RG Snyman 5. Joe McCarthy 6. Max Deegan 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Caelan Doris (c)

16. Rónan Kelleher 17. Andrew Porter 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Ryan Baird 20. Jack Conan 21. Luke McGrath 22. Ross Byrne 23. Jordie Barrett

NORTHAMPTON : 15 James Ramm 14 Tommy Freeman 13 Fraser Dingwall (c) 12 Rory Hutchinson 11 Tom Litchfield 10 Fin Smith 9 Alex Mitchell

1 Emmanuel Iyogun 2 Curtis Langdon 3 Trevor Davison 4 Temo Mayanavanua 5 Alex Coles 6 Josh Kemeny 7 Henry Pollock 8 Juarno Augustus

16 Henry Walker17 Tom West 18 Elliot Millar Mills 19 Tom Lockett 20 Chunya Munga 21 Angus Scott-Young 22 Tom James 23 Tom Seabrook

Investec Champions Cup 24/25 Semifinal

Saturday, May 3, 2025

KO 5:30pm Aviva Stadium

Live on : RTÉ2, Premier Sports 1

Referee : Pierre Brousset (Fra)

AR1 : Luc Ramos (Fra)

AR2 : Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)

TMO : Tual Trainini (Fra)

427 : Leinster v Glasgow wrap

11 April 2025; Dan Sheehan of Leinster scores his side’s seventh try during the Investec Champions Cup quarter-final match between Leinster and Glasgow Warriors at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

🏉 Glasgow’s poor exits

🏉 Sam’s spirals

🏉 Leinster’s D (again)

🏉 Mangan’s Euro debut

🏉 Jordie’s everything

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

TOM COLEMAN

RICHARD MIFSUD

FULL TIME TAKES

Greg Kelly

We put on a show but we learned nothing and didn’t sharpen our edges. When Byrne replaced Sam there was a noticeable drop off in incision and tempo. All in all we played an hour of solid rugby and then pulled up in the last 20 to save legs.

Chris McDonnell

Just too good. Noticeable drop off when we changed our half backs.

David Ryle

Wasn’t a scoreline we were expecting. But Glasgow were missing half of their starters.

2 weeks on the bounce teams kept scoreless.

Cuan Mulligan

Loved the term.. Leinster Double Bagel

Get in the conversation yourself by leaving

your own thoughts each week after the full time whistle

in Leinster & Ireland matches on our Facebook page

CHAMPIONS CUP WRAP

NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY

BONUS CHAT : “LEINSTER’S BEST IMPORTS”

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO

THURSDAY

THROWBACK THURSDAY

426 : Leinster v Glasgow preview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST

LEINSTER : 15 Hugo Keenan 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Jordie Barrett

11. James Lowe 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Cian Healy 2. Rónan Kelleher 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Joe McCarthy 5. RG Snyman

6. Max Deegan 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Jack Conan (c)

16. Dan Sheehan 17. Andrew Porter 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Diarmuid Mangan

20. Caelan Doris 21. Luke McGrath 22. Ross Byrne 23. Robbie Henshaw

GLASGOW : 15 Kyle Rowe 14 Jamie Dobie 13 Stafford McDowall 12 Tom Jordan

11 Kyle Steyn (c) 10 Adam Hastings 9 George Horne

1 Nathan McBeth 2 Johnny Matthews 3 Sam Talakai 4 Gregor Brown 5 Alex Samuel

6 Matt Fagerson 7 Rory Darge 8 Sione Vailanu

16 Grant Stewart 17 Jamie Bhatti 18 Patrick Schickerling 19 JP du Preez

20 Max Williamson 21 Euan Ferrie 22 Ben Afshar 23 Sebastian Cancelliere

Referee : Luke Pearce (Eng)

AR1 : Anthony Woodthorpe (Eng)

AR2 : Adam Leal (Eng)

TMO : Andrew Jackson (Eng)

Weather for Dublin 4 (Fri eve)

9° “Partly cloudy”

Wind SSE 9-13 kmh Rain 0%

(from accuweather.com)

425 : Leinster v Harlequins wrap

Josh van der Flier of Leinster scores his side’s fourth try during the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 match between Leinster and Harlequins at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

🏉 Quins purple patch

🏉 Some Leinster tries

🏉 More tries

🏉 Even more tries

🏉 Shutout

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

CIARÁN DUFFY [Post to Post Sport blog]

HUGO GORDON

FULL TIME TAKES

David Ryle

I thought it was going to be a hard day at the office on the first 10 mins. I think the held up ball knocked the wind out of them.

Kevin Kelehan

Quins turned up, sadly only for 10 minutes, great to see JVdF back to his rampaging best, Ringrose lethal in defense and incisive in attack and Jordie Barrett’s team first and self second distribution showing why he was signed.

Chris McDonnell

As complete a performance as I have seen in ages.

Alan Murphy

Quins over 80 mins were never going to win that. Not taking the 6 points on offer for two kickable penalties in the first 10 mins was really naive. Aimless kicking to a Leinster back 3 was naive. Kicking all their restarts to the same space in the first half was naive. Very poor from a last 16 team. I hope they get rid of this round in future as very average teams are winning one game (Ulster) in 4 in the ‘group’ stages and making the knockouts. Others staggering in with 2 wins from 4. Go straight to the quarter finals in future.

Christy O’Connor

Dragons would’ve caused us more problems. I expect a much tougher game next week. I reckon Glasgow will beat Leicester and Glasgow will definitely give is a tough game

Get in the conversation yourself by leaving

your own thoughts each week after the full time whistle

in Leinster & Ireland matches on our Facebook page

CHAMPIONS CUP WRAP

NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY

BONUS CHAT : “EPCR QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW”

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO

THURSDAY

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Rugby on TV : Jan 12-14

FULL LIST

(all times Irish)

NOTE : BT SPORTS IS NOW KNOWN AS TNT SPORTS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12

8PM – LANSDOWNE V UCD – MEN’S AIL 1A – BF SPORTS ANALYSIS YOUTUBE

8PM – NORTHAMPTON V BAYONNE – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 2

8PM – NEWCASTLE V BENETTON – CHALLENGE CUP – PREMIER SPORTS 1

8PM – OSPREYS V PERPIGNAN – CHALLENGE CUP – S4C

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13

1PM – LYON V CONNACHT – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 3

1PM – EXETER V GLASGOW WARRIORS – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 2, ITV 1

1PM – CLÉRMONT V SCARLETS – CHAMPIONS CUP – PREMIER SPORTS 1

2:30PM – GLASGOW WARRIORS V WOLFHOUNDS – WOMEN’S CELTIC CHALLENGE – RUGBYPASS.TV

3:15PM – BRISTOL BEARS V BULLS – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 2

3:15PM – TOULON V MUNSTER – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 3

3:15PM – ZEBRE V DRAGONS – CHALLENGE CUP – EPCRUGBY.COM*

3:15PM – CASTRES V BLACK LION – CHALLENGE CUP – EPCRUGBY.COM*

5:30PM – LEINSTER V STADE FRANÇAIS – CHAMPIONS CUP – RTÉ2, TNT SPORTS 3

5:30PM – STORMERS V SALE SHARKS – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 2

5:30PM – EDINBURGH V GLOUCESTER – CHALLENGE CUP – PREMIER SPORTS 1

8PM – CARDIFF V HARLEQUINS – CHAMPIONS CUP – S4C, TNT SPORTS 2

8PM – ULSTER V TOULOUSE – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 3

8PM – MONTPELLIER V LIONS – CHALLENGE CUP – PREMIER SPORTS 1

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14

1PM – BATH V RACING 92 – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 1

1PM – CLOVERS V GWALIA LIGHTNING – WOMEN’S CELTIC CHALLENGE – RUGBYPASS.TV

1:30PM – BRYTHON THUNDER V EDINBURGH – WOMEN’S CELTIC CHALLENGE – RUGBYPASS.TV

3:15PM – LA ROCHELLE V LEICESTER TIGERS – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 1

5:30PM – BORDEAUX V SARACENS – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 1

* paid streaming service

RUGBY ON TV

IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

THE IRISH RUGBY

YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Rugby on TV : Dec 14-18

FULL LIST

(all times Irish)

NOTE : BT SPORTS IS NOW KNOWN AS TNT SPORTS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14

7:30PM – BRIDGEND V NEWPORT – WELSH PREM – S4C ONLINE

9PM – NEWCASTLE V MONTPELLIER (REPLAY) – CHALLENGE CUP – PREMIER SPORTS 1

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15

8PM – UCD V LANSDOWNE – AIL MEN’S 1A – BF SPORTS ANALYSIS YOUTUBE

8PM – NORTHAMPTON V TOULON – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 1

8PM – BAYONNE V GLASGOW WARRIORS – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 2

8PM – GLOUCESTER V CLÉRMONT – CHALLENGE CUP – PREMIER SPORTS 1

8PM – SCARLETS V BLACK LION – CHALLENGE CUP – S4C, EPCRUGBY.COM*

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16

1PM – SARACENS V CONNACHT – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 1

1PM – STORMERS V LA ROCHELLE – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 4

1PM – EDINBURGH V CASTRES – CHAMPIONS CUP – PREMIER SPORTS 1

2:30PM – DUBLIN UNIVERSITY V TERENURE – AIL MEN’S 1A – BF SPORTS ANALYSIS YOUTUBE

3PM – EXETER V GLOUCESTER – WOMEN’S PREM – TNT SPORTS 3

3:15PM – BORDEAUX V BRISTOL BEARS – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 1

3:15PM – LIONS V NEWCASTLE – CHALLENGE CUP – PREMIER SPORTS 1

3:15PM – BENETTON V PERPIGNAN – CHALLENGE CUP – EPCRUGBY.COM*

5:30PM – LEINSTER V SALE SHARKS – CHAMPIONS CUP – RTÉ2, TNT SPORTS 1

5:30PM – PAU V DRAGONS – CHALLENGE CUP – EPCRUGBY.COM*

8PM – CARDIFF V BATH – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 1, S4C

8PM – ULSTER V RACING 92 – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 3

9:15PM – MUNSTER V NEATH (HIGHLIGHTS 2003) – RUGBAÍ GOLD – TG4

9:30PM – RTÉ SPORTS AWARDS – RTÉ1

10PM – LIONS V NEWCASTLE (REPLAY) – CHALLENGE CUP – PREMIER SPORTS 1

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17

1PM – EXETER V MUNSTER – CHAMPIONS CUP – ITV1, TNT SPORTS 1

1PM – MONTPELLIER V OSPREYS – CHALLENGE CUP – PREMIER SPORTS 2

3:15PM – HARLEQUINS V TOULOUSE – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 1

5:30PM – STADE FRANCAIS V LEICESTER TIGERS – CHAMPIONS CUP – TNT SPORTS 1

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18

8PM – CHAMPIONS CUP HIGHLIGHTS – TNT SPORTS 2

(REPEATED AT 11PM ON TNT SPORTS 4)