18 May, 15:44
It's down to the wire now for the five contenders who have been shortlisted for the ultimate individual accolade in northern hemisphere rugby, ERC European Player of the Year 2013.
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14 May, 15:49
With the build-up to the Dublin 2013 European club rugby finals intensifying by the day, the four elite clubs of ASM Clermont Auvergne, Toulon, Leinster Rugby and Stade Francais Paris, who are focused on their quest for Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup silverware respectively, won't be the only clubs with Europe on their mind over the weekend of 17 and 18 May.
2 May, 18:59
Benoit August of Biarritz Olympique and Perpignan's Daniel Leo have been suspended for four weeks and two weeks respectively following citing complaints arising from last weekend's Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals.
Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
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18 May, 19:33
Delon Armitage scored Toulon's match-winning try - but never had a doubt that Jonny Wilkinson would kick the conversion that would give them the lead for the first time with just minutes to spare.
18 May, 18:58
Toulon are the Heineken Cup champions - but they had to come back from a nine-point deficit to stun ASM Clermont Auvergne with a 16-15 victory built on sheer never-say-die grit and determination.
Marc Heywood
18 May, 18:58
Toulon are the Heineken Cup champions - but they had to come back from a nine-point deficit to stun ASM Clermont Auvergne with a 16-15 victory built on sheer never-say-die grit and determination.
Marc Heywood
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Amlin Challenge Cup
Amlin Challenge Cup
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18 May, 10:54
This one is for Joe and Isa - that was the tribute Amlin Man of the Match Jonny Sexton paid to his coach and team-mate in the wake of their 34-13 Amlin Challenge Cup final triumph over Stade Francais Paris at the RDS.
17 May, 23:37
There was another dose of European disappointment for Sergio Parisse and his team but the Stade Francais Paris captain paid handsome tribute to Leinster following their 34-13 victory at the RDS.
17 May, 23:15
Now for the elusive double - that was the defiant message from Joe Schmidt after they had lifted the third European title of his reign.
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News
Bath aim to break with tradition
17 May 2007 10:34am
By
Steve Borthwick wants to bring back the silverware on Saturday
Traditionally the side going into a major English final on the back of a break has gone on to lose - but that is a trend Bath plan to reverse on Saturday.
Captain Steve Borthwick says they will end their three week break in good condition, with some players back from injury and ready to win a first trophy for nine seasons when they face French side Clermont Auvergne in the Challenge Cup final at the Stoop on Saturday.
"We have had a good break and it was a chance for our fitness and medical teams to work very hard with us to get us in the best possible shape for this game," said the England lock.
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.."It has happened in the past that sides have lost after a break and we need to make sure we have the best preparation possible to make sure we are on the money.
"We had a training match and Newbury were very good opposition for us, we have worked very hard."
The Bath squad are aware that the club with such a great tradition of winning silverware has not lifted a trophy since winning the Heineken Cup in 1998. They are keen to put the record straight on Saturday.
"We want to make something of our season and this is it. The opportunity to lift silverware is the main thing - the season has not gone how we wanted it to but it is all about this game," said Borthwick.
"We won the European Cup back in 1998 but now it is about this opportunity and what this group can do. We have looked back for too long and now it is about looking forward.
"That side is there, but it is an era which is gone. For the last few years members of that team have decided to take shots at us, but it is about us now and looking forward so this game is paramount in my mind.
"Earlier on in the season we always had goals to finish as high up the table as possible. We always had those things to work towards which is important, we were building for this game by concentrating on the games in our path.
"We know it is a big challenge, they are doing very well in the French competition. When you think of the big four or five clubs in France, Clermont are up there. They are ambitious and have some very big names playing for them.
"They played very well against the Dragons in the semi-final and got points on the board early so it is up to us to start well."
"We have had a good break and it was a chance for our fitness and medical teams to work very hard with us to get us in the best possible shape for this game," said the England lock.
.."It has happened in the past that sides have lost after a break and we need to make sure we have the best preparation possible to make sure we are on the money."We had a training match and Newbury were very good opposition for us, we have worked very hard."
The Bath squad are aware that the club with such a great tradition of winning silverware has not lifted a trophy since winning the Heineken Cup in 1998. They are keen to put the record straight on Saturday.
"We want to make something of our season and this is it. The opportunity to lift silverware is the main thing - the season has not gone how we wanted it to but it is all about this game," said Borthwick.
"We won the European Cup back in 1998 but now it is about this opportunity and what this group can do. We have looked back for too long and now it is about looking forward.
"That side is there, but it is an era which is gone. For the last few years members of that team have decided to take shots at us, but it is about us now and looking forward so this game is paramount in my mind.
"Earlier on in the season we always had goals to finish as high up the table as possible. We always had those things to work towards which is important, we were building for this game by concentrating on the games in our path.
"We know it is a big challenge, they are doing very well in the French competition. When you think of the big four or five clubs in France, Clermont are up there. They are ambitious and have some very big names playing for them.
"They played very well against the Dragons in the semi-final and got points on the board early so it is up to us to start well."
Latest ERC TV
Latest ERC TV
18 May 13
Get the final words pf both coaches and captains ahead of the biggest club game of their careers. Press Confernce with Toulon and ASM
16 May 13
Finals Edition: Listen to the best guide to the European Rugby Cup Finals weekend in Dublin, which sees Leinster Rugby take on Stade Francais Paris at the RDS on Friday night in the Amlin Challenge Cup Final and then ASM Clermont Auvergne tackle Toulon in an all-French affair at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
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