Champions Cup: The Four Standout Ties Not To Miss This Season

The remoulding of Europe’s premier competition didn’t exactly go down well on its introduction three years ago, but there’s little doubting now that establishing the Champions Cup has created a competition in which one mistake could prove to be lethal and every single group offers up some mouthwatering clashes.

Following on from Wednesday’s draw in Neuchatel, Switzerland, here are four ties that you would be best advised to park yourself in front of the TV or in the stands for.

Racing 92 v Munster

Normally the match-up of Leicester Tigers and Munster would steal the show after so many European classics over the years, but the two sides met as recently as last season in the pool stages. Therefore, this time around, the plotline of Ronan O’Gara, the Racing 92 assistant coach fresh from winning the Top 14 title in Barcelona, returning to the province where he played his entire career is very special.

Europe’s all-time leading points scorer and appearance holder will no doubt have a lump in his throat returning to Thomond Park for the first time since his retirement. That’s all before remembering that Racing, so hungry for success before the domestic triumph, will be desperate to add a European crown to their collection after missing out in this year’s Champions Cup final.

Connacht v Wasps

PRO12 champions against the rising force (well certainly the richest) of English rugby. Connacht only lifted the PRO12 title to the shock of everybody but themselves a few weeks ago but expectations are already rising about whether or not they can repeat or match last year’s shock factor by progressing in Europe.

Both teams will have been pleased by the prospect of 8-10 points from playing Zebre twice across the group stages, and Wasps will also have a chip on their shoulder following last season’s semi-final defeat to eventual champions Saracens. Considering what Connacht have already achieved and the names being added to the Wasps squad – Danny Cipriani and Kurtley Beale headlining the incomings – this fixture could be very special.

Saracens v Toulon

The reigning champions taking on their predecessors – that should be enough to lure you in. Saracens don’t want to be a one-title wonder; their aim is to emulate Toulon and win multiple trophies to become a dynasty.

History tells us that going back-to-back in Europe is enormously hard – only Leicester (2001 and 2002) and Leinster (2011 and 2012) have managed it. Along with, guess who, Toulon. Saracens by far and away were the best side in Europe in 2015/2016 and Toulon will be enraged by finishing their campaign without any silverware to their name. These two also have history – the 2014 final – adding some extra spice to what will be a mammoth match-up over the two games.

Exeter v Clermont v Bordeaux-Bègles

Premiership finalists for the first time in 2015/2016, Exeter Chiefs’ rise shows no signs of slowing down. They made this season’s European Cup quarter-finals off the back of Clermont’s implosion at home to… Bordeaux-Bègles. Pairing these three together the following season only seems right after that day of drama to decide the quarter-finals spots, and there are plenty of additional subplots at play as all three sides prepare to do battle once more.

Can Exeter’s squad handle two tough trips to France and improve on last season’s two defeats? How will Clermont bounce back after missing out on the knockout stages for the first time in four seasons? And will UBB, one of the fastest rising sides in France with flash new signings in Rebels lock Luke Jones and Leinster’s Ian Madigan, be able to cause an upset?

Fixtures have yet to be confirmed but the tournament gets underway in mid October.

Love Island: Watch ex-Miss Newcastle Sophie Gradon drop a dating bombshell

Sophie revealed a secret from her dating past to Miss Great Britain Zara Holland on Tuesday night's Love Island.

The Love Island action heated up on Tuesday night when former Miss Newcastle Sophie Gradon dropped a bombshell about her dating past.

Digital marketing manager Sophie revealed the secret to Zara Holland, who like the 30 year old has won Miss Great Britain.

Geordie girl Sophie is currently loved up with Tom Powell in the Love Island villa after choosing the Welsh fitness instructor to be her on-screen other half in the first episode of the itv2 dating show and once dated England rugby star and well known lothario Danny Cipriani.

But she told Zara, currently coupled up with Scott Thomas, brother of Coronation Street and Emmerdale stars Ryan and Adam, that going on Love Island and being romantic with guys was her way of giving men another shot after previously having two six month relationships with lesbian women.

On the subject of revealing things, Sophie did fail to mention the fact that she was a former Miss Great Britain after Zara, the current title holder, told her about her pageant success.

There were two new arrivals in the Love Island villa on Tuesday in the shape of Surrey carpenter Terry Walsh and Stevenage makeup artist Kady McDermott.

The show, presented by Caroline Flack, continues at 9pm tonight on itv2.

Kirsty Gallacher and Danny Cipriani have parted ways because of their age gap.

The 28-year-old English rugby ace and the 40-year-old TV presenter - who has children Jude, six, and Oscar, nine, with ex-husband Paul Sampson - have decided to part ways because their 12-year age gap began to highlight major differences between them.

A source told The Sun newspaper that Danny was finding things difficult as they were in different places in their life as he is so much younger and "she has kids".

The source said: "They decided to go their separate ways. It was mostly his doing. Kirsty was devastated but agreed it was for the best.

"She and Danny were intense for a while but it became difficult. It didn't help that he's younger and she has kids."

Sale Sharks fly-half Danny has a long romantic past with women that are older than him.

He previously dated Kelly Brook, 36, Katie Price, 37 and actress Lindsay Lohan, 29.

Kirsty was warned off the athlete by her former spouse because of his womanising reputation, but she was never put off by Danny's history with women.

A source close to Kirsty said: "She wasn't put off by his reputation. Kirsty was devastated but agreed it was for the best."

Danny Cipriani’s missed chances prove costly in Sale’s draw with Saracens

Sale’s director of rugby, Steve Diamond, was pleased with their draw against Saracens, despite Danny Cipriani costing his side victory with four missed conversions. Sharks were 17-0 up at one stage thanks to tries from Sam James, Johnny Leota and Tom Arscott but, following an excellent Sarries fightback, they found themselves 36-26 down with 10 minutes to go.

Late scores from TJ Ioane and Arscott duly rescued three points for Sale, but Cipriani was unable to hit the target from the tee to secure the win.

However, Diamond was content with the result, irrespective of the fly-half’s kicking woes. “I was delighted, particularly with being 10 points behind with 10 minutes to go,” he said. “I was really pleased with the last 15 minutes, it showed a lot of character. We were playing it out wide and scored a lot of good tries and Will [Addison] and Mike [Haley]were trying their best. In the last five games I think we’ve scored 19 tries and that’s what we’re good at doing so we will carry on in that vein.”

One frustration for Diamond could have been Chris Wyles’ second try, which was awarded just before half-time when the wing appeared to be in touch, but Diamond refused to be drawn into criticising the officials. “They had a dubious one in the corner, but you can’t whinge and moan, you’ve got to get on with it,” he said. “He was in touch, but you get on with it. They’ve got the TMO and, if he can’t see it, then there’s no point whinging about it.”

Saracens’ coach, Mark McCall, was also positive about the draw as his weakened outfit go seven points clear of second-placed Exeter Chiefs. He said: “Overall, we’ve got to be satisfied to get three points at a place where a lot of teams have struggled this year.

“We showed some good resilience and character to come back into it. The only disappointing thing was that when we got to 36-26 up, which seemed remarkable given the start we had, it was a little bit disappointing to let them back in, but they probably deserved it on the balance of play.

“We needed to tighten up our defence. We defended poorly in that first 20 minutes but we defended well in the second half.

“Even though they scored a couple of tries in the last 10 minutes, they had to work hard for those tries whereas they didn’t for the other three.”

Cipriani blunder costs Sale dearly

London - Danny Cipriani missed a late conversion that would have proved decisive as Sale were forced to settle for a thrilling 36-36 draw against Saracens in the English Premiership on Saturday.

Sale surged into an early 17-0 lead through tries from Sam James, Johnny Leota and Tom Arscott, but Saracens roared back to go ahead before the interval at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Jim Hamilton and Chris Wyles, who scored a pair of tries, touched down, while Charlie Hodgson and Ben Spencer added the conversions.

Hodgson, on his last appearance at the club where he started his career, also kicked a penalty before he was forced off with a head injury.

Cipriani kicked three penalties in the second period, but scores by Nick Tompkins and Mike Ellery moved the visitors 36-26 ahead.

TJ Ioane and Arscott crossed late on to haul Sale level again, but England international Cipriani was off-target with both conversions, the last of them following a 79th-minute try.

Elsewhere, James Hook scored 15 points to keep Gloucester in contention for the Premiership play-off and Champions Cup places with a 32-6 victory over Newcastle at Kingsholm.

Hook scored a try and kicked two penalties and two conversions before being replaced by Billy Burns with 16 minutes remaining.

Bill Meakes, Ross Moriarty, and Tom Savage also scored tries for Gloucester.

Billy Twelvetrees added a conversion with Craig Willis kicking two penalties for the Falcons.

Tom Collins scored his first senior hat-trick as Northampton routed Worcester 38-18 at Franklin's Gardens.

Collins, 21, showed electric pace and clever feet to help Saints to a much-needed bonus point win that avenged their opening-day defeat.

Worcester got two tries from Val Rapava-Ruskin and Wynand Olivier to give them a 15-12 half-time lead.

The game was still hanging in the balance until Collins scored his side's fifth try with 14 minutes remaining.

Harry Mallinder, Lee Dickson and George Pisi went over for Northampton's other tries.

Kirsty Gallacher 'secretly dating' Kelly Brook's ex Danny Cipriani

The 39-year-old is believed to have moved on from her ex with the hunky 28-year-old rugby player.

TV star Kirsty Gallacher is dating rugby player Danny Cipriani, according to the Sun on Sunday.

Kirsty – who split from her husband last summer – has been reportedly meeting love rat Danny in secret.

Friends close to the budding couple claim things have already become “serious and intense" between them.

Kirsty and Danny watch Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November

Danny, who famously cheated on Kelly Brook, has even enjoyed a weekend away with Kirsty – at the country home of Zara Philips and Mike Tindall.

A source said: “They had a great time and looked like a couple in the first flush of romance.”

Last summer Sky presenter Kristy, 39, split from husband Paul Sampson after 14 years together. Kirsty took part in these series of Strictly - she was eliminated in week six.

Kirsty with her ex Paul Sampson

Kelly Brook with Danny

They have two young sons, Oscar, seven, and Jude, four.

Kirsty, who turns 40 in January, recently admitted she would love to have another child.

She said: "It's not like, 'Oh, you're 40, you can't do this and you can't do that.' "To me it means nothing. I'd still like to have another child."

And speaking about dating back in November, she said: "I have dated this year and, after 15 years with just one person, it was interesting. It's fun and exciting, but I tried not to put any pressure on myself and I learned you should only do it if it's right. We'll see what happens."

Danny, who is ten years Kirsty's junior, dated Kelly Brook twice – first in 2010 and again in 2013. He has also dated Katie Price and Lindsay Lohan over the years.

Both Danny and Kirsty's rep declined to comment.

Steve Diamond frustrated after narrow defeat for Sale Sharks at Gloucester

STEVE Diamond admitted Sale Sharks are feeling the frustration after going down 23-19 at Gloucester last Friday night.

Nev Edwards scored his first two Premiership tries for the club but the side lying eighth in the Aviva Premiership were unable to hang on to the lead as two tries from Sione Kalamafoni clinched the victory for the Kingsholm men.

Sale director of rugby Diamond said: "There is a little bit of frustration there.

"We gave the ball away pretty easy when we were in their 22.

"Credit to Gloucester, they didn't turn the ball over in the crucial stages under pressure, and we're just frustrated with that."

Sharks conceded a try after only four minutes but did not let it affect their plans and remained patient.

A moment from magic Danny Cipriani produced the Sharks' first try. Following a driving maul, the ball was shipped out to Cipriani on the Gloucester 22, and he chipped it to perfection for Nev Edwards to race over the whitewash to score his first Premiership try.

Cipriani converted a penalty in front of the posts to make it 8-5 after 18 minutes.

Seventh-placed Gloucester levelled and went 11-8 ahead after 28 minutes.

Both sides looked to extend their lead heading into the final 10 minutes of the first half, but the half-time whistle went with everything still to play for.

Cipriani levelled with a penalty after Gloucester had been penalised at the ruck after the interval.

The Sharks had the momentum and winger Edwards went over to score his second try following a great team move, which ended with Mike Haley making a break into the 22, and he intelligently weaved his way around the Gloucester defence.

He then passed it to the left wing for Edwards to score. Cipriani missed the conversion to leave the score 16-11 after 50 minutes.

Gloucester fought back however, and number eight Kalamafoni crashed his way over from short distance to level.

After the hour mark, he scored his second try and the conversion was made to leave it 23-16.

Cipriani had the last word with a penalty and although the Sharks pressed hard they could not find the crucial late breakthrough to leave them with one point.

Sharks travel to Castres Olympique on Saturday (8.45pm) in the European Challenge Cup.