Northern Hemisphere Rugby Wrap 2023-2024 Season
And so the rugby union season draws to a close in Europe and South Africa with various bits of silverware settling in at new locations, drawing admiring glances from fans and investors. Of course, the “off-season”, always brief will be even more so this year with the Paris Olympics Rugby Sevens kicking off on July 24 amid the usual host of friendly internationals already underway.
European rugby finished on June 28 with the Final of the Top 14 French season in Marseille between Investec Champions Cup winners Stade Toulousain and Union Bordeaux-Begles, first-time visitors to the Final. Toulouse came out of the blocks fast and put Bordeaux under tremendous pressure for the entire match. With stars like Dupont, Ntamack and Willis playing at the height of their powers, Bordeaux were unable to get anything going, not helped by a yellow- card in the 6th minute followed by concession of a try. The Toulouse team’s strength and speed overwhelmed Bordeaux who were down 22-3 at the Half. Sadly, the penalty scored by UBB in the 10th minute would be the only points they would score while Toulouse scored 9 tries, 6 in the second half and ran out 59-3 winners. Bordeaux enjoyed a great season (#3 in points scored) but were unable to get their backs in gear and what opportunities they did create were lost to poor handling or other mistakes. Antoine Dupont joins the French Olympics 7s team with 2 major championships under his belt - more excitement and rewards to come?
2023/2024 RUGBY RESULTS:
Six Nations - Ireland won but were denied a repeat of their 2023 Grand Slam by losing to England who finished 3rd.
English Gallagher Premiership Final - Northampton Saints, beat Bath in the final 25-21
Investec Champions Cup Final - Stade Toulousain beat Leinster in the Final by 31-22
EPCR Challenge Cup Final - South Africa’s HollywoodBet Sharks beat Gloucester Rugby 36-22
URC Final - Glasgow Warriors beat Vodacom Bulls, in Pretoria, 21-6
France Top 14 Final -Stade Toulousain beat Union Bordeaux-Begles 59-3.
DATES FOR THE 2024/2025 SEASON:
Gallagher Premiership - fixtures announced 7/23/24
URC - first fixtures 9/20/2024
Investec Champions Cup - first fixtures 12/6/2024 4 Pools of 6 teams, as follows: 1) Toulouse; UBB; SA Sharks; Exeter; Leicester; Ulster 2) Leinster; Clermont Auvergne; La Rochelle; Bristol; Benetton; Bath 3) Saints; Munster; SA Bulls; Stade Francais; Saracens; Castres 4) Glasgow; Racing ‘92; Sale Sharks; SA Stormers; Toulon; Harlequins
EPCR Challenge Cup - first fixtures 12/6/2024 3 Pools of 6 teams: 1) Cardiff; Connacht; Toyota Cheetahs; Perpignan; Lyons; Zebre Parma 2) Montpelier; Paloise; Newcastle; Dragons; SA Lions; Ospreys 3) Vannes; Black Lions (Georgia); Aviron Bayonnais; Scarlets; Edinburgh; Gloucester.