Team News: Champions Cup & Challenge Cup Semi-Finals - Bath & Exeter confirm line-ups

There are two PREM rugby clubs left in the fray, with Bath hunting their first Champions Cup title since 1998, and Exeter Chiefs out to win a first ever Challenge Cup title.

In this article, we're going to run down the incoming semi-finals across both competitions, and get you up to speed on all the relevant team news. We'll start off with the Champions Cup, as Leinster host RC Toulon on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium, before Bath travel out to France for a clash with defending title holders Bordeaux-Begles on Sunday. Both fixtures are set for traditional 15:00 kick off times (GMT), with Premier Sports on hand to broadcast the action from Dubin and Bordeaux.

Leinster welcome Toulon to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon with a place in the Investec Champions Cup final on the line, but they will be without Tadhg Furlong after the tighthead failed to recover from injury.

There are seven changes from the side that lost to Benetton last weekend, with Tom Clarkson coming into the front row in Furlong’s absence. Hugo Keenan returns at full-back, while Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw reunite in midfield for the knockout clash in Dublin. All Blacks star Rieko Ioane shifts to the left wing after featuring in the centre last week, with Tommy O’Brien named on the opposite flank. Jamison Gibson-Park and Harry Byrne form the half-back pairing.

In the pack, Andrew Porter is passed fit to start alongside Dan Sheehan and Clarkson, with Joe McCarthy partnering James Ryan in the second row. Captain Caelan Doris anchors the back row at number eight, with Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier completing a strong loose trio. Leinster opt for a blend of experience and youth on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher and Rabah Slimani among the forward reinforcements, while Luke McGrath and Sam Prendergast provide backline cover.

Toulon, meanwhile, make a key decision at scrum-half, with Ben White preferred to Baptiste Serin, while Charles Ollivon shifts to openside flanker in a powerful back-row unit. Melvyn Jaminet starts at full-back, with Gaël Dréan and Seta Tuicuvu on the wings, while Nacho Brex and Jérémy Sinzelle combine in midfield. Tomas Albornoz directs play from fly-half.

Up front, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Teddy Baubigny and Kyle Sinckler form a formidable front row, with Corentin Mezou and David Ribbans in the engine room. With both sides stacked with international quality and a place in the Bilbao final at stake, this semi-final promises to be a high-class encounter.

15 Hugo Keenan; 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Rieko Ioane; 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tom Clarkson; 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan; 6 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Jerry Cahir, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Alex Soroka, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Jamie Osborne.

15 Melvyn Jaminet; 14 Gaël Dréan, 13 Nacho Brex, 12 Jérémy Sinzelle, 11 Seta Tuicuvu; 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Ben White; 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Teddy Baubigny, 3 Kyle Sinckler; 4 Corentin Mezou, 5 David Ribbans; 6 Junior Kpoku, 7 Charles Ollivon, 8 Mikheil Shioshvili.

Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Daniel Brennan, 18 Beka Gigashvili, 19 Matthias Halagahu, 20 Zach Mercer, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Esteban Abadie, 23 Mathis Ferte.

Union Bordeaux Bègles host Bath Rugby at Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Métropole on Sunday afternoon in a heavyweight Investec Champions Cup semi-final, with both sides aiming to book their place in the Bilbao showpiece. Bath arrive with momentum and a sense of occasion, as hooker Tom Dunn is set to make his 266th appearance for the club — the most in the professional era — while Josh Bayliss also reaches a milestone with his 150th cap.

Up front, Beno Obano and Thomas du Toit start as props either side of Dunn, with Quinn Roux and Charlie Ewels forming the second row. The back row sees Bayliss joined by Guy Pepper and Alfie Barbeary in a dynamic loose trio. Ben Spencer captains the side from scrum-half and partners Finn Russell in the halves, with Ollie Lawrence and Louie Hennessey named in midfield. Will Muir and Henry Arundell provide pace out wide, while Santi Carreras starts at full-back.

Bath opt for a strong bench featuring the likes of Sam Underhill and Ted Hill, offering experience and impact for the closing stages.

Bordeaux make just three changes from their win over Montpellier and opt for a 6–2 split on the bench, underlining their intent to dominate the forward exchanges. In the pack, Matis Perchaud continues at loosehead, with Maxime Lamothe and Carlü Sadie returning to the starting front row. Boris Palu and Adam Coleman continue their partnership in the second row, while Pierre Bochaton, Cameron Woki and Marko Gazzotti form an unchanged back row.

Captain Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert once again steer the side from the halves, with Yoram Moefana and Damian Penaud combining in midfield. The back three sees Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Pablo Uberti on the wings, with Salesi Rayasi coming in at full-back.

1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 9 Ben Spencer (c), 10 Finn Russell, 11 Will Muir, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 13 Louie Hennessey, 14 Henry Arundell, 15 Santi Carreras.

Replacements: 16 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Tom de Glanville, 23 Miles Reid.

1 Matis Perchaud, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 3 Carlü Sadie, 4 Boris Palu, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Pierre Bochaton, 7 Cameron Woki, 8 Marko Gazzotti, 9 Maxime Lucu (c), 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Damian Penaud, 14 Pablo Uberti, 15 Salesi Rayasi.

Replacements: 16 Gaëtan Barlot, 17 Ugo Boniface, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Cyril Cazeaux, 20 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 21 Temo Matiu, 22 Arthur Retière, 23 Hugo Reus.

Ulster Rugby host Exeter Chiefs at the Affidea Stadium on Saturday evening in the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final, with both sides just 80 minutes away from a place in the Bilbao final. Head coach Richie Murphy has rung the changes following last week’s URC clash, making 14 alterations to his starting XV while restoring a host of senior figures for the knockout encounter.

Michael Lowry retains his place at full-back after captaining the side last time out, while Iain Henderson returns to lead the team from the second row. Up front, Sam Crean starts at loosehead alongside Tom Stewart and Tom O’Toole, with Henderson partnering Cormac Izuchukwu in the engine room. The back row sees a timely return for Nick Timoney from injury, joining David McCann and Juarno Augustus in a powerful loose trio.

Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy combine in the halves, with Stuart McCloskey and Jude Postlethwaite forming the midfield partnership. Jacob Stockdale and Zac Ward provide the threat out wide.

Exeter Chiefs arrive in Belfast with a reshuffled side, captained by Dafydd Jenkins, as director of rugby Rob Baxter looks to guide his team into a European final. Scott Sio returns at loosehead prop, with Max Norey and Bachuki Tchumbadze completing the front row. Jenkins is joined by Andrea Zambonin in the second row, while Tom Hooper, Christ Tshiunza and Ross Vintcent form the back row.

In the backline, Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner steer the team from scrum-half and fly-half respectively. Len Ikitau and Henry Slade provide experience in midfield, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Campbell Ridl on the wings and Ben Hammersley at full-back.

1 Sam Crean, 2 Tom Stewart, 3 Tom O’Toole, 4 Iain Henderson (c), 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 6 David McCann, 7 Nick Timoney, 8 Juarno Augustus, 9 Nathan Doak, 10 Jack Murphy, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 13 Jude Postlethwaite, 14 Zac Ward, 15 Michael Lowry.

Replacements: 16 James McCormick, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Tom McAllister, 19 Charlie Irvine, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Ethan McIlroy.

1 Scott Sio, 2 Max Norey, 3 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 5 Andrea Zambonin, 6 Tom Hooper, 7 Christ Tshiunza, 8 Ross Vintcent, 9 Stephen Varney, 10 Harvey Skinner, 11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 12 Len Ikitau, 13 Henry Slade, 14 Campbell Ridl, 15 Ben Hammersley.

Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Rusi Tuima, 20 Finn Worley Brady, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Nick Lilley.

Dragons RFC travel to France on Sunday afternoon to face Montpellier Hérault Rugby at the Septeo Stadium, with a place in the EPCR Challenge Cup final on the line. Head coach Filo Tiatia has made six changes to the side that defeated Zebre Parma last weekend, as the Men of Gwent prepare for their first European semi-final in a decade. The return of Rio Dyer on the wing is a major boost, while Fine Inisi is recalled in midfield.

Niall Armstrong partners Tinus de Beer in the halves, while Elliot Dee returns to the front row alongside Chris Coleman. Ryan Woodman is also recalled, slotting in at blindside flanker. Angus O’Brien and Ben Carter continue as co-captains, with Carter set for a notable battle in the second row against Wales international Adam Beard.

Montpellier, two-time winners of the competition, name a powerful pack anchored by Beard, although Billy Vunipola misses out. They will look to impose themselves physically, particularly through their set-piece and maul, while also boasting strike threats across the backline.

With home advantage and top-seed status, Montpellier enter as favourites, but Dragons will be determined to disrupt and seize their opportunity on the big stage.

15 Banks, 14 Taofifenua, 13 Cadot, 12 Anyanwu, 11 Rates, 10 Vincent, 9 Bernadet, 1 Erdocio, 2 Riccitelli, 3 Welsch, 4 Adam Beard, 5 DuGuid, 6 Tauleigne, 7 Becognee, 8 Nouchi (capt).

Replacements: 16 Akrab, 17 Abuladze, 18 Haouas, 19 Y Camara, 20 Masibaka, 21 Baraer, 22 Miotti, 23 Darmon.

15 Angus O’Brien (cc), 14 David Richards, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Niall Armstrong, 1 Rodrigo Martinez, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Chris Coleman, 4 Levi Douglas, 5 Ben Carter (cc), 6 Ryan Woodman, 7 Thomas Young, 8 Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Harrison Keddie, 21 Morgan Lloyd, 22 Fetuli Paea, 23 Huw Anderson.