Glasgow Warriors could be sweating over the availability of powerhouse back-rower Henco Venter, who’s been cited following an alleged eye-gouge during Saturday’s gritty Champions Cup triumph over Leicester Tigers.
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The flashpoint came early in the contest, just before the Tigers’ opening try, when Venter – fresh from bagging a brace and the Man of the Match gong – was grappled around the neck by Leicester veteran Dan Cole. Venter appeared to retaliate by putting a hand in Cole’s face, allegedly making contact with the eye area.
Nothing was flagged at the time, but it’s understood the Tigers later lodged an official complaint with the citing commissioner, which has led to EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby) calling Venter to face a disciplinary panel via video link on Tuesday.
With a massive quarter-final clash against Leinster looming this Friday, the timing couldn’t be worse. If found guilty, the South African could be handed a lengthy suspension, potentially ruling him out of Glasgow’s most crucial run of the season.
WIN A TRIP TO THE 2025 LIONS:
HE PACKAGE INCLUDES
- 2 x Return flight tickets from the UK to Australia
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 2nd Test in Melbourne
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 3rd Test in Sydney
- 4 x Night’s accommodation in Melbourne with bed & breakfast (24-27 July)
- 7 x Night’s accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
- 2 x Flight tickets Melbourne to Sydney including airport hotel group transfers
- 2 x Tickets to watch a private function with Lions legends
- Additional events to be announced
The winner will be part of the Lions supporters group with tour representatives on hand to oversee everything.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: 2024/25 CHAMPIONS CUP ROUND OF 16
15. Thomas Ramos (Stade Toulousain)
At fullback this week is French maestro Thomas Ramos, who was pivotal in Toulouse’s win over Sale Sharks. The linchpin of the back-field was metronomic from the kicking tee, with his sharpshooting able to provide his team with enough distance over their gritty Northern opponents. Ramos stuck a penalty and five conversions through the uprights, for a 13-point contribution which helped take the match out of sight from the Sharks. His open field work was also excellent, as he has seamlessly transferred back from France duties into his club commitments.
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
It was another big week for Tommy Freeman, as the Northampton Saints man continues to stake his claim for a spot on the British & Irish Lions tour this Summer. Freeman has gone from chasing the likes of James Lowe and Duhan van der Merwe, to emerging as a front-runner for a starting Lions jersey. A try in every Six Nations match for England, and a Player of the Match hat-trick against Clermont this past weekend, has elevated ‘Freemo’s’ stock to insurmountable levels.
There is an honourable mention in store for Ulster wing Zac Ward, who scored two tries for the Belfast side this past weekend. Despite coming away on the losing side of the score-line against Bordeaux-Begles, Ward was a bright spark for Ulster in their Champions Cup exit.
13. Leicester Faigna’anuku (RC Toulon)
The man with arguably the greatest name in professional rugby, Leicester Ofa Ki Wales Twickenham Fainga’anuku was on fire for RC Toulon this past weekend. The return of All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu to the club, has certainly lit a fire underneath the seven-capped New Zealand star. Faigna’anuku tore up trees against Saracens, was at the heart of every attacking move, and added a well taken try to Toulon’s immense points tally.
12. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
We return to all things green, black and gold, as Fraser Dingwall takes the first centre spot in our Champions Cup team of the week. After proving his worth to Steve Borthwick throughout the 2025 Six Nations, Dingwall continues to impress on the pitch, with a statement making performance in the win over Clermont.
RUCK Midland’s Reporter Tom Harrington was at Franklin’s Gardens, and wrote the following on Dingwall’s performance: “Strong performance from the centre, back to his original ways as the glue between the backs.”
11. Facundo Isa (RC Toulon)
We yo-yo back from the East Midlands to the South of France, with Facundo Isa up next in our Champions Cup Team of the Week. There were plenty of contenders for the wing spots this week, yet we’ve backed Isa for the eleven shirt, after the Argentine bagged a hat-trick of tries in the monstrous win over Saracens. The Pumas star is out pick ahead of a couple of honourable mentions, as Leinster’s James Lowe and Castres’ Remy Baget each grabbed a brace against Harlequins and Benetton respectively.
10. Jack Crowley (Munster)
La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara must have felt like he was watching his past self, as Jack Crowley stole the show for Munster this past weekend. Crowley pulled the strings of Munster’s attack, and sealed a tense one-point win with a beauty of a drop goal. After the match, O’Gara praised Crowley’s efforts, as the young Irish fly half pushes for a place on the Lions tour;
“It was pretty ironic how they won it with a peach of a drop goal.” O’Gara said. “I was thinking ‘that little f**ker’! I’ve seen a lot of good drop goals but that’s a top-class one.”
9. Jeremy Fernandez (Castres Olimpique)
The aforementioned antics from Munster’s golden boy were not the only last-ditch heroics in the Champions Cup this past weekend. Jeremy Fernandez had a moment to remember for Castres, as the replacement scrum half stole a win for the French side. The French halfback crossed over Benetton’s try-line in the dying moments of the match, yet still had the tall order of converting his own try for the win. There was no phasing Fernandez, who sealed the 39-37 victory, and booked Castres in for a quarter-final date with Northampton Saints on this Saturday.
