Team of the Week: Champions Cup & Challenge Cup Semi-Finals - Ruck
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Team of the Week: Champions Cup & Challenge Cup Semi-Finals

5 May 2026
Tom Sansom

The finalists have been decided across the Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup, following a high-octane weekend within the two European competitions. It was heart-break for the two PREM Rugby teams left in Europe, as Bath and Exeter Chiefs will now be playing no part in the upcoming 2025/26 Finals weekend in Bilbao.

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With just a fortnight to go until all eyes turn to the Basque Country, the stage is set for the Challenge Cup Final to get the weekend underway on Friday 22nd May. Ulster take on Montpellier with the silverware on the line, after the Belfast and Southern French sides booked their tickets with wins over Exeter Chiefs and the Dragons this past weekend.

After the curtain is raised by the Challenge Cup decider, the Champions Cup will be on the line as Leinster take on the defending title holders, Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday 23rd. The Dubliners are back in the final of Europe’s top club competition once again, as they continue the eight-year hunt for an elusive fifth star. Leinster booted RC Toulon from the knock-out stage, whilst Bordeaux eliminated Bath, to keep the dream of back-to-back Champions Cup titles well and truly alive for the reigning kings of Europe.

FULL RESULTS: INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP SEMI-FINALS

LEINSTER 29-25 TOULON / BORDEAUX-BEGLES 38-26 BATH

FULL RESULTS: EPCR CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS

ULSTER 29-12 EXETER CHIEFS / MONTPELLIER 18-12 DRAGONS

TEAM OF THE WEEK: CHAMPIONS CUP & CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS

15. MELVYN JAMINET (RC TOULON)

We kick off our Team of the Week from the semi-finals of the Champions Cup, as despite being ousted from the competition Melvyn Jaminet was a stand-out in Dublin. The Toulon man was instrumental in his side’s continued fight at the Aviva Stadium, as he commanded the back-field, and sent crucial points through the uprights in the Irish capital to keep his side afloat. Jaminet slotted two conversions and two penalties, whilst nine defenders beaten on the front foot defined his hot-stepping.

14. TOMMY O’BRIEN (LEINSTER)

The Ireland wing who is enjoying arguably the form of his career, Tommy O’Brien put in another top performance for his province to see his side over the line and into the Champions Cup Final. O’Brien set the defensive tone with a thunderous early tackle, and coupled this with the ball in hand as he tore the Toulon defence to shreds with measured attacking plays. Whether it was a well-timed off-load or a neat surging run, O’Brien asked countless questions of the French side, who couldn’t deal with the flyer.

13. JUDE POSTLETHWAITE (ULSTER)

We head across to the EPCR Challenge Cup for the midfield births, with our first entry of the competition handed to Ulster centre Jude Postlethwaite. The Belfast wrecking ball was up to his usual game-breaking best, as he exploded through the Exeter Chiefs gain-line time and again, to total 42 metres, and send four defenders crashing to the deck. The centre also delivered a resounding effort on the defensive foot, as he bagged a turnover and never relented upon his tackle count that quickly hit double digits.

12. ANEURIN OWEN (DRAGONS)

Onto the mirroring Challenge Cup semi-final that took place upon the South Coast of France, and whilst it was heart-break for the Dragons upon their trip back to Newport – Aneurin Owen has plenty of personal pride to take from the defeat. Owen was the Dragons star man across the back-line, as he embodied the ‘never say die’ attitude of the rejuvenated Men of Gwent. Owen powered his way across the whitewash for a stunning brace of tries, and brought the underdog fight to the heavily backed Top 14 powerhouses.

11. WILL MUIR (BATH)

Another entry into the back-line from a stand-out performer upon a losing team, Bath wing Will Muir took the hopes of the blue, black and white faithful upon his back against Bordeaux-Begles. The England wing excelled upon the trip to France with two well taken tries, with his second highlight-reel score set to be re-played as one of the all time great Champions Cup finishes. A constant thorn in the side of the UBB defence, Bordeaux took a sigh of relief as Muir sustained a second half arm injury for an early exit.

10. JACK MURPHY (ULSTER)

Whilst we hand the number 10 spot this week to Ulster’s play-maker Jack Murphy, we have to give a solid honourable mention to Bordeaux-Begles fly half Matthieu Jalibert. The Frenchman was his archetypal best against the crumbling Bath defence, and pulled the strings of a stunning home win. However, we tip the hat to the Ulster linchpin, as Murphy’s stand-out performance was a difference maker in the tense contest against the Chiefs, with his try-scoring contribution and match-long game management paramount to the success of the Irish province.

9. MAXIME LUCU (BORDEAUX-BEGLES)

Whilst Bordeaux-Begles out-half Jalibert narrowly missed out on our Team of the Week, there is simply no denying a space in the nine jersey for his halfback partner. When Maxime Lucu plays this well for his club, a genuine rival emerges for Antoine Dupont’s national team nine jersey – such is the influence and impact of the French scrum half. Lucu was everywhere against Bath, as he kept the blistering Bordeaux attack firing on all cylinders with a relentless tempo that refused to faulter. A try, two assists and two jackal steals over the ball summarised a stunning performance from the number nine.

1. ANDREW PORTER (LEINSTER)

Guess who’s back, back again. It was a delight to see the Ireland international loose-head back doing what he does best in Leinster blue, after sitting out the entirety of the Six Nations with injury. Having steadily clicked through the gears against the Scarlets and Edinburgh following his return, Porter got back to his very best this past weekend, with dominance in the scrum, unstoppable in the carry and he also made a key defensive turnover in the lead up to Leinster’s opening score. A yellow card to one side, it was a welcomed return to top form for the Player of the Match prop.

2. TOM STEWART (ULSTER)

The hooker spot this week is awarded to Tom Stewart of Ulster, who was a relentless one-man wrecking ball against the splintered Chiefs defence. Stewart continues to prove time and again why he should remain in the Ireland conversation, after the 25-year-old made a 17-minute cameo in the Six Nations. Stewart bagged himself a try in the semi-final, shunted his way through eight line breaks and tallied up 14 tackles in an exhaustive effort from the hard-working front row.

3. VALENTIN WELSCH (MONTPELLIER)

We wrap up the front row with the heaving Montpellier scrum, that sent the Dragons packing back to Newport. The set-piece was a one-sided battle at times, with the likes of tight-head Valentin Welsch steering the offensive for Montpellier. The visitors struggled to contain the French pack, in what laid the foundations for the eventual defeat. Welsch emptied the tank upon his 56 minute venture, with a handful of neat touches adding a further dent into the Welsh side’s defensive line.

4. IAIN HENDERSON (ULSTER)

The next, but by no means the final entrant from Ulster, Iain Henderson was superb in the second row for his beloved Belfast club. The experienced international lock would love nothing more than to collect some silverware, ahead of a projected return to the Ireland squad should he maintain this fine form. Henderson eclipsed the returning Daf Jenkins in the air-born battle, as he ruled the skies for some significant steals against the Exeter throw-in. Henderson emptied the tank with a true work-horses’ contribution, as his side booked themselves on the plane to Bilbao.

5. ADAM COLEMAN (BORDEAUX-BEGLES)

The first of two back-to-back entrants from Bordeaux-Begles, who themselves want to go back-to-back with Champions Cup title triumphs. Adam Coleman was his peerless best in the second row, with plenty of important contributions over the break-down made when Bath threatened the Bordeaux try-line. With a dubious hit on Alfie Barbeary put to one side following the refereeing decision, Coleman ensured to make every minute count as he accrued 20 tackles across a lung-bursting contribution.

6. PIERRE BOCHATON (BORDEAUX-BEGLES)

The blind-side spot goes to one of the most exciting back row talents coming out of France today, as Pierre Bochaton continues to put Fabien Galthie on notice ahead of the Nations Championship. The 25-year-old last donned the blue jersey for France’s Summer tour of New Zealand, and was mesmeric this past weekend to guide Bordeaux for a Champions Cup Final return. There was simply no overpowering Bochaton, with the likes of Alfie Barbeary and Guy Pepper chopped down like timber-wood, as this back row has one of the most complete tackle techniques you’ll ever see.

7. THOMAS YOUNG (DRAGONS)

The number seven jersey this week goes to Thomas Young of the Dragons, who once again took the Welsh side to another gear with his determined front-foot approach. Whilst Young impressed with the ball in hand, his defensive work was something to be admired against Montpellier. 21 tackles saw him end the match as the top tackler, and his try-line turnover denied a would-be try for the French club, that gave the Dragons a life-line after an exhaustive defensive series.

8. JUARNO AUGUSTUS (ULSTER)

We cap off our Team of the Week for the semi-finals of both European Cups, with the Player of the Match from Ulster’s win over Exeter. The former Northampton Saints man was all to familiar to the Chiefs, as Juarno Augustus tore up trees for the province up at Affidea Stadium. After notching the opening try of the contest, Augustus wrestled his way back over the whitewash before being ultimately held up. His carry rate was stunning, as he bumped and battered his way through the men from Devon, with 14 charges into contact. Augustus was instrumental to Ulster’s return to the promise land, and is our eight this week.

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