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33 players newly registered by 14 clubs ahead of next week's Champions Cup resumption
By Sam Smith
Thirty-three players have been newly registered by 14 clubs ahead of the Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 matches over the Easter weekend, La Rochelle and Wasps the only two teams sticking by the squads they had before the remaining pool stage fixtures were scrapped in January.
The revamped round of 16 knockout stage kicks off in Dublin on April 2 when Leinster host Toulon and concludes on April 4 when Scarlets welcome Sale. In between, there is a multitude of other mouth-watering fixtures, Wasps versus Clermont and Munster against Toulouse to name but two.
Among the newly registered players to watch out for are Jordan Taufua, the former All Blacks back row prospect who moved from Leicester to Lyon in February, while prop Abram Venter joined Edinburgh in the same month from Cheetahs.
AN EPCR statement outlining the additions to the various squads read: "In advance of the resumption of the 2020/21 Heineken Champions Cup, the clubs which have qualified for the knockout stage of the tournament have registered their updated squads.
"To ensure that clubs will be able to select the strongest possible matchday squads in the current circumstances, there was no limit to the number of players each club was permitted to register.
"Subject to relevant union approval, the following players have been nominated to supplement each club’s tournament squad:
ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE
Joel Everson (second row), Reinach Venter (hooker)
BORDEAUX-BEGLES
Thomas Jolmes (second row)
BRISTOL BEARS
Stephen Kerins (scrum half), Tadgh McElroy (hooker), Nahuel Tetaz Chapparo (prop)
EDINBURGH RUGBY
Abram ‘Boan’ Venter (prop)
EXETER CHIEFS
Dan John (full back/wing), Max Northcote-Green (back row), Christ Tshiunza (second row)
GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Santiago Carreras (full back/wing), Giorgi Kveseladze (centre), Conor Maguire (prop), Bryan O’Connor (prop)
LEINSTER RUGBY
Greg McGrath (prop), Jamie Osborne (centre)
LYON
Temo Mayanavanua (second row), Hugo Ndiaye (prop), Jordan Taufua (back row)
MUNSTER RUGBY
Ethan Coughlan (scrum-half), Cian Hurley (second row/back row), Paddy Patterson (scrum-half)
RACING 92
Emiliano Boffelli (utility back), Arthur Bruges (flanker), Anthime Hemery (No 8)
RC TOULON
Adrien Warion (second row), Rudi Wulf (centre/wing)
SALE SHARKS
Rouban Birch (second row)
SCARLETS
Danny Drake (back row), Eddie James (centre), Callum Morris (scrum-half), Sam O’Connor (prop)
TOULOUSE
Juan Cruz Mallia (centre/wing)
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Latest Comments
Don't think you've watched enough. I'll take him over anything I's seen so far. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
Go to commentsHopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
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