RUGBY UNION - EUROPEAN LEAGUES
2008/09
Magners League - Ospreys (24) @ (30) Newport-Gwent Dragons - The Dragons ended a 6 game losing streak as they upset the #2 team in the Magners League on a rainy night in Newport. The Dragons scored 2 tries in the 1st half from Robert Lewis and Rhys Thomas and led 15-14 at the half and extended their lead in the 2nd half with a try from Gareth Wyatt. But the Ospreys fought back with a try from Gavin Henson (his 2nd of the night) before Colin Charvis produced a pin-point cross-field kick into the arms of Jason Tovey that provided the game-sealing try and the bonus point. The Ospreys also featured Ryan Jones and Mike Phillips, his 1st game back after a serious knee injury (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Charles/Davies, PAL)
Magners League - Ospreys (10) @ (36) Munster - Munster claimed their first Magners League title with a comfortable win in their final fixture of the season. Munster broke open a close game at the half with a free-flowing attack in the 2nd half. Tries from Paul Warwick, David Wallace (2), Denis Leamy and Anthony Horgan did the damage. Munster also featured Paul O'Connell, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara and Doug Howlett. Ospreys featured Ryan Jones, James Hook, Sonny Parker and Marty Holah (2 versions ; 10, English commentary but no Pre-Game, 1 Disc, BBC, PAL / 9, Missing action in 1st Half between 8:18 and 9:22 + 2nd Half missing first 2:53 - No scoring missed, Welsh Language commentary during the game, BBC - Charles/Davies, PAL)
2009/10
France Top 14 Regular Season - Stade Francais (22) @ (22) Toulon - In the season opener, both teams played out an entertaining draw. Toulon debuted Jonny Wilkinson and he scored 17 points. Toulon also featured Rory Lamont and Juan Fernandez Lobbe. Stade Francais featured Noel Herman Oelschig, James Haskell, Tom Palmer, Rodrigo Roncero and Mark Gasnier (10, 1 Disc, ESPN UK - Gillingham, PAL)
Magners League - Scarlets (19) @ (27) Ospreys - On a rainy night in Swansea, the Ospreys used a late try to beat the Scarlets and claim "West Wales" bragging rights. With 2 minutes remaining, the Scarlets were at the Ospreys 10 metre line with the score tied at 19-19 when Tommy Bowe intercepted a Stephen Jones pass and raced 3/4 the length of the field for the winning try, his 2nd of the game. The Scarlets try came from Jonathan Davies (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Charles/Davies, PAL)
2010/11
Magners League - Glasgow Warriors (17) @ (19) Ulster - Ulster kept their unbeaten record in the competition but needed a big game from new recruit Ruan Pienaar to do so. Pienaar was playing his 1st game for the club and he scored all the points for Ulster with 1 try, 1 conversion and 4 penalties. He was well supported by captain Rory Best (who was playing his 100th game for Ulster) and Johann Muller. Glasgow were led by Duncan Weir and also featured DTH Van der Merwe (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Neilly/Constable, PAL)
2011/12
France Top 14 Regular Season - Toulon (19) @ (19) Stade Francais - In a battle for the post-season playoff spaces, both teams went all out with the game coming down to the final play. Stade Francais had the better of the 1st half put trailed 9-6 at the half. Toulon had the better of the 2nd half but trailed 19-12 as the game entered injury time. Toulon piled on the pressure and with the games final play, Stefon Armitage scored in the corner leaving a touch-line conversion for Matt Giteau who held his nerve to kick the tieing points. Stade Francais featured Paul Sackey, Sergio Parisse, Pascal Pape (1 try) and Julien Dupuy (14 points). Toulon also featured Jonny Wilkinson (6 points before he left with an injury in the 1st half), Mathieu Bastareaud, David Smith, Joe van Niekerk and Bakkies Botha (10, 1 Disc, ESPN UK - Gillingham/Richards, PAL)
France Top 14 Quarter Final - Toulon (17) v (13) Racing Metro - In a tight game at the Felix Mayol Stadium, Toulon finally got their act together in the 2nd half to advance to the Semi-Finals. Racing led 13-3 early in the 2nd half thanks to a try from Benjamin Fall and 2 penalties from Francois Steyn and Sebastien Descons before Toulon found their rhythm and started a comeback. Stefon Armitage scored a try and Matt Giteau capitalised on ill-discipline from Racing to kick 3 penalties, with the game-winning kick coming in injury time. Toulon also featured Jonny Wilkinson, but he had a tough game only managing to kick 1 out of 4 kicks. The game proved to be the last at Racing for Francois Steyn before his return to the Sharks in South Africa (10, 2 Discs, ESPN UK - Ward/Perry, PAL)
France Top 14 Semi-Final - Clermont-Auvergne (12) v (15) Toulon - Toulon booked a place in their 1st Top 14 Final in 20 years with a late win against a favoured Clermont team. Clermont had the better of the possession but great Defense from Toulon and inopportune turnovers kept Clermont from crossing the goal-line. Toulon's Jonny Wilkinson made Clermont pay, kicking all 15 points for Toulon including the game-winner with 3 minutes from time. Clermont had 1 last chance to force extra-time, but a 50 metre kick from Morgan Parra dropped short and Toulon celebrated the win (10, 2 Discs, ESPN UK - Gillingham/Richards, PAL)
France Top 14 Final - Toulouse (18) v (12) Toulon - Toulouse claimed their 19th French Championship with a tight win at the Stade de France. Both teams were tied 9-9 at the half with Luke McAlister and Jonny Wilkinson each kicking 3 penalties, but after the break Toulouse capitalised on their dominance in the scrum to force more penalties that McAlister converted to give Toulouse the edge that they defended until the end. McAlister scored all the points for Toulouse (6 penalties) as did Wilkinson for Toulon (4 penalties). Toulouse also featured Thierry Dusautoir, Gurthro Steenkamp and Vincent Clerc. Toulon also featured Matt Giteau, Steffon Armitage, Joe Van Niekerk and Bakkies Botha (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - Gillingham/Richards, PAL)
2012/13
Pro-12 Semi-Final - Glasgow Warriors (15) @ (17) Leinster - In a hard-fought game in a windy Dublin, Leinster survived heavy pressure from Glasgow to reach their 4th straight final. Glasgow held an early 10-3 lead but Leinster fought back to take the lead for good at the half. Despite heavy pressure that saw Glasgow pull to within 2 points with 5 minutes left, Leinster held on for the win. The Leinster try came from Jamie Heaslip with Jonathan Sexton kicking 4 penalties. The Glasgow tries came from Niko Matawalu and Mark Bennett. Leinster's Brian O'Driscoll left the game in the 13th minute with a leg injury (10, Gaellic commentary, 1 Discs, BBC Alba - Unknown, PAL)
Pro-12 Final - Leinster (24) v (18) Ulster - Leinster claimed their 3rd title with a tight win over rivals Ulster at the RDS in Dublin. Leinster were in control for the whole game, building on a 16-6 half-time lead to win the cup. Tries from Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip did the damage with Jonathan Sexton kicking 14 points in his final game for the club. All of Ulster's points came from the boot of Ruan Pienaar who had a big game in defeat (10, Gaellic commentary, 1 Disc, BBC - Unknown, PAL)
2013/14
Pro12 Final - Leinster (34) v (12) Glasgow Warriors - Leinster became the 1st side to retain the Pro12 title with a comprehensive win at the RDS in Dublin. A tight 1st half ended with Leinster in front 14-12, but the 2nd half belonged to the Irishmen as they scored 20 unanswered points to take the win. The Leinster tries came from Zane Kirchner (2) and Shane Jennings with Jimmy Gopperth also adding 2 penalties. The Glasgow points came from the boot of Finn Russell. The game was also the final match for Leinster's Brian O'Driscoll before retirement, although he only lasted 9 minutes before leaving with a hamstring injury (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Charles/Davies/Nicol, PAL)
2014/15
Pro12 Final - Munster (13) v (31) Glasgow Warriors - Glasgow Warriors became the 1st Scottish team to win a major trophy with an impressive win in Belfast. Glasgow were very dynamic in the attacking phase of the game and ran in 3 tries in the 1st half to lead 21-10 at the break. In the 2nd half the Warriors consolidated their lead and Munster couldn't find a way to reply. The Glasgow tries came from Rob Harley, DTH van der Merwe, Henry Pyrgos and Finn Russell. The Munster try came from Andrew Smith. The game was the final match for Munster legend Paul O'Connell before his summer move to France. Glasgow captain Al Kellock also played his last game before retirement (10, No Half-Time, 2 Discs, BBC - MacLennan/Nicol, PAL)
2018/19
Pro14 - Ulster (7) @ (64) Munster - Munster handed Ulster their heaviest defeat in Pro14 history with a 9-try explosion at Thomond Park. Munster were on top from the start and scored 4 unanswered tries to lead 27-0 at the break. 5 more tries in the 2nd half completed the dominance. The Munster tries came from Dan Goggin (2), Tommy O'Donnell (2), Peter O'Mahony, Joey Carbery, Sam Arnold, Keith Earls and Alex Wootton. The lone Ulster try came from Darren Cave (10, 1 Disc, FreeSports - Morris/Toland, PAL)
Pro14 - Zebre (0) @ (37) Cardiff Blues - In front of an adoring Cardiff Arms Park crowd, Wales record cap holder Gethin Jenkins played his final game before retiring, as his Cardiff Blues side claimed a bonus-point Pro14 win over Zebre. The prop, 37, received rapturous applause from the crowd as he took to the field for the last time as a 58th-minute replacement. And with the last play of the game, he had a chance to kick a conversion to end his career. His team-mates made sure he went out a winner with a comfortable victory against an under-strength Zebre team who were missing their International players. The Blues tries came from Tom Williams, Kirby Myhill, Nick Williams and Ray Lee-Lo (2) (9, 2 Discs, FreeSports - Butler/S.Williams/M.Williams, PAL)