Rugby Champions Cup, 10-12 January 2020

Rugby Champions Cup

The rugby equivalent of the Champions League is back upon us with round 5 of the group stages and no doubt some more teams that will qualify for the quarter finals now. Leinster already booked their place in the knock-out stages in round 4 and Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92 as well as Stade Toulousain could follow them this weekend.

10 January 2020

Atlantique Stade Rochelais vs. Sale Sharks

The English team has arrived in La Rochelle on Thursday afternoon using a Jet2 Boeing 737-800 that seems to know its way around rugby grounds. The very same G-JZHB had been used for another rugby charter in December already, taking Bath Rugby to ASM Clermont Auvergne.

LS6962 MAN 1130-1400 LRH B738 G-JZHB (09/01/20)

LS6963 LRH xxxx-1150 MAN B738 G-JZHB (11/01/20)

11 January 2020

ASM Clermont-Auvergne vs. Ulster

A clash of European heavy weights awaits the fierce crowd at the Stade Marcel-Michelin, with Ulster visiting the volcanic Auvergne from Ravenhill. Both sides are well clear of Harlequins and Bath, which means that both could actually qualify for the quarterfinals. Ulster is another team using Jet2 for their international travel this season.

LS6029 BFS 1345-1700 CFE G-JZHO(10/01/20)

LS6030 CFE 1800-xxxx BFS G-JZHO (11/01/20)

Glasgow Warriors vs. Exeter Chiefs

The English vice-champions are traveling up North to face Glasgow Warriors that is quite possibly looking at an early exit from the competition with just two wins from four matches so far and just the one bonus point on the table.

BE8001 EXT 1335-xxxx GLA (10/01/20)

Connacht vs. Stade Toulousain

The French record champions have finally found their stride this season domestically as well, despite a couple of rather surprising trip-ups against Toulon and Stade Français just recently. They will try to make sure to qualify for the quarterfinals with a win at the Sportsground in Galway, a ground that has become more difficult to travel to in recent years, with the nearby Galway airport no longer in use. Toulouse thus traveled on Thursday afternoon already, quite unusual for a Saturday game.

JQ5369 TLS 1400-1630 SNN B738 EC-NAB (09/01/20)

JQ5370 SNN xxxx-2335 TLS B738 EC-NAB (11/01/20)

Gloucester Rugby vs. Montpellier-Hérault Rugby

9V52AN MPL 1130-1400 BRS (10/01/20)

12 January 2020

Leinster Rugby vs. Lyon OU

FPO865 LYS 1330-1435 DUB B737 (11/01/20)

FPO866 DUB 1830-2130 LYS B737 (12/01/20)

Racing 92 vs. Munster

Munster is using a rather big plane for the trip from Shannon to Paris. Not sure how often a rugby team would use a Boeing 757 for a group stage game, but then again, sometimes Munster is just different.

LS6021 SNN 1040-1315 CDG B752 (11/01/20)

LS6022 CDG 2200-2235 SNN B752 (12/01/20)