La Rochelle's Late Surge Eliminates Newcastle from Challenge Cup
Newcastle Red Bulls faced a disappointing exit from the European Challenge Cup as they were defeated 18-26 by a resilient La Rochelle side on a challenging night at Kingston Park. The French team, who have previously secured the Champions Cup in both 2022 and 2023, showcased their experience by securing a quarter-final spot against Ulster next weekend. La Rochelle established an early lead with three tries scored in a remarkable 13-minute span during the first half: Ihaia West touched down from an expertly placed grubber kick. Jules Favre finished in the corner. Gabin Garault capitalized on a quick line-out. Despite being down to 14 men due to West's sin-binning, Newcastle rallied back. They capitalized on their numerical advantage with two tries: Elliott Obatoyinbo scored after a precise pass from Brett Connon. Murray McCallum showcased impressive pace and agility to level the score at 15-15 shortly after half-time. A penalty from Connon briefly put Newcastle ahead, but Diego Jurd responded with two penalties for La Rochelle. In the closing moments, Nolhann Couillaud sealed the victory with a try, ending Newcastle's hopes. Despite their strong European history, La Rochelle's recent form in the Champions Cup had been underwhelming, leading to significant squad changes for this match. Head coach Ronan O'Gara made 13 changes from the previous week's lineup, indicating a shift in focus. Meanwhile, Newcastle, struggling at the bottom of the Premiership, had targeted this competition, having won three out of four pool matches to earn a home tie.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-04-04