Heineken Champions Cup record

Ospreys have reached the quarter-finals of EPCR’s elite tournament on three occasions – in back-to-back seasons between 2007/08 and 2009/10.

They were beaten 19-10 at Saracens in their first last-eight appearance before going down 43-9 at Munster Rugby and 29-28 at Biarritz Olympique.

Last season

Ospreys endured a difficult Heineken Champions Cup campaign, with defeats to Racing 92 and Sale Sharks seeing them fail to reach the knockout stage, or qualify for a place in the EPCR Challenge Cup, as they finished bottom of Pool A.

Head coach

Toby Booth was appointed head coach in February 2020, having built his reputation during a spell in charge of London Irish.

Englishman Booth, who also had spells as an assistant coach at Bath Rugby and Harlequins, guided Irish to the Premiership final in 2009 and helped them qualify for three successive Heineken Champions Cup campaigns.

Key players

Ospreys’ squad features a host of Wales internationals, with 12-time British & Irish Lions lock Alun Wyn Jones one of the biggest names.

Hookers Dewi Lake and Scott Baldwin, props Tomas Francis and Nicky Smith, lock Adam Beard and back-row forward Dan Lydiate are other key figures in the pack, from where experienced flanker Justin Tipuric captains the side.

In the backs, the half-back combination of Rhys Webb and Gareth Anscombe provide plenty of guile, while wings George North and Alex Cuthbert have also been capped by the Lions, with full-back Dan Evans and centre Owen Watkin other talents.

Pool fixtures

Ospreys host Leicester Tigers in their opening Pool B game on December 11, with Round 2 seeing them travel to Montpellier Hérault Rugby on December 17.

They entertain the TOP 14 side January 14 before rounding off their pool stage with a trip to Leicester on January 20.

Our overview of Heineken Champions Cup Pool B teams continues with a look at Ospreys, the solitary Welsh region in this season’s competition.