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Challenge Cup

Big Kiwi signing helps Newcastle Red Bulls to Challenge Cup win

By PA
The Lyon rugby team loses to Newcastle 14-23 at the Matmut Stadium in Lyon, France, on December 6, 2025, as part of the Challenge Cup rugby competition. (Photo by Romain Doucelin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Late tries from Tom Christie and Oli Spencer gave Newcastle Red Bulls a 23-14 victory over Lyon in the European Challenge Cup.

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Newcastle scored the first try of the contest when Brett Connon kicked to the corner to set off a driving maul and Harrison Obatoyinbo made most of the opportunity with a pick-and-go to go over the whitewash in the corner.

The sides were level in the 14th minute when Paddy Jackson’s kicked bounced into the grateful grasp of Arthur Mathiron.

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The Red Bulls moved six points in front before the break through two Connon penalties.

However, Lyon took the lead with a try four minutes into the second half, Beka Shvangiradze on hand to collect a close-range offload before he dotted down. Jackson converted.

Newcastle turned the game on its head once again with two tries in the final 10 minutes.

Christie broke from the back of a maul to score before the Red Bulls sealed an excellent win when Spencer collected a neat offload from Ollie Fletcher to touch down.

Challenge Cup

Pool 1
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Zebre
1
1
0
0
5
2
Montpellier
1
1
0
0
5
3
Connacht
0
0
0
0
0
4
Ospreys
0
0
0
0
0
5
Black Lion
1
0
1
0
0
6
US Montauban
1
0
1
0
0
Pool 2
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Newcastle
1
1
0
0
4
2
Benetton
1
1
0
0
4
3
Dragons RFC
0
0
0
0
0
4
Perpignan
0
0
0
0
0
5
Lions
1
0
1
0
0
6
Lyon
1
0
1
0
0
Pool 3
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Ulster
1
1
0
0
5
2
Stade Francais
1
1
0
0
5
3
Cheetahs
0
0
0
0
0
4
Exeter Chiefs
0
0
0
0
0
5
Cardiff Rugby
1
0
1
0
0
6
Racing 92
1
0
1
0
0
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Comments

1 Comment
I
Ic 105 days ago

3rd win of the season, not 1st.

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jono 39 minutes ago
Petaia et Perpignan : pourquoi ça ne prend pas

Une analyse sévère qui passe complètement à côté de l'essentiel. Petaia a débarqué dans un club en plein chaos et a été tranquillement l'un des joueurs les plus fiables de l'effectif dans les domaines qui comptent vraiment — son travail défensif a été le meilleur de l'équipe, son jeu au pied levé est de classe mondiale, et juger un arrière uniquement sur le nombre d'essais dans une équipe qui peine à produire du jeu vers l'avant est une analyse paresseuse.

Zéro essai ne veut pas dire zéro contribution. Regardez ce qu'il fait dans les phases de construction, les passes décisives, le travail qui met ses coéquipiers à l'essai. Rien de tout cela n'apparaît dans les statistiques.



...

1 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
The five performers of the week from Super Rugby Pacific round six

I think you need to give Brumbies their due, they’ll push the top four this year and continue to be a threat at home.

7 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
The five performers of the week from Super Rugby Pacific round six

He’s a lot smaller than Parker, two different styled 6/8’s, so depends what you’re after.

7 Go to comments
S
Spew_81 1 hour ago
Jamie Joseph’s simple take on where the Highlanders are struggling

I thought that Kidwell would prepare a better defense.

10 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Jamie Joseph’s simple take on where the Highlanders are struggling

Thats the Canes third 50 the thing to stand out of this game was their defense, or at least the lack of points conceded.

That scoreline partly to blame with what Joseph about not staying calm when getting behind. I think they did make it worse for themselves and this is represented in what you highlighted with the amount of errors/handling. If they hold onto the ball and score then you are also not seeing one or two, maybe even three, of those Canes tries, so upto four try swing in that one area alone.



...

10 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Damian McKenzie weighs in on NZR's approach to eligibility after departures

Thats what he’s describing happens now.

11 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Damian McKenzie weighs in on NZR's approach to eligibility after departures



How about if you don’t think they will fit back in then don’t pick them.

But now you’re having to pick someone who wasn’t as good as DMac when he needed to play in SR.



...

11 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 2 hours ago
'There's always a lot of chat with them. They're quite mouthy'

“There’s always a lot of chat with them. They’re quite mouthy.”

Arrogant team. Arrogant players. Arrogant fans.



...

4 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 2 hours ago
What The Rugby Championship needs to do to rival the Six Nations

Yep. Japan in 2015 - still the only team to win 3 pool games and not progress. Shafted by the scheduling

Tonga beat France in 2011 but still got trapped in the pool, scheduling didn't exactly help them



...

61 Go to comments
N
NH 2 hours ago
Aussie Super Rugby takes: Don't doubt the Brumbies, Hurricanes the joker in the pack

Nice one john, i made a similar point elsewhere about the table and the run the brumbies vs the canes have had. Brumbies will need to make sure they don’t get complacent and bank their next few games which are against bottom 6 teams. Impressed with reds D and composure in fiji where they usually come unstuck. I thought the forwards in particular looked fit and hungry in D, plugging any gaps the drua tried to find. Hunter and Henry firming as a very solid partnership, hunter had a number of key involvements in that 2nd half. Only real blip was their exit kicking, drua had a bunch of attacking lineouts 25-30m out, it was just lucky for the reds they were able to disrupt their lineout. Almost all kickers seemed to shank the ball i assume because it was so wet, with it coming off the side of their boot. Drua much better at knowing to just hoof it as far as you can down the other end. HMP realised this in the second half.

1 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 2 hours ago
Ben Kay: 'I’d put my money on Ollie Chessum being the next England captain.'

He's a humble big lad and Leinster, the humble heroes, got humbled on the day

It's fine. It happens in sport. Still only March. Fear not, Ed - he'll be there when they're giving out the prizes 👌



...

62 Go to comments
D
DC 2 hours ago
Jamie Joseph’s simple take on where the Highlanders are struggling

injuries and player selection thats where a player pool would be helpful jamie is a good coach and the highlanders have played quite well in some games but almost lack the finishing tough

10 Go to comments
G
GS 3 hours ago
Damian McKenzie weighs in on NZR's approach to eligibility after departures

Just looking at how some of the players who are leaving, you would think:

AJ Lam



...

11 Go to comments
B
Bazzallina 3 hours ago
Damian McKenzie weighs in on NZR's approach to eligibility after departures

75 tests and or 150 combined Super and or NPC games

11 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 3 hours ago
Ben Kay: 'I’d put my money on Ollie Chessum being the next England captain.'

He must be pretty damned educated by now on that measure of his game…😂

62 Go to comments
L
Loosehead 3 hours ago
The five performers of the week from Super Rugby Pacific round six

That yung Barnes for blues has way more aggression and go forth than Simon Parker.u can see he will get higher honors some time.

7 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 3 hours ago
What The Rugby Championship needs to do to rival the Six Nations

It does seem some did play club level in the bye. Yeah, it's their business but I think that’s risky

Agree on the predicted flow on the NC. I think plenty of games will be tight but then decided in the last 20



...

61 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 3 hours ago
Ben Kay: 'I’d put my money on Ollie Chessum being the next England captain.'

Goggle would be very reputable (don't be evil), give it a go

POM was voted the dirtiest player in the world? Was he ever banned for a length of time? Did he eye gouge? Sack grab?



...

62 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 3 hours ago
Should England stick or twist with Borthwick? RWC27 clock cannot be used as an excuse

Looks that way for sure

86 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 3 hours ago
Ben Kay: 'I’d put my money on Ollie Chessum being the next England captain.'

Thank you kindly, Rodders x

62 Go to comments
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