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Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle survive Newcastle Red Bulls fightback

By PA
Ronan O'Gara, Head Coach of Stade Rochelais celebrates victory with Sacha Elissalde of Stade Rochelais following the EPCR Challenge Cup match between Newcastle Red Bulls and Stade Rochelais at Kingston Park on April 04, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

La Rochelle held off a fightback from Newcastle to book their place in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a 26-18 win at a windswept Kingston Park.

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Brett Connon kicked an early penalty before Ihaia West dived over for La Rochelle’s first try in the 22nd minute which was given following a TMO review. The French side, who had suffered a pool stage exit in the Champions Cup, added two more swift tries to open up a 15-3 lead as Jules Favre went over in the corner and hooker Gabin Garault then got off the front of a lineout.

West was shown a yellow card in the 38th minute for an off-the-ball tackle, with Newcastle soon making the most of their extra man as Elliott Obatoyinbo scored down the right to reduce the deficit heading into half-time.

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Newcastle made a fast start to the second half as replacement Murray McCallum showed quick feet to step in between the posts, with Connon making the conversion to level the scores.

Connon kicked a 55th-minute penalty to edge Newcastle back in front, before Fergus Lee-Warner, who had not long come on, was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Diego Jurd.

The 19-year-old fly-half dusted himself down to kick a penalty and pull La Rochelle level at 18-all just after the hour. After his wind-assisted long-range penalty came back off the post, Jurd landed another successful kick from 10 metres before a late try from Nolhann Couillaud finally put the match out of Newcastle’s reach.

Newcastle Red Bulls: 15. Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14. Christian Wade, 13. Alex Hearle, 12. Rhys Beeckmans, 11. Oli Spencer, 10. Brett Connon, 9. Simon Benitez Cruz, 1. Adam Brocklebank, 2. George McGuigan (c), 3. Richard Palframan, 4. Jamie Hodgson, 5. Freddie Clarke, 6. Tom Gordon, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Ollie Leatherbarrow
Replacements:

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REPLACEMENTS: 16. Samson Adejimi, 17. Micky Rewcastle, 18. Murray McCallum, 19. Fergus Lee-Warner, 20. Reuben Parsons, 21. James Elliott, 22. Ben Healy, 23. Tim Cardall

La Rochelle: 15. Ihaia West, 14. Jules Favre, 13. UJ Seuteni, 12. Adrien Seguret, 11. Hoani Bosmorin, 10. Diego Jurd, 9. Thomas Berjon (c), 1. Louis Penverne, 2. Gabin Garault, 3. Karl Sorin, 4. Thomas Lavault, 5. Simon Huchet, 6. Edouard Richer, 7. Lucas Andjisseramatchi, 8. Watisoni Waqanisaravi
Replacements:

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Tolu Latu, 17. Christian Luaki, 18. Joel Sclavi, 19. Aleksandre Kuntelia, 20. Judicael Cancoriet, 21. Alexandre Kaddouri, 22. Sacha Elissalde, 23. Nolhann Couillaud

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