Following the conclusion of the Champions Cup pool stage, check out which teams qualified for the round-of-16 knockout stage of the tournament.
The introduction of a new competition format split 24 teams into two pools with the eight highest-ranked clubs in each pool advancing to the first round of the playoffs, which will be played over two legs. The first leg will take place on 8-10 April and the return leg is scheduled for 15-17 April.
The four highest-ranked clubs in each pool – Racing, Ulster, La Rochelle, Leinster, Leicester, Harlequins, Munster and Bristol – have homefield advantage in the second-leg matches.
Match-ups in the round of 16 include two French derbies – Stade Francais take on Parisian rivals Racing 92, and Bordeaux clash with La Rochelle – an all-English clash between the Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears, and an Irish domestic game featuring Connacht against Leinster.
The other four matches are cross-country clashes, where Toulouse will play Ulster, Exeter are up against Munster, Montpellier front Harlequins and Clermont take on Leicester.
Round of 16 first-leg fixtures:
– Stade Francais vs Racing 92
– Bordeaux-Begles vs La Rochelle
– Toulouse vs Ulster
– Connacht vs Leinster
– Sale vs Bristol
– Exeter vs Munster
– Montpellier vs Harlequins
– Clermont vs Leicester
