Champions Cup: Round 3 Recap - Stunning PREM club triumphs secure knock-out stage places

Edinburgh kept their Investec Champions Cup campaign alive with a stirring 26-24 bonus-point comeback win over Gloucester at Hive Stadium. Trailing 18-5 at half-time after early tries from Josh Hathaway and Charlie Atkinson, the hosts produced a vastly improved second-half display.

Ewan Ashman’s close-range score sparked the revival before Liam McConnell powered over to cut the deficit. Momentum swung decisively when Gloucester illegally stopped a driving maul, resulting in a penalty try and a yellow card, handing Edinburgh the lead for the first time. George Barton’s fourth penalty brought Gloucester back within two late on, but Edinburgh’s defence held firm to secure maximum points and set up a crucial Pool 2 clash with Bath.

EDINBURGH: 26
TRIES: Vellacott, Ashman, McConnell, Penalty try
CONVERSIONS: Thompson 2

GLOUCESTER: 24
TRIES: Hathaway, Atkinson
CONVERSIONS: Barton
PENALTIES: Barton 4

Bath took a major step towards topping Pool 2 with a commanding 43-20 bonus-point victory away to Castres. Despite challenging wet and windy conditions, Johann van Graan’s side imposed themselves through superior physicality and depth. Castres struck first through Teddy Durand and briefly regained control when Nathanael Hulleu finished well, but Bath’s response was emphatic.

Tries from Cameron Redpath, Ted Hill, Tom Dunn and Beno Obano swung the contest before half-time, even as Bath spent periods reduced to 14 men. The Premiership leaders pulled clear after the break, with Will Muir and Tom Carr-Smith finishing off a dominant display. Alfie Barbeary was outstanding at the base of the scrum, epitomising Bath’s power game as they moved within one win of securing a home last-16 tie.

CASTRES OLIMPIQUE: 20
TRIES: Durand, Hulleu
CONVERSIONS: Fernandez 2
PENALTIES: Fernandez 2

BATH: 43
TRIES: Redpath, Hill, Dunn, Obano, Muir, Carr-Smith
CONVERSIONS: Russell 5
PENALTIES: Russell

Bristol produced an extraordinary display of attacking rugby to defeat the Bulls 61-28 in Pretoria, sealing their place in the Champions Cup knockout stages. The Bears raced into a 21-0 lead inside seven minutes, with Kalaveti Ravouvou scoring to complete the early bonus point. Noah Heward’s first-half hat-trick and further tries from Janse van Rensburg, Max Lahiff, Kieran Marmion, and Pedro Rubiolo helped Bristol build a 47-28 interval lead despite two tries from Stravino Jacobs for the Bulls.

The second half saw Bristol continue their rampant form as Rubiolo and Ravouvou added further scores, with the Bulls responding through David Kriel, de Klerk, and Willie le Roux, but the deficit was too great. The 16-try thriller showcased Bristol’s pace, vision, and clinical finishing, putting them top of Pool 4 and in prime position to host a last-16 tie.

BULLS: 28
TRIES: Rudolph, Jacobs 2, Kriel, de Klerk, Le Roux
CONVERSIONS: Pollard 6
PENALTIES: Pollard

BRISTOL: 61
TRIES: Janse van Rensburg, Lahiff, Heward 3, Ravouvou 2, Marmion, Rubiolo
CONVERSIONS: Jordan 8

Glasgow Warriors confirmed their place in the Champions Cup last 16 with a thrilling 33-21 bonus-point victory over Clermont Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand. The Scots raced into a commanding 26-7 lead at half-time with tries from Euan Ferrie, Huw Jones, Kyle Steyn, and Jack Dempsey, while George Moala scored Clermont’s only first-half response.

The second period saw Clermont hit back with a penalty try and Irae Simone’s late score, capitalizing on two Glasgow sin-bins, narrowing the deficit to five points. However, Steyn’s second try late on sealed a hard-earned bonus-point win. Jones’ electric return from injury and Glasgow’s incisive backline play, combined with disciplined management of Clermont’s counter-attacks, underpinned the victory. The win gives Glasgow three wins from three in Pool 1 and sets up a key clash with Saracens at Scotstoun, while Clermont seek their first pool points in Durban against the Sharks.

CLERMONT AUVERGNE: 21
TRIES: Moala, Simone, Penalty Try
CONVERSIONS: Plummer 2

GLASGOW WARRIORS: 33
TRIES: Ferrie, Jones, Steyn 2, Dempsey
CONVERSIONS: Horne 4

Leinster edged past La Rochelle 25-24 in a dramatic Pool 3 encounter at the Aviva Stadium, sealing victory with a last-gasp penalty from replacement fly-half Harry Byrne. Two early tries from European debutant Joshua Kenny gave the hosts a 12-0 lead, but La Rochelle, inspired by Davit Niniashvili and Ihaia West, fought back to lead 17-12 at half-time.

Robbie Henshaw and Josh van der Flier crossed to earn Leinster a bonus point, but West’s second try kept the French side within striking distance. With seconds remaining and a penalty awarded, Byrne coolly slotted the kick to secure a nerve-jangling win. Despite injury troubles to their front row and the absence of key Ireland internationals, Leinster extended their winning run to eight games across all competitions. La Rochelle, meanwhile, face mounting pressure in the pool after a second narrow defeat.

LEINSTER: 25
TRIES: Kenny 2, Van der Flier, Henshaw
CONVERSIONS: Prendergast
PENALTIES: Byrne

LA ROCHELLE: 24
TRIES: Niniashvili, West 2
CONVERSIONS: Le Garrec 3
PENALTIES: Le Garrec

Sale secured a bonus-point 26-10 victory over the Sharks at CorpAcq Stadium to confirm their place in the Investec Champions Cup last 16. After Siya Masuku’s early penalty gave the visitors the lead, Rekeiti Ma’asi-White crossed to put Sale ahead 7-3 at half-time in an error-filled opening period. England prop Bevan Rodd’s try early in the second half, followed by two from Tom O’Flaherty, stretched the advantage, with O’Flaherty’s second sealing the bonus point.

The Sharks, missing most of their South Africa internationals including Siya Kolisi, threatened with Manu Tshituka’s individual effort, but Sale’s dominant line-out and effective backline play ensured the hosts controlled the game. George Ford’s kicking was key in maintaining pressure and territory. The win keeps Alex Sanderson’s side on track for top spot in Pool 1 and emphasizes their growing European pedigree.

SALE: 26
TRIES: Ma’asi-White, Rodd, O’Flaherty 2
CONVERSIONS: Ford 3

SHARKS: 10
TRIES: Tshituka
CONVERSIONS: Masuku
PENALTIES: Masuku

Leicester Tigers kept their Investec Champions Cup knockout hopes alive with a commanding 57-14 bonus-point victory over Bayonne at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. Adam Radwan’s early brace and Tommy Reffell’s score gave the hosts an immediate edge, while Cameron Henderson and Ollie Chessum extended the lead before the break.

Fly-half Billy Searle stole the show with a second-half hat-trick, finishing off slick support play and clever interceptions, and Emeka Ilione also crossed to complete a dominant display. Bayonne, already eliminated from the pool, managed two late tries from Tom Spring and Emosi Tumania, but Leicester’s physicality, precision from Searle’s boot, and clinical backline execution ensured a one-sided contest. The win keeps Leicester in contention ahead of a pivotal trip to face the undefeated Stormers next weekend, underlining their intent to challenge for a top-two finish in Pool 3.

LEICESTER TIGERS: 57
TRIES: Radwan 2, Reffell, Henderson, Searle 3, Chessum, Ilione
CONVERSIONS: Searle 5, Woodward

BAYONNE: 14
TRIES: Spring, Tumania
CONVERSIONS: Spring, Boyle-Tiatia

Pau edged Scarlets in a thrilling Champions Cup encounter at Parc y Scarlets, surviving a second-half comeback to claim a 47-38 victory. The French side dominated the early exchanges, racing into a 28-0 lead inside 30 minutes thanks to four first-half tries from Toshi Butlin, Clement Mondinat, and Carywn Tuipulotu. Scarlets rallied after the break, with Josh Macleod, Archie Hughes, Taine Plumtree and Joe Hawkins scoring five unanswered tries to briefly take the lead and energize the home crowd.

However, Pau’s class showed through in the closing stages, with Remi Seneca, Theo Attissogbe and Siate Tokolahi crossing to snatch the win. Despite a heroic Scarlets effort featuring powerful maul finishes and tactical ingenuity, the Top 14 side’s composure under pressure ensured maximum points. Scarlets now need a win at Northampton next weekend to maintain any hope of finishing in the pool’s top four, while Pau prepare to face the Bulls.

SCARLETS: 38
TRIES: Macleod 2, Hughes, Plumtree, Hawkins
CONVERSIONS: Hawkins 2
PENALTIES: Hawkins

PAU: 47
TRIES: Butlin 2, Mondinat, Tuipulotu, Seneca, Attissogbe, Tokolahi
CONVERSIONS: Desperes 6

Munster fell just short in a nail-biting European clash at the Stade Mayol, losing 27-25 to Toulon after Marius Domon’s late penalty sealed the victory for the hosts. The first half was cagey and error-strewn, with Munster leading 6-0 through two Jack Crowley penalties before Toulon’s Domon crossed for a converted try just before the break to take a 7-6 advantage.

The second half saw both sides trade tries in a frenetic sequence. Toulon’s Ben White and Gael Drean crossed, countered by Munster’s Calvin Nash, Jack O’Donoghue and Tom Farrell to give the Irish province a fleeting 25-24 lead. Discipline proved costly for Munster, with yellow cards disrupting momentum, and Domon’s 76th-minute penalty proved decisive. Despite a spirited comeback and three second-half tries, Munster remain under pressure in Pool 2, needing a result against Castres at Thomond Park next weekend to keep their Champions Cup hopes alive.

TOULON: 27
TRIES: Domon, White, Drean
CONVERSIONS: Domon 3
PENALTIES: Domon 2

MUNSTER: 25
TRIES: Nash, O’Donoghue, Farrell
CONVERSIONS: Crowley 2
PENALTIES: Crowley 2

Harlequins cruised into the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup with a commanding 61-10 victory over a much-changed Stormers side at Twickenham Stoop. Nick David starred with a hat-trick, while Jack Kenningham, Cadan Murley and Alex Dombrandt crossed early to set the tone. Chandler Cunningham-South and David’s first-half brace helped Quins secure the bonus point before half-time.

Stormers, who opted to rest several Springbok stars after recent URC fixtures, responded with tries from Imad Khan and Dylan Maart but were largely outplayed in open play and in set-piece exchanges. Zach Carr and Jarrod Evans added late scores as Harlequins rediscovered the free-flowing style that propelled them to the semi-finals in 2024. With a bonus-point win against La Rochelle next weekend, Quins are poised to host a last-16 tie, while Stormers will look to regroup ahead of their clash with Leicester Tigers.

HARLEQUINS: 61
TRIES: Kenningham, Murley, Dombrandt, Cunningham-South, David 3, Carr, Evans
CONVERSIONS: M. Smith 8

STORMERS: 10
TRIES: Khan, Maart

Champions Cup holders Bordeaux produced a clinical display to hand Premiership leaders Northampton Saints a 50-28 lesson in Europe, in a repeat of last year’s final. The hosts surged into an early lead as Salesi Rayasi and Cameron Woki both scored hat-tricks, while Martin Page-Relo and fly-half Matthieu Jalibert added further scores. Bordeaux’s combination of pace, power, and creativity left Saints on the back foot throughout, exploiting disciplinary lapses and defensive misalignment.

Northampton’s Henry Pollock grabbed two tries amid boos from the passionate Bordeaux crowd, with Freeman and Fischetti also crossing, but the visitors were repeatedly overrun in open play. Sin-binnings and injuries compounded their difficulties, leaving the Saints chasing the game. Despite the heavy defeat, Northampton’s qualification for the last 16 is already secured, though this result highlights the stern challenge that awaits them away from home in the knockout stages.

BORDEAUX: 50
TRIES: Rayasi 3, Page-Relo, Woki 3, Jalibert
CONVERSIONS: Page-Relo 5

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: 28
TRIES: Pollock 2, Freeman, Fischetti
CONVERSIONS: Belleau 4

Saracens produced a spirited and character-filled display to edge past Toulouse 20-14 at a wind-swept StoneX Stadium, all but securing their place in the last 16 of the Champions Cup. Trailing early to Blair Kinghorn’s opening try, Mark McCall’s side responded with three first-half scores to seize control. Rotimi Segun bagged a brace, while number eight Tom Willis—making a standout performance against his brother Jack—added the other try.

Despite Toulouse’s pressure and Matthis Lebel’s second-half effort, the visitors struggled to find fluency, with Antoine Dupont largely subdued in testing conditions. Saracens’ forwards gained dominance as the game progressed, while late contributions from Owen Farrell extended the lead with a penalty. The win underscores Saracens’ growing momentum, reward for a team confronting earlier inconsistencies, and a reminder that their European credentials remain strong ahead of the knockout stages.

SARACENS: 20
TRIES: Segun 2, T Willis
CONVERSIONS: Burke
PENALTIES: Farrell

TOULOUSE: 14
TRIES: Kinghorn, Lebel
CONVERSIONS: Ramos 2