"Crunch time" - Champions Cup & Challenge Cup Semi-Final Preview as Saints & Bath chase glory

Northampton Saints are out to win their first European title in a quarter-century, whilst Bath want to bring the Challenge Cup back to the Rec for the first time since 2008. The blue, black and whites are pursuing an unprecedented treble for the 2024/25 campaign, after collecting the Premiership Rugby Cup crown back in March, and sitting atop of the league table towards the business end of the season.

However, winning a European title it is far easier said than done, with both Northampton Saints and Bath facing some top-tier opponents this weekend. Here is a full breakdown of the upcoming fixtures for the weekend, as the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions heats up for some do-or-die action.

Having finished runners-up in the Champions Cup for the past three seasons, Leinster look without a doubt the favourites to reach a fourth consecutive final, as they host Northampton Saints this Saturday. The Dubliners have been chasing down the star-studded silverware for almost a decade, with their latest trip to the pinnacle of European club rugby coming back in 2018.

Consecutive defeats to La Rochelle and last season's home-stadium loss to Toulouse, has left a hex on Leinster's recent European camapigns - with the province vying to end the silver medal streak this time around. Leinster look like the best team left in the competition, if not the most complete club side in the world. Heavy shut-out wins in the knock-out stages made light work of Harlequins (62-0) and defending URC champions Glasgow Warriors (52-0), with their incoming opponents firmly put on notice.

Leinster's form in the United Rugby Championship has been equally as impressive, albeit with the occasional asterisk when head coach Leo Cullen reins in his star players. Leinster sit comfortably atop the URC table with just two defeats in 16 games, yet Leinster were stunned by the Scarlets in the latest outing (35-22), as a heavily rotated Irish province underestimated the plucky Welsh underdogs.

Make no mistake about it, Northampton Saints will come up against plenty of Irish internationals and their All Black mercenary Jordie Barrett tomorrow night, with vengeance on the mind of the East Midlanders. A rematch 12 months in the making, Northampton's Champions Cup journey was ended at Croke Past last time out, as Leinster handed them a semi-final elimination in front of 80,000 fans. The Saints' knock-out run has included straight-forward wins over Clermont and Castres, with Leinster set to prove a tougher task then either of their recent French opponents.

Northampton's numerous England capped talents will be out for revenge, with Lions places also in the back of the minds for the likes of Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman and Alex Mitchell. The Saints have had a miserable league campaign as defending Premiership champions, as they sit at seventh in the English top flight. With the play-offs looking unlikely for the men in green, black and gold the Champions Cup is now the trophy to be hunted, and it's certainly open season for when the Saints march into Dublin.

A heavyweight all-French semi-final awaits in Bordeaux this Sunday, as the reigning Champions Cup holders, Stade Toulousain, face off against a resurgent Bordeaux-Bègles side eager to claim their first European crown.​ It's first versus second from the Top 14, with the league leading Toulousains constantly batting away Boardeaux, who are hot on their heels in both the league and European competition.

Toulouse are the most decorated club in European rugby with six titles, and have shown resilience to push for a record seventh star on their shirt, despite significant injuries. Golden boy Antoine Dupont is out on the sidelines with an ACL injury, with Dupont's season ended by Andrew Porter back in the Six Nations clash against Ireland. Hooker Peato Mauvaka is also out due to a knee injury, and Thomas Ramos is a doubt for Sunday's game, with head coach Ugo Mola out to dig into Toulouse's immense depth.

Paul Graou, Dupont's halfback understudy and childhood friend, steps into the spotlight, with Toulouse having remained unbeaten with Graou in the side since November 2024. Bordeaux-Bègles, meanwhile, have been in scintillating form with a marquee knock-out win in a commanding 69-17 victory over Exeter. Fly-half Matthieu Jalibert leads the tournament rankings in points scored (63) and offloads (10), with his sharpshooting off the tee and attacking flair on full display thus far in the tournament.

One of the brightest stars in Bordeaux’s arsenal is Louis Bielle-Biarrey. The 21-year-old winger has been in electric form this season and is quickly becoming a key figure in the French backline. In the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations, Bielle-Biarrey won the Player of the Championship award, as he scored a record-breaking eight tries, surpassing the previous record of seven held by Ireland's Jacob Stockdale since 2018. His performances earned him the Player of the Championship award, highlighting his meteoric rise in international rugby

Despite Toulouse's dominance in recent head-to-heads and winning their last four meetings against Bordeaux, the Bègles-Gironde attacking prowess and home advantage could tip the scales. ​The injury list could prove to much for Toulouse, with a fully fit and firing Bordelais side destined for their first Champions Cup final.

Bath arrive in the Scottish capital with formidable momentum, having clinched the Premiership Rugby Cup with a commanding 48–14 victory over Exeter Chiefs in March, ending a 17-year wait for silverware. Their domestic dominance continues as they sit atop the Gallagher Premiership, boasting 13 wins from 15 matches and securing the top seed for the playoffs.​

Under the guidance of Head of Rugby Johann van Graan, Bath's attacking prowess has been evident, leading the league in tries scored and accumulating 13 try bonus points. Their recent 55–19 demolition of Newcastle Falcons showcased how even a rotated Somerset side can make light work of their Premiership opponents, with a full strength Bath outfit ready to crack the foundations of Edinburgh's fabled cauldron.

Bath fly half Finn Russell returns to Scotland, with the halfback instrumental in his side's success. Orchestrating the backline with precision and creativity, his performances have reignited discussions about his role with the British & Irish Lions for the upcoming tour to Australia. Russell, who has one Lions cap, expressed his desire to be part of the tour, while acknowledging the fierce competition for the fly-half position. Russell is the bookies favourite for the red 10 jersey, with another match-winning performance set to keep Northampton's Fin Smith on notice.

Edinburgh, meanwhile, seeks to leverage home advantage at the DAM Health Stadium to halt Bath's treble aspirations. The Scottish side aims to disrupt Bath's rhythm and capitalize on any complacency from the visitors.​ Currently sat at 10th in the URC, it would take a real stroke of fortune for the capital city club to break into the top eight. There's more than just the URC play-offs on the line, with the top eight also securing Champions Cup rugby for next season.

Edinburgh look like outsiders to their own domestic league titles, and much like Northampton's Champions Cup exploits, are putting all their eggs in their Challenge Cup baskets. There is an array of Edinburgh stars all gunning for a spot on the Lions tour, with the likes of Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Grant Gilchrist and Darcy Graham all bringing Scottish star-power to this Challenge Cup collision. Whilst it's not quite a clash at the castle, the battle lines have been drawn for a stunning Challenge Cup semi-final, as Edinburgh host the best club the Premiership has produced this season.

This Sunday, the stage is set for a high-stakes semi-final clash in the EPCR Challenge Cup as Lyon OU host Racing 92 at the Stade de Gerland. Lyon will be looking to continue their impressive run after lifting the Challenge Cup in 2022, where they triumphed over Toulon in a dramatic final. As they step into this home fixture, they will be brimming with confidence, hoping to add another European title to their name and further cement their growing legacy on the European stage.

Racing 92's journey to the semi-finals, however, has been anything but straightforward. The Parisians entered the Challenge Cup with a point to prove after a tumultuous season in the Top 14. The French side struggled early in the year, seeing their usual standards slip and parting ways with head coach Stuart Lancaster. However, under the interim leadership of Patrice Collazo, Racing have found renewed vigor.

Their quarter-final win against Connacht was particularly impressive, with Racing showing immense resilience as they fought through a challenging match, even playing with reduced numbers at times. Key contributions from the likes of Nolann Le Garrec, Josua Tuisova, and the ever-present Owen Farrell ensured they secured a spot in the semi-finals, signaling a team back to their competitive best.

The match against Lyon is far more than just a semi-final for Farrell – it is his final opportunity to impress before the British & Irish Lions squad is announced next Thursday. With his father, Andy Farrell, serving as head coach of Lions, Owen’s performances are under intense scrutiny, both from his father and from fans and pundits alike, that are eager to see who will make the cut. This adds an emotional layer to an already high-stakes encounter, as 'Faz' will be desperate to put in a standout performance, to strengthen his chances of earning a place on the Lions tour.