The Champions Cup Round of 16 delivered drama, dominance, and last-gasp heroics across Europe.
From Leinster’s 10-try demolition of Harlequins to Toulon’s 72-point explosion against Saracens, fans were treated to high-stakes rugby at its finest. Munster shocked the defending champions, Castres clinched a last-second thriller, and Toulouse pulled away late to keep their title bid alive.
- Northampton 46 – 24 Clermont
- Toulon 72 – 42 Saracens
- Leinster 62 – 0 Harlequins
- Castres 39 – 37 Benetton
- La Rochelle 24 – 25 Munster
- Glasgow 43 – 19 Leicester
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles 43 – 31 Ulster
- Toulouse 38 – 15 Sale Sharks
Here are all the recaps and highlights from the eight games:
FREEMAN HAT-TRICK SINKS CLERMONT AS SAINTS MARCH INTO QUARTER-FINALS
Northampton Saints 46 – 24 Clermont (HT: 27-10)
Northampton Saints stormed into the Champions Cup quarter-finals with a dominant 46-24 victory over Clermont at Franklin’s Gardens. Despite a bright start from the visitors, who led 10-0 after a George Moala try and an early penalty from Anthony Belleau, the match quickly turned in Saints’ favour. Fin Smith sparked the comeback with 10 points of his own before England winger Tommy Freeman lit up the contest with a brace of tries off two devastating counter-attacks. Clermont’s discipline crumbled, losing Thomas Ceyte and Sébastien Bézy to the bin, and Northampton capitalized with further tries from Alex Mitchell and Juarno Augustus. The second half began in similar fashion, as Augustus added his second before Clermont responded with scores from Alivereti Raka and Folau Fainga’a. But Freeman completed his hat-trick to cap a stunning individual performance before Henry Pollock sealed the win with a late seventh try. Clermont’s night was compounded by a worrying injury to Fritz Lee, who was stretchered off late. The Saints will host Castres in the quarter-finals.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
- Tries: Smith (18’), Freeman (23’, 29’, 60’), Augustus (41’, 46’), Pollock (71’)
- Conversions: Smith (19’, 42’, 47’, 72’)
- Penalties: Smith (15’)
CLERMONT
- Tries: Moala (11’), Raka (49’), Fainga’a (55’)
- Conversions: Belleau (12’, 50’, 56’)
- Penalties: Belleau (4’)
TOULON ROAR BACK TO CRUSH SARACENS IN 114-POINT CHAMPIONS CUP THRILLER
Toulon 72 – 42 Saracens (HT: 27-35)
Toulon produced a stunning second-half turnaround to overpower Saracens 72-42 at Stade Mayol and secure their place in the Champions Cup quarter-finals. Trailing by 22 points after just 30 minutes, the French side surged back with ten tries—three of them from Facundo Isa, who starred on his 150th appearance. Melvyn Jaminet was also superb, scoring two tries and racking up 32 points in a masterclass performance. Saracens punished early errors to race into a 35-13 lead through tries from Juan Martin Gonzalez (2), Nick Tompkins, Olly Hartley, and Ivan van Zyl. Toulon responded before the break via Isa and Jaminet to reduce the deficit. From there, the home side dominated, scoring 45 unanswered points in a breathtaking second half. Tries from Brian Alainu’uese, Isa (twice more), Fainga’anuku, Jaminet again, Serin, and Tuicuvu capped an incredible comeback. James Hadfield grabbed a late consolation for Sarries, but the damage had been done. Toulon will now host Toulouse in the quarter-finals.
TOULON
- Tries: Wainiqolo (5’), Isa (35’, 55’, 59’), Jaminet (39’, 70’), Alainu’uese (44’), Fainga’anuku (62’), Serin (74’), Tuicuvu (76’)
- Conversions: Jaminet (6’, 36’, 40’, 55’, 60’, 63’, 75’, 77’)
- Penalties: Jaminet (12’, 14’)
SARACENS
- Tries: Gonzalez (3’, 22’), Tompkins (7’), Hartley (16’), Van Zyl (31’), Hadfield (65’)
- Conversions: Burke (4’, 8’, 17’, 23’, 32’, 66’)
LEINSTER HUMILIATE HARLEQUINS WITH TEN-TRY MASTERCLASS IN DUBLIN
Leinster 62 – 0 Harlequins (HT: 19-0)
Leinster stormed into the Champions Cup quarter-finals with a crushing 62-0 demolition of Harlequins at Croke Park. The Irish province ran in ten unanswered tries in a one-sided affair, with Josh van der Flier, Dan Sheehan, and James Lowe among the scorers in a display of ruthless dominance. After a promising opening ten minutes from Quins, which included a long-range penalty miss from Leigh Halfpenny and a drop-goal attempt by Marcus Smith, the hosts took over. Cian Prendergast opened the floodgates before further first-half scores from Joe McCarthy and Jamie Osborne gave Leinster a commanding lead. Van der Flier led the second-half surge with a powerful maul try and assists for Ringrose and Sheehan. A penalty try followed, before Ross Byrne capped off a fluid team move. Lowe crossed twice in the closing stages to rub salt into Harlequins’ wounds. The win sees Leinster advance to face either Glasgow in the quarter-finals.
LEINSTER
- Tries: Prendergast (14’), McCarthy (17’), Osborne (27’), Van der Flier (44’), Ringrose (47’), Sheehan (57’), Penalty Try (65’), Byrne (71’), Lowe (76’, 79’)
- Conversions: Prendergast (17’, 27’, 48’), Byrne (72’, 80’)
HARLEQUINS
- No scoring
CASTRES STUN BENETTON WITH LAST-MINUTE TRY TO REACH CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTERS
Castres 39 – 37 Benetton (HT: 24-22)
Castres Olympique pulled off a dramatic comeback to defeat Benetton Treviso 39-37 in a pulsating Champions Cup Round of 16 clash at Stade Pierre-Fabre. Down to 14 men for nearly the entire second half following Adrien Séguret’s red card, the hosts showed grit and determination, capped by a last-minute try and conversion from scrum-half Jérémy Fernandez to seal the win. Castres struck early through a brace from Rémy Baget and a try by Chaubouni, but Benetton replied with scores from Gallo and Mendy to stay within touching distance. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the French side stayed in the fight, with tries from Babillot and Ambadiang keeping them in reach. Odogwu and Bernasconi crossed for Benetton, who led 37-29 with fifteen minutes to play. But a yellow card for Gallo and relentless forward pressure paved the way for Fernandez to score and convert the decisive points in the dying seconds. Castres now travel to Franklin’s Gardens to face Northampton in the quarter-finals.
CASTRES
- Tries: Baget (2’, 22’), Chaubouni (16’), Babillot (39’), Ambadiang (64’), Fernandez (78’)
- Conversions: Le Brun (3’, 17’), Fernandez (79’)
- Penalties: Le Brun (47’)
BENETTON
- Tries: Gallo (4’), Mendy (32’), Brex (35’), Bernasconi (43’), Odogwu (57’)
- Conversions: Albornoz (5’, 36’, 58’)
- Penalties: Albornoz (7’, 62’)
MUNSTER EDGE LA ROCHELLE IN THRILLING DEFLANDRE BATTLE TO REACH CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTERS
La Rochelle 24 – 25 Munster (HT: 10-7)
Munster stunned La Rochelle with a gritty 25-24 win at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, eliminating the two-time defending champions from the Champions Cup in a brutal, high-intensity round of 16 clash. Jack Crowley steered the Irish province masterfully, earning Player of the Match honours, while tries from Craig Casey, Andrew Smith and Gavin Coombes sealed the upset. La Rochelle opened the scoring through Levani Botia after Andrew Smith’s early yellow card, but Munster hit back through Casey following a scintillating break by Thaakir Abrahams. Coombes then charged down a clearance to score right after the break before Smith added a third following a textbook maul. A penalty try and yellow card to Alex Kendellen gave La Rochelle hope, and Antoine Hastoy’s pinpoint kick set up Hoani Bosmorin for a dramatic late try. But despite closing to within a point, the hosts couldn’t find a final breakthrough. Munster now advance to face either Bordeaux-Bègles in the quarter-finals.
LA ROCHELLE
- Tries: Botia (10’), Penalty Try (65’), Bosmorin (76’)
- Conversions: West (11’), Hastoy (76’)
- Penalties: West (42’)
MUNSTER
- Tries: Casey (24’), Coombes (47’), A. Smith (51’)
- Conversions: Crowley (24’, 48’)
- Penalties: Crowley (41’)
- Drop goal: Crowley (68’)
GLASGOW DOMINATE LEICESTER TO BOOK QUARTER-FINAL DATE WITH LEINSTER
Glasgow 43 – 19 Leicester (HT: 17-5)
The Glasgow Warriors stormed into the Champions Cup quarter-finals with a commanding 43-19 win over Leicester Tigers at Scotstoun Stadium. Powered by Henco Venter’s double and a try apiece from Sione Vailanu, Adam Hastings, and George Horne, the Warriors took full advantage of Leicester’s ill-discipline to control the match from start to finish. Olly Cracknell gave Leicester a dream start with a third-minute score, but yellow cards to Van Poortvliet and Henderson turned the tide in Glasgow’s favour. Venter and Vailanu crossed in quick succession before Hastings added a penalty to close out a dominant first half. The Warriors kept their foot on the gas after the break, with Vailanu grabbing his second, followed by slick finishes from Hastings and Horne. Leicester fought back through tries from Kata and Liebenberg, but it was too late to mount a serious challenge. Venter’s late second try sealed the deal. Glasgow will now face Leinster in Dublin in the quarter-finals.
GLASGOW
- Tries: Venter (13’, 74’), Vailanu (18’, 41’), Hastings (49’), Horne (50’)
- Conversions: Hastings (14’, 19’, 42’, 50’, 51’)
- Penalties: Hastings (40’)
LEICESTER
- Tries: Cracknell (2’), Kata (55’), Liebenberg (66’)
- Conversions: Pollard (56’, 67’)
BORDEAUX-BÈGLES OVERPOWER ULSTER TO ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER-FINALS
Bordeaux-Bègles 43 – 31 Ulster (HT: 28-14)
Bordeaux-Bègles kept their European dream alive with a high-octane 43-31 win over Ulster in a pulsating round of 16 clash at Stade Chaban-Delmas. Damian Penaud was at his electric best, equalling the Champions Cup single-campaign try record, while Maxime Lucu and the UBB forwards laid the foundation for the club’s place in the quarter-finals. Penaud’s sensational solo effort and tries from Tameifuna, Coleman and Buros had UBB flying at halftime, despite spirited replies from O’Toole and McCann for the visitors. Lucu and Lamothe extended the lead early in the second half, but Ulster showed fight with scores from Timoney and Ward. Lucu’s quick thinking and Van Rensburg’s finish sealed the win before Ward grabbed a late double. Though Ulster edged the second half, it was Bordeaux-Bègles who march on to host Munster in the quarter-finals.
BORDEAUX-BÈGLES
- Tries: Penaud (6’), Tameifuna (15’), Coleman (20’), Buros (40’), Lamothe (50’), Van Rensburg (70’)
- Conversions: Carbery (6’, 16’, 21’, 41’), Jalibert (71’)
- Penalties: Lucu (46’)
ULSTER
- Tries: O’Toole (28’), McCann (35’), Timoney (55’), Ward (63’, 75’)
- Conversions: Cooney (29’, 37’, 76’)
TOULOUSE BATTLE PAST SALE TO SET UP QUARTER-FINAL CLASH WITH TOULON
Toulouse 38 – 15 Sale Sharks (HT: 10-15)
Toulouse overcame a spirited Sale side 38-15 to punch their ticket to the Champions Cup quarter-finals, where they’ll face Toulon. The five-time champions struggled in the first half, trailing by five at the break, but roared back after the interval with four unanswered tries to seal the win. Jack Willis opened the scoring early for the hosts, but Sale hit back through James and Hill, taking a surprise 15-7 lead. Ramos clawed back a penalty before halftime, and from there it was all Toulouse. Cros dotted down shortly after the break, Marchand powered over on the hour, and Capuozzo scored a stunning solo try before sadly exiting on a stretcher. Cramont’s late score iced the game for the French giants.
TOULOUSE
- Tries: Willis (1’), Cros (45’), Marchand (58’), Capuozzo (73’), Cramont (76’)
- Conversions: Ramos (2’, 46’, 59’, 74’, 77’)
- Penalties: Ramos (35’)
SALE SHARKS
- Tries: James (4’), Hill (29’)
- Conversion: Ford (30’)
- Penalties: Ford (21’)
QUARTERFINALS OVERVIEW
The Champions Cup quarter-final matchups are now locked in, with heavyweights like Toulouse, Leinster, and Northampton still in the hunt. Meanwhile, underdogs like Castres and Munster will look to carry their Round of 16 momentum into next weekend’s clashes.
Who impressed you most in Round of 16? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
If you enjoyed this recap, don’t forget to:
• Like and share this post with fellow rugby fans
• Bookmark the blog to stay updated on the next rounds
• Follow @gopeakrugby on X and Facebook and subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more rugby analysis, match recaps, and insights
