The Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals delivered chaos, class, and knockout-level intensity.
From Ramos’ after-the-siren winner in Toulon to Leinster’s total demolition of Glasgow, every match had its own drama. Bordeaux and Northampton impressed at home, while Toulouse and Leinster proved why they’re perennial contenders.
- Leinster 52 – 0 Glasgow
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles 47 – 29 Munster
- Northampton 51 – 16 Castres
- Toulon 18 – 21 Toulouse
Here are all the recaps and highlights from the quarter-finals:
LEINSTER DEMOLISH GLASGOW TO BOOK SEMI-FINAL SPOT IN DUBLIN
Leinster 52 – 0 Glasgow Warriors (HT: 33-0)
Leinster surged into the semi-finals of the Champions Cup with a ruthless 52-0 dismantling of Glasgow Warriors at the Aviva Stadium. The Irish giants crossed for eight unanswered tries, putting on a clinical and physical display to cement their title-favorite status. Max Deegan grabbed a brace, while James Lowe, Tommy O’Brien, Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, Dan Sheehan, and a penalty try completed the scoring in a lopsided affair. Leinster were relentless from the outset, dominating territory and possession while keeping Glasgow completely scoreless. An early disallowed try only delayed the onslaught, with Deegan opening the scoring and a penalty try and yellow card to Adam Hastings compounding Glasgow’s problems. From there, the floodgates opened. The blue wave of attack was unrelenting, with quick hands, sharp kicks, and ruthless execution. Even with a 33-0 lead at the break, Leinster didn’t let up. Ringrose broke through moments after the restart before Sheehan and Deegan rounded out the rout. Glasgow never recovered from their slow start and were physically overmatched in every department. Leinster now await Northampton Saints in the semi-finals — a rematch of last season’s last-four clash.
LEINSTER
- Tries: Deegan (13’, 75’), Penalty try (22’), Lowe (24’), T. O’Brien (29’), Keenan (33’), Ringrose (46’), Sheehan (57’)
- Conversions: Prendergast (14’, 30’, 34’, 47’, 58’)
GLASGOW WARRIORS
- No scoring
BORDEAUX-BÈGLES OVERPOWER MUNSTER TO BOOK SEMI-FINAL SPOT IN STYLE
Union Bordeaux-Bègles 47 – 29 Munster (HT: 29-10)
Bordeaux-Bègles delivered an explosive attacking performance at Chaban-Delmas to overpower Munster 47-29 and reach the Champions Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history. UBB blew the game open with a dazzling first-half display, scoring four tries before the break through Damian Penaud, Maxime Lucu, Pete Samu and the impressive young full-back Léo Echegaray. Penaud’s opener—his 12th try of the competition—set the tone early, while Lucu and Samu capitalized on quick ball and wide play to punish a stretched Munster defence. Echegaray’s finish gave the hosts a 29-3 lead before a late try by Alex Nankivell gave the Irish province a lifeline at the interval. Discipline became a factor after the break, with Bordeaux suffering two yellow cards—second-row Cyril Cazeaux and Echegaray both sent to the bin—and Munster responding with tries from Andrew Smith, a penalty try, and a second score for Andrew Smith, bringing the visitors within striking distance at 40-29. But just when momentum seemed to swing, a turnover in midfield sparked a lethal counterattack finished off by Louis Bielle-Biarrey in the final minute to seal the win in style. UBB will now face Toulouse in an all-French semi-final, while Munster bow out despite flashes of attacking promise in the second half.
UNION BORDEAUX-BÈGLES
- Tries: Penaud (5’), Lucu (12’), Samu (24’), Echegaray (33’), Lamothe (56’), Bielle-Biarrey (77’)
- Conversions: Jalibert (13’, 25’, 34’), Lucu (78’)
- Penalties: Jalibert (11’, 53’, 66’)
MUNSTER
- Tries: Nankivell (40’), Smith (50’, 72’), Penalty Try (67’)
- Conversions: Crowley (44’, 73’)
- Penalties: Crowley (9’)
NORTHAMPTON CRUSH CASTRES TO SET UP SEMI-FINAL CLASH WITH LEINSTER
Northampton Saints 51 – 16 Castres (HT: 20-13)
Northampton Saints produced a dominant second-half performance to overwhelm Castres 51-16 at Franklin’s Gardens and secure a Champions Cup semi-final spot against Leinster. The French visitors hung on gamely in the first half, with scrum-half Julien Fernandez keeping them in touch through a try, two penalties, and a conversion. But the Saints’ relentless pace and power proved too much after the break, as they scored five unanswered second-half tries to seal the win in emphatic style. The game started with high tempo from the hosts, Tommy Freeman crossing in the 6th minute after a lost Castres lineout, followed by two tries from Curtis Langdon and Alex Coles. Fernandez responded with a superb long-range penalty and finished off a try following a break from Palis, bringing Castres within a score at the break. Fernandez added another penalty shortly after halftime to make it 20-16, but the Saints responded immediately. George Furbank ran in a well-worked try before Henry Pollock produced a brace, the first through sheer physicality and the second after a sharp Mitchell break. A flurry of yellow cards midway through the half – including one to Guérois-Galisson – disrupted Castres’ rhythm further. Smith added a penalty, and Tommy Pearson iced the game with a final try in the 78th minute, with Smith landing his sixth conversion. It was a statement performance from Northampton, who now head to Dublin full of confidence for their semi-final showdown with European giants Leinster.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
- Tries: Freeman (6’), Langdon (13’), Coles (31’), Furbank (44’), Pollock (47’, 61’), Pearson (77’)
- Conversions: Smith (7’, 44’, 47’, 61’, 78’)
- Penalties: Smith (22’, 68’)
CASTRES
- Tries: Fernandez (25’)
- Conversions: Fernandez (26’)
- Penalties: Fernandez (9’, 39’, 42’)
RAMOS STRIKES AFTER THE SIREN TO SEND TOULOUSE INTO SEMI-FINALS
Toulon 18 – 21 Toulouse (HT: 12-6)
Toulouse booked their place in the Champions Cup semi-finals in dramatic fashion as Thomas Ramos slotted a match-winning penalty after the siren to edge past Toulon 21-18 at a rainy Stade Mayol. In a tense and scrappy contest dominated by penalties and tactical kicking, it was Ramos who ultimately broke the deadlock and silenced the home crowd, sending the defending champions through to a final-four showdown with Bordeaux-Bègles. Despite missing Antoine Dupont and Ange Capuozzo, Toulouse started brightly but were frustrated by errors and stout Toulon defense. Ramos opened the scoring with a penalty before Melvyn Jaminet replied, capitalizing on a yellow card to Cyril Baille. The hosts then took control, with Jaminet adding two more long-range penalties to stretch the lead to 12-3. Ramos hit back just before the break, but Toulouse trailed at halftime with Meafou often their only attacking spark. The visitors turned up the pressure after the interval, and when Baptiste Serin saw yellow for a high tackle, Toulouse struck. Jack Willis finished from close range, then a well-executed phase move sent Pita Ahki over for a second try. Ramos converted one and Toulouse led 18-12. Jaminet kept Toulon in it with two more penalty goals to draw level heading into the final minutes. With tensions high and extra time looming, a poor clearance kick from Saito was mishandled by Villière under pressure from Mallia. Penalized for not releasing, the stage was set. Ramos stepped up and slotted the decisive kick from 22 meters out on the right side to clinch the win. Toulouse continue their title defense, while Toulon exit the tournament with frustration but pride after pushing the champions to the brink.
TOULON
- Penalties: Jaminet (12’, 23’, 28’, 59’, 62’)
TOULOUSE
- Tries: Willis (42’), Ahki (50’)
- Conversions: Ramos (51’)
- Penalties: Ramos (10’, 40’, 80’)
SEMI-FINALS OVERVIEW
The semi-final lineup is set: Leinster vs Northampton and Toulouse vs Bordeaux. With a trip to the final on the line, Europe’s best are now just one win away from silverware—and every moment will count.
Who impressed you most in Quarterfinals? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
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