European Rugby Champions and Challenge Cup Weekend Preview

After a break of almost three months, this weekend will see the return of Rugby’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup fixtures.

The weekend kicks off on Friday when two Irish giants in Connacht and Leinster face off at the Galway Stadium.

In the Pro 14 league, Leinster are sitting pretty at the top, having lost only three games this season, whilst Connacht are firmly in mid-table.

Leinster go into Friday’s last 16 first leg match up with a good record so far in Europe having beaten Bath twice as well as picking up a victory over French side Montpellier.

Their opponents Connacht have beaten Stade Francais at home, but went on to lose the away game. They also suffered home and away defeats to the Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers.

On Saturday it is an all-Premiership affair with Sale Sharks taking on Bristol Bears at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The Sharks have so far in Europe beaten Ospreys twice, with the Bears claiming home and away victories over Scarlets and a win over Stade Francais.

At Sandy Park on Saturday, Exeter Chiefs face off against Irish side Munster. Chiefs have already beaten Montpellier and Glasgow upon their visits to Devon. However, Chiefs went down to the French side in Montpellier and suffered a 22-7 loss against Glasgow in Scotland back in December.

Current Gallagher Premiership Champions Harlequins face a Round of 16 match against French side Montpellier on Sunday afternoon. The Londoners will travel to France full of confidence after a string of recent wins.

Quins have already had victories away at Castres (20-18) and at home against Cardiff (43-17) , also picking up a narrow 36-33 win over the Welsh side at Cardiff Arms Park.

In the last round of matches, Quins recorded a 36-33 victory over Castres at the Stoop on Friday 21^st January.

Current Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers also have to travel to France. Their opponents on Sunday are Clermont who are in mid-table in the Pro 14.

Tigers have made an impressive start to their European journey having put together four straight wins. Leicester have so far beaten Bordeaux in France 16-13. In Round 2 they had a narrow 29-23 win over Connacht at Welford Road, before edging out the Irish side by a single point in January.

In their previous European Champions Cup tie they comfortably beat Bordeaux 28-0 at home.

Other European Champions Cup ties over the weekend will see Bourdaux face Stade Rochelais, Stade Toulousain come up against Ulster, and an all-French affair between Stade Francais and Racing 92.

In the Challenge Cup, on Friday night, Saracens travel to France to face Brive with Edinburgh locking horns with Pau in Group C.

On Saturday it is Pool A action with Biarritz up against Toulon whilst Newcastle Falcons entertain Zebre. In Group B, Benetton are up against Perpignan, with Newport Gwent Dragons facing Gloucester.

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