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Investec Champions Cup Round of 16: Qualified Teams, Matchups, and Saracens’ Participation
The pool phase of the revamped Investec Champions Cup has concluded, and the knockout rounds are now on the horizon, featuring some highly anticipated match-ups in the last 16.
Top seeds Toulouse are slated to face Racing 92 in an all-French clash, with the winner advancing to meet either Exeter Chiefs or Bath.
In the same half of the last-16 draw, Harlequins will host Glasgow Warriors at the Stoop, while Saracens have the opportunity to seek redemption for their record 55-15 European defeat against Bordeaux Begles in the third round of pool games.
On the other half of the bracket, last year’s runners-up Leinster are set to play Leicester Tigers at home, setting the stage for a potential clash with defending champions La Rochelle. La Rochelle, in turn, will travel to South Africa to face The Stormers. The French Top 14 side extinguished the qualification hopes of Sale Sharks with a commanding 37-24 victory at the Salford Community Stadium.
In another fixture, Northampton Saints and Munster, both of whom advanced from Pool 3, will once again face each other. Additionally, the Bulls and Lyon are poised to renew their pool-stage rivalry as they meet in the knockout stages.
In each of the six-team pools, four teams qualified for the last 16, while the fifth-placed team moved into the Challenge Cup. The top two finishers in each group secured home ties for the last 16, while the teams finishing third and fourth will play away matches.
Brian O’Driscoll emphasised the significance of playing at home following Bayonne’s pool-phase victory over Exeter. He stated, “History will show in this competition that the home team won much of the knockout competition. As you progress to the quarter-finals, and semi-finals, the higher your seeding, the longer you will stay at home. That’s why teams like Toulouse must earn maximum points, as well as for Leinster and now Northampton Saints. These factors will be important with them back in the mix, playing some scintillating rugby. We have some great match-ups ahead.”
Here are the teams that advanced from each pool:
Pool 1:
- Bordeaux Begles
- Bulls
- Lyon
- Saracens
Pool 2:
- Toulouse
- Harlequins
- Bath
- Saracens
Pool 3:
- Northampton Saints
- Exeter Chiefs
- Glasgow Warriors
- Munster
Pool 4:
- Leinster
- Stormers
- La Rochelle
- Leicester Tigers
LAST 16 FIXTURES:
- Toulouse vs. Racing 92
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Bath
- Harlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors
- Bordeaux Begles vs. Saracens
- Leinster vs. Leicester Tigers
- Stormers vs. La Rochelle
- Northampton Saints vs. Munster
- Bulls vs. Lyon
In the quarter-finals, if top seeds Toulouse secure victory against Racing 92, they will face either Exeter or Bath in an eagerly anticipated matchup. Bath narrowly lost a closely contested encounter with the French side in the final round of pool games, while the Chiefs are renowned as one of rugby’s most entertaining teams.
Should both teams advance, there is also the prospect of a quarter-final clash between traditional rivals Saracens and Harlequins. Another possibility is a rematch of last year’s final between Leinster and La Rochelle. Additionally, Northampton Saints could face either The Bulls or Lyon if they prevail over Munster.
The final of the Investec Champions Cup will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, May 25, at 14:45 UK time.
