Champions Cup Quarter-Finals Set with Three English Teams in Final Showdown
The quarter-final line-up for this season's Champions Cup is now complete, showcasing an intense competition. A record seven English clubs advanced to the knockout phase, but only three remain after Saracens, Bristol Bears, Harlequins, and Leicester Tigers exited in the last 16. The surviving English teams include Northampton Saints, Bath, and Sale Sharks, the latter being the only team to secure an away victory in the first knockout round. France also boasts three teams in the last eight, while the Glasgow Warriors and Leinster represent Scotland and Ireland, respectively. The quarter-finals are scheduled for 10-12 April: Bath vs. Northampton Saints on Friday Defending champions Bordeaux Begles hosting six-time winners Toulouse in an all-French clash two days later. Looking ahead, the semi-finals are set for the first weekend in May, culminating in the final on Saturday, 23 May in Bilbao. Notably, only three teams - Glasgow, Leinster, and Bordeaux - have maintained a perfect record, winning all five of their matches so far. French clubs have dominated the competition, having won each of the last five editions, with the Exeter Chiefs' triumph in 2020 being the last victory for a non-French club.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-04-05