Heineken Champions Cup 2021-22

The northern hemisphere’s premier club rugby union tournament kicks off, with 24 teams from England’s Aviva Premiership, France’s Top 14 and the United Rugby Championship* – formerly known as the Pro14 – battling to lift the trophy


POOL STAGE: Dec 10-Jan 23

Tier 1 v Tier 4 	Tier 2 v Tier 3

Each team plays four matches – two home and two away – against teams in paired tier, not in same domestic league


POOL 1
La Rochelle 	Top 14 
Exeter Chiefs 	Prem. 
Leinster 	URC 
Racing 92 	Top 14 
Sale Sharks 	Prem. 
Ulster 		URC 
Clermont 	Top 14 
Northampton 	Prem. 
Ospreys 	URC 
Montpellier 	Top 14 
Bath 		Prem. 
Glasgow 	URC

POOL 2
Toulouse	Top 14
Harlequins 	Prem. 
Munster 	URC 
Bordeaux 	Top 14 
Bristol Bears 	Prem. 
Connacht 	URC 
SF Paris 	Top 14 
Leicester 	Prem. 
Scarlets 	URC 
Castres 	Top 14 
Wasps 		Prem. 
Cardiff 	URC


Top eight in each pool advance to knock-out stage 

Last 16 Apr 8-17 	Quarter-final May 6-8 	Semi-finals May 13-15 
Final: May 28, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France


RECENT FINALS: Toulouse beat French rivals La Rochelle in 2021 final to claim fifth title – first since 2010 – and record for overall titles won since 1996

2021 Toulouse 	22-17 La Rochelle
2020 Exeter	31-27 Racing 92
2019 Saracens	20-10 Leinster
2018 Leinster	15-12 Racing 92
2017 Saracens	28-17 Clermont
2016 Saracens 	21-9 Racing 92
2015 Toulon	24-18 Clermont
2014 Toulon	23-6 Saracens
2013 Toulon	16-15 Clermont
2012 Leinster 	42-14 Ulster


*Contested by Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa (2021)


Picture: Getty Images
Source: ERCC  
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