This weekend’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals throw up some fascinating contrasts, with two of the ties pitting former winners against each other and the other two games involving teams who have yet to lift the prestigious trophy.
Those former winners have a total of 13 European titles between them, Stade Toulousain leading the way with five, Leinster Rugby just behind them on four, while Leicester Tigers and Munster Rugby have won two apiece.
When Munster and Stade Toulousain clash at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday at 15:00 UK and Irish time in front of the BT Sport, beIN SPORTS and France 2 cameras, both clubs will be making a record 19th appearance at this stage of the tournament.
They have met six times in the knockout stage to date – including the famous 2008 final at the Millennium Stadium won by Munster 16-13 – with the Irish province ahead 4-2.
Munster were winners of the 2014 and 2017 quarter-finals, but Stade Toulousain triumphed 40-33 in the Round of 16 at Thomond Park last season on their way to lifting the trophy.
It'll be an incredible seventh time @Munsterrugby have faced @StadeToulousain in the knockout stages on Saturday 🥊
The last time they battled in a QF in 2017 the hosts took the glory…
Who wins in the next edition of this #HeinekenChampionsCup rivalry? 👀 pic.twitter.com/PyhRzFDZ5B
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 3, 2022
Meanwhile, Leicester and Leinster will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in the knockout stage of the tournament when they meet at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday at 17:30.
It’s currently 2-2, including the 2009 final won 19-16 by Leinster at BT Murrayfield, so the tie between this season’s leading clubs in the Gallagher Premiership and the United Rugby Championship couldn’t be more even for BT Sport and beIN SPORTS viewers.
Kicking off at the same time in France will be the quarter-final between TOP 14 rivals Stade Rochelais and Montpellier Hérault Rugby at Stade Marce Deflandre, which is also being broadcast live by BT Sport and beIN SPORTS.
It will be the first time these two sides have met in the Heineken Champions Cup and the first time Montpellier have reached the last eight since 2013.
The QFs are set to be EPIC 👊
Catch them all on @btsportrugby, with @racing92 v @SaleSharksRugby also on @C4Sport & @VMSportIE 📺
Which #HeinekenChampionsCup thrillers are you watching? 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ZHMnlkwHyt
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 2, 2022
Sunday’s sole tie between Racing 92 and Sale Sharks at Paris La Defense Arena, which kicks off at 15:00 UK and Irish time, is also a first meeting between the clubs in the competition.
Sale will be looking for a first quarter-final success in their history, having lost to Biarritz Olympique in 2006 and to Stade Rochelais last season, when the France 2, BT Sport, beIN SPORTS, Channel 4 and Virgin Media cameras roll.
Of the 100 tournament quarter-final matches to date, 74% have been won by the home club.
European Professional Club Rugby | Fascinating Heineken Champions Cup match-ups - EPCRugby.com
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