Investec Champions Cup - Round 3 review

Round 3 of the Investec Champions Cup delivered incredible action on the pitch translating into strong numbers confirming the great momentum of the competitions as we go into a high-stakes Round 4 next weekend.

It was an electrifying weekend of rugby, as the first clubs secured their places in the knockout stages. With just one round remaining, however, everything is still to play for, as teams gear up for a final, decisive push to secure both qualification and the coveted home advantage in the Round of 16 - setting the stage for a dramatic run to the Bilbao Finals in May.

Please find below a comprehensive review including results, updated pools, key data and top performers.

CLICK BELOW FOR ROUND 3 REVIEW STATS

Round 3 – Top Performers

Points: 25, Billy Searle, Leicester Tigers

Carries: 20, Zach Mercer, RC Toulon

Metres: 144, Noah Heward, Bristol Bears

Defenders beaten: 11, Sebastian de Klerk, Vodacom Bulls

Offloads: 5, David Kriel, Vodacom Bulls

Tackles: 26, Sam Dugdale, Sale Sharks

Round 3 – Key Stats

• Cameron Woki (Union Bordeaux Bègles) scored three tries at the weekend. He also beat six defenders and won two turnovers.

• Billy Searle (Leicester Tigers) scored a hat trick and the most points (25) in Round 3. He also assisted two other tries.

• Tom Willis (Saracens) made the most post-contact metres at the weekend (45), beat eight defenders, made 14 tackles, and won a turnover.

• Salesi Rayasi (Union Bordeaux Bègles) scored the joint-most tries (three), made the joint-most clean breaks (five) and the joint-most offloads (five).

• Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby) won five turnovers at the weekend - more than any other player.

• Bath Rugby ran in six tries to claim a bonus-point win over Castres Olympique on Friday night, while Edinburgh Rugby completed a stunning second-half comeback to edge Gloucester Rugby and also take five points. The results leave Bath and Edinburgh first and second in Pool 2, setting up a blockbuster showdown next weekend - a rematch of last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final - with knockout qualification still wide open.

  
  

Saturday kicked off with fireworks in South Africa as Vodacom Bulls and Bristol Bears served up a 16-try thriller. Despite conceding 49 points, it was Bristol who emerged victorious with 61 on the board, booking their place in the Round of 16. The Bulls took a consolation bonus point - the first time a team has ever scored 49 and still lost - leaving everything to play for next weekend.

Glasgow Warriors made it three wins from three with a commanding away performance against ASM Clermont Auvergne, sealing their spot in the knockouts with a flawless start to the pool stages.

Leinster Rugby left it late in a Dublin classic, as Harry Byrne’s penalty in the 81st minute edged them past Stade Rochelais 25-24 and secured knockout qualification in dramatic fashion.

Sale Sharks powered into the Round of 16 thanks to a crucial bonus-point win over Hollywoodbets Sharks, driven by an impressive second-half display.

Saturday night’s must-win clash saw Section Paloise weather a Scarlets onslaught to claim their first victory of the competition in a tense back-and-forth encounter.

Leicester Tigers also notched their first win of the campaign, brushing aside Aviron Bayonnais with a nine-try demolition to keep their knockout hopes alive heading into the final pool round.

On Sunday dominant Harlequins ended DHL Stormers unbeaten run in all competitions this season with a nine-try, 61-10 win to send them into the Round of 16.

A late RC Toulon penalty edged Munster Rugby in a Stade Mayol thriller that ended 27-25, with next week’s Pool 2 matches now crucial.

Sunday’s rematch of last season’s Final did not disappoint, as Union Bordeaux Bègles took on Northampton Saints in one of the pool stage’s most anticipated clashes. Bordeaux ran rampant, crossing the try line eight times to overwhelm the Saints at a sold-out Stade Chaban-Delmas. Northampton did secure four tries of their own, enough to earn a bonus point, with both sides booking their places in the knockout rounds.

The weekend concluded at a sold-out StoneX Stadium as Saracens delivered an outstanding performance to overcome six-time champions Stade Toulousain. Despite sustained pressure from the French side, Saracens handed Toulouse their second defeat, leaving qualification from Pool 1 to be decided next weekend.