Investec Champions Cup quarter-final review: A weekend for the ages as semi-final line-up is set

It was a quarter-final weekend that had everything - drama, intensity, and moments of pure magic - as the Investec Champions Cup delivered knockout rugby at its absolute best. Four giants of the European game now stand on the brink of glory, with semi-final places secured in unforgettable fashion for Bath Rugby, RC Toulon, Leinster Rugby and Union Bordeaux Bègles.

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Friday night at The Rec will live long in the memory. Bath Rugby produced an epic comeback to reach their first semi-final in two decades, stunning Northampton Saints in an 11-try, edge-of-your-seat classic.

Roared on by a sold-out crowd, Bath found themselves 21 points adrift before launching a sensational fightback. The decisive moment came in the 76th minute - a crucial try from Ted Hill, coolly converted by Finn Russell, completing a comeback for the ages and sealing a famous victory.

Bath are now set for a heavyweight Anglo-French semi-final clash after Union Bordeaux Bègles secured their place with a huge performance against Stade Toulousain.

At a sold-out Stade Chaban-Delmas, the atmosphere was electric and the intensity immediate, with both sides delivering a fiercely contested encounter. Although six-time champions Toulouse led at half-time, reigning champions Bordeaux capitalised on two costly cards to overturn their rivals and keep their pursuit of back-to-back titles alive.

Meanwhile in Glasgow, RC Toulon delivered a statement performance to become the first team to defeat Glasgow Warriors in this season’s competition.

In front of another sold-out crowd at Scotstoun, Toulon set the tone early and held firm under relentless late pressure. A heroic defensive stand in the closing stages ensured their return to the semi-finals for the first time since 2015 - a night of resilience, composure, and big-game mentality.

Standing in Toulon’s way in the semi-finals will be European royalty, Leinster Rugby. The four-time champions booked their place in Dublin with a dominant second-half display against Sale Sharks. After a cagey opening that saw them lead just 7-3 at the break, Leinster exploded into life - running in five second half tries and taking control to secure an emphatic 43-13 victory.

Quarter-finals – Top Performers

• Points: 18, Finn Russell, Bath Rugby

• Carries: 17, Matthieu Jalibert, Union Bordeaux Bègles, Sione Tuipulotu, Glasgow Warriors, Matt Fagerson, Glasgow Warriors, David Ribbans, RC Toulon

• Metres: 100, Rieko Ioane, Leinster Rugby, Salesi Rayasi, Union Bordeaux Bègles

• Defenders beaten: 7, Rekeiti Ma'asi-White, Sale Sharks

• Offloads: 3, Santiago Chocobares, Stade Toulousain, Thomas Ramos, Stade Toulousain

• Tackles: 25, Sam Dugdale, Sale Sharks

Quarter-finals – Key Stats

• Finn Russell (Bath Rugby) scored a round-high 18 points - including a try - and assisted another.

• Archie McParland (Northampton Saints) assisted three tries at the weekend - more than any other player.

• Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby) made the most clean breaks (four) and the most post-contact metres (21). He also beat six defenders and assisted two tries.

• Reiko Ioane (Leinster Rugby) made the joint-most metres (100) and three clean breaks at the weekend.

• Gael Drean (RC Toulon) was the only player who scored more than one try in the Quarter-finals.

Investec Champions Cup semi-finals

(Kick-offs local time/Pool stage rankings in brackets)

Saturday 2 May

Leinster Rugby (3) v RC Toulon (7) – Aviva Stadium (3pm)

Premier Sports/France TV/beIN SPORTS/SuperSport/FloRugby/EPCR TV

Sunday 3 May

Union Bordeaux Bègles (1) v Bath Rugby (4) – Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Métropole (4pm)

France TV/beIN SPORTS/Premier Sports/SuperSport/FloRugby/EPCR TV