Chiefs to face Munster in last 16

By Mark Stevens
23/1/22

Exeter Chiefs will face Munster Rugby in the last 16 of this season’s Heineken Champions Cup.

Rob Baxter’s side, who lost their final qualification game away to Montpellier 37-26, finished sixth in Pool B and will now face the two-time European champions over two legs.

The Round of 16 clashes will take place over the weekends of April 8/9/10 and April 15/16/17. The Chiefs will be home in the first leg, before travelling to Thomond Park a week later.

The two sides have met twice in the competition before - that was during the 2018/19 season - when the first meeting ended in a 10-10 draw at Sandy Park, before Munster edged the corresponding fixture 9-7.

Following an action-packed weekend of action, the pairings for the last 16 have now been confirmed.

The eight highest-ranked clubs in each pool have secured their places in the Round of 16 which will be played over two legs on the weekends of 8/9/10 and 15/16/17 April with the No 1-ranked club in Pool A playing against the No 8-ranked club in Pool B and so forth.

The four highest-ranked clubs in each pool will have home advantage in the second leg matches.

The following clubs have qualified for the Round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup:

Pool A: Glasgow Warriors, Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby

Pool B: Cardiff Rugby, Wasps, Castres Olympique

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP

Round of 16 first leg - 8/9/10 April

R16 1: Stade Francais Paris (B8) v Racing 92 (A1)

R16 2: Stade Toulousain (B7) v Ulster Rugby (A2)

R16 3: Union Bordeaux-Bègles (B6) v Stade Rochelais (A3)

R16 4: Connacht Rugby (B5) v Leinster Rugby (A4)

R16 5: Sale Sharks (A5) v Bristol Bears (B4)

R16 6: Exeter Chiefs (A6) v Munster Rugby (B3)

R16 7: Montpellier Hérault Rugby Hérault Rugby (A7) v Harlequins (B2)

R16 8: ASM Clermont Auvergne (A8) v Leicester Tigers (B1)

NB The four highest-ranked clubs in each pool will play the second leg of their Round of 16 matches at home

Round of 16 second leg – 15/16/17 April

R16 1: Racing 92 (A1) v Stade Francais Paris (B8)

R16 2: Ulster Rugby (A2) v Stade Toulousain (B7)

R16 3: Stade Rochelais (A3) v Union Bordeaux-Bègles (B6)

R16 4: Leinster Rugby (A4) v Connacht Rugby (B5)

R16 5: Bristol Bears (B4) v Sale Sharks (A5)

R16 6: Munster Rugby (B3) v Exeter Chiefs (A6)

R16 7: Harlequins (B2) v Montpellier Hérault Rugby (A7)

R16 8: Leicester Tigers (B1) v ASM Clermont Auvergne (A8)

Quarter-finals – 6/7/8 May

The quarter-finals will be played over one match and the highest-ranked club from the pool stage will have home venue advantage as follows:

QF 1: Winner R16 1 v Winner R16 5

QF 2: Winner R16 7 v Winner R16 3

QF 3: Winner R16 2 v Winner R16 6

QF 4: Winner R16 8 v Winner R16 4

Semi-finals – 13/14/15 May

The semi-finals will be played over one match, and the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have either home country advantage or home venue advantage (TBC) as follows:

SF 1: Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2

SF 2: Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4

2022 Heineken Champions Cup final: Saturday, 28 May; Stade Vélodrome, Marseille (17.45)