The Rugby’s On - Episode 9
Jan 25Heineken Champions Cup Round 1: Match previews and how to watch every game live on BT Sport
TV and live stream information as BT Sport brings you 11 live games from round one of the Heineken Champions Cup.
The greatest club competition in world rugby is underway as the best teams in the northern hemisphere battle it out for the right to be crowned kings of Europe.
BT Sport, home of the Heineken Champions Cup until 2024, will show live coverage of every single game each weekend and all eyes will be on Toulouse as they look to go back-to-back in Europe for the first time in their illustrious history.
Read on, or jump to the game of your choice, for how to follow the action on BT Sport.
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Friday 10 December
Northampton 14-45 Racing 92
Saturday 11 December
Cardiff 7-39 Toulouse
Leinster 45-20 Bath
Bordeaux 13-16 Leicester
Clermont 23-29 Ulster
Exeter Chiefs 42-6 Montpellier
Bristol Bears vs Scarlets - Cancelled
Sunday 12 December
Ospreys vs Sale Sharks - BT Sport 2HD
Connacht vs Stade Francais - BT Sport 3HD
La Rochelle vs Glasgow Warriors - BT Sport 3HD
Wasps vs Munster - BT Sport 2HD
Castres vs Harlequins - BT Sport 3HD
Friday 10 December
Northampton 14-45 Racing 92 - Watch replay
Finn Russell shone as Racing 92 put their poor league form behind them to record an emphatic victory over Northampton at Franklin's Gardens and get their Champions Cup campaign off to a brilliant start.
The French outfit looked intent on sending out a statement after three straight domestic defeats and were 13-0 up inside seven minutes thanks to three scores from the boot of Maxime Machenaud and a Wenceslas Lauret try.
Having set up Lauret, Russell provided the pass to Juan Imhoff for the visitors' second try before playing an instrumental part in his side's third of the evening as Imhoff went over in the corner.
A solitary converted Courtnall Skosan try was all Chris Boyd's side had to show for their efforts going into the break and they fell 28 points behind early in the second period when a jinking Russell run had Saints chasing shadows before the Scotland international produced a stupendous offload to Lauret, who charged over.
Fraser Dingwall then scored from close range, but Lauret secured his hat-trick when Gael Fickou carved the hosts' defence open and the ball was quickly transferred to the back row, who made no mistake.
Northampton have an opportunity to make amends when they travel to Ulster next Friday, while Laurent Travers' men will hope to replicate this scintillating display at home to Ospreys the following day.
Saturday 11 December
Cardiff 7-39 Toulouse - Watch replay
A makeshift Cardiff side did themselves proud with a spirited display in defeat against European champions Toulouse.
Without 42 players due to quarantine, injury and suspension, Cardiff took a shock lead with Josh Adams' try.
But Toulouse hit back as Anthony Jelonch and Pita Ahki crossed to put the visitors 20-7 up at half-time.
World Rugby player of the year Antoine Dupont was at his dazzling best as he added a third try and created a fourth for Arthur Bonneval.
Leinster 45-20 Bath - Watch replay
Bath produced a spirited display in defeat to Irish giants Leinster - but two tries from the hosts' prolific Kiwi Jamison Gibson-Park helped them get their Champions Cup campaign off with a comfortable win.
Bordeaux 13-16 Leicester Tigers - Watch replay
A pair of late penalties converted by Tigers man George Ford helped the visitors to a famous dramatic victory in France.
Clermont 23-29 Ulster - Watch replay
Ulster got their Champions Cup campaign off to an impressive start with a 29-23 victory over Clermont in France.
It was their maiden win at the Stade Marcel-Michelin, with Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney scoring their tries.
Exeter 42-6 Montpellier - Watch replay
Jonny Gray was the hat-trick hero for the Chiefs as the Scotland lock helped his side ease past French visitors Montpellier at Sandy Park on Saturday evening.
Sam Simmonds and Don Armand added scores of their own as Rob Baxter's men made an impressive statement in their opening game of the Champions Cup.
Bristol vs Scarlets - Match cancelled
Bristol Bears have been awarded a 28-0 victory after their opponents Scarlets were forced to forfeit their round one match.
A Scarlets statement read: "Scarlets are disappointed to announce that we have forfeited our round one Heineken Champions Cup match against Bristol Bears, due to be played on Saturday, December 11.
"Following discussions between Scarlets management, coaches, players and medical and conditioning staff, the overwhelming feeling was that it would be a physical risk to select any of the 32 front-line squad members who are currently in quarantine in a hotel outside of Belfast.
"Since returning from South Africa, the travelling party have been in a strict 10-day quarantine, confined to their rooms with limited outdoor time a day without having been able to train as a group. That isolation period is due to end on Friday, December 10 – just a day before the Bristol fixture.
"At present, we have 14 fit Scarlets players training at Parc y Scarlets – seven senior players and seven development players.
"We would like to thank the Ospreys and Dragons for their offer of assistance, but, unfortunately, we have been unable to put together a match-day squad that can safely take the field against the Bears."
Sunday 12 December
Ospreys 13-21 Sale - Watch replay
Converted first-half tries from Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Ewan Ashman and Jean-Luc du Preez did the job for Sale, who survived a rally from their hosts after the break.
Connacht 36-9 Stade Francais - Watch replay
Connacht bagged six tries en route to a thumping win over Stade Francais as Jack Carty starred at fly-half in ferocious windy conditions in Galway.
Wasps 14-35 Munster - Watch replay
Covid-ravaged Munster capitalised on a controversial red card for Brad Shields, who was dismissed after his right shoulder made contact with Dave Kilcoyne's head.
The visitors claimed a bonus point as Scott Buckley and Patrick Campbell both scored tries on their debuts.
La Rochelle 20-13 Glasgow Warriors - Watch replay
Last season's beaten finalists La Rochelle battled past Glasgow Warriors, with Eneriko Buliruarua's try just before the hour mark making the difference after a rapid series of offloads.
Castres 18-20 Harlequins - Watch replay
Harlequins survived a late Castres onslaught late on to claim an impressive victory at the rainy Stade Pierre-Fabre as Louis Lynagh and Alex Dombrandt crossed the whitewash.
