The Rugby’s On - Episode 9
Jan 25Heineken Champions Cup Round 2: Your ultimate guide to live games and postponements
Everything you need to know as BT Sport brings you live coverage of every game from round two of the Heineken Champions Cup.
The greatest club competition in world rugby continues this weekend as the best teams in the northern hemisphere battle it out for the right to be crowned kings of Europe.
New travel restrictions brought in by the French government mean that all Heineken Cup games between French and English clubs have been postponed this weekend.
Read on for all information on which games will go ahead in round two, plus team news and live stream details.
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Friday 17 December
Montpellier 28-0 Leinster - Cancelled
Ulster 27-22 Northampton Saints
Saturday 18 December
Bath vs La Rochelle - Cancelled
Harlequins 43-17 Cardiff
Sale Sharks vs Clermont - Cancelled
Glasgow Warriors 22-7 Exeter Chiefs
Racing 28-0 Ospreys - Cancelled
Munster vs Castres
Sunday 19 December
Leicester Tigers 29-23 Connacht
Scarlets vs Bordeaux - Cancelled
Toulouse vs Wasps - Cancelled
Stade Francais vs Bristol Bears - Cancelled
Friday 17 December
Ulster 27-22 Northampton - Watch replay
Three tries in the first 20 minutes gave Ulster the ideal start, with Ahsee Tuala's catastrophic error midway through the second half allowing Craig Gilroy to secure the bonus point.
Northampton fought back courtesy of tries from Alex Mitchell and Courtnall Skosan, but despite a vastly improved display following their drubbing at home to Racing 92 last Friday, the Saints are now two defeats from two in the Champions Cup, while Dan McFarland's men have a 100% record.
Montpellier vs Leinster - Match cancelled
A statement from EPCR read: "Following a meeting of an independent Match Risk Assessment Committee, EPCR has been advised that the Heineken Champions Cup, Round 2 fixture between Montpellier Hérault Rugby and Leinster Rugby scheduled for Friday 17 December at the GGL Stadium cannot go ahead safely.
"The contest in Pool A is therefore cancelled with Montpellier Hérault Rugby awarded the match on a 28 – 0, five match points basis, in accordance with the Tournament Rules.
"The Match Risk Assessment Committee, made up of medical doctors from EPCR’s Medical Advisory Group as well as an independent medical specialist with experience in virology, advised EPCR of its concerns following new positive Covid-19 test results from the Leinster Rugby playing squad, and regrettably the decision was made to cancel the match.
"EPCR would like to acknowledge the efforts by both clubs to fulfil the fixture, and would also like to emphasise that awarding the match to Montpellier is a tournament management measure with the objective of ensuring that all fixtures in the 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup are accounted for, and not a sanction."
Saturday 18 December
Harlequins 43-17 Cardiff - Watch replay
A depleted Cardiff side put up a strong resistance but were ultimately undone by Premiership champions Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop.
The visitors scored three first-half tries through teenagers Cameron Winnett and Theo Cabango, sandwiching a score from Wales international James Botham.
Danny Care and the ever-impressive Marcus Smith crossed for Quins with the scores level at 17-17 at the interval, before Alex Dombrandt touched down to put the hosts in command.
Further scores from Joe Marchant, a second for Dombrandt and Andre Esterhuizen showed the depth in quality the hosts possessed on their bench and saw them pick up the bonus-point win.
Bath vs La Rochelle - Match cancelled
Following a meeting of the EPCR Board it has been decided that due to current exceptional circumstances, Round 2 matches in the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup between French and UK clubs scheduled for Saturday and Sunday are postponed.
Sale vs Clermont - Match cancelled
Following a meeting of the EPCR Board it has been decided that due to current exceptional circumstances, Round 2 matches in the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup between French and UK clubs scheduled for Saturday and Sunday are postponed.
Glasgow 22-7 Exeter - Watch replay
Glasgow earned a memorable win over Exeter in challenging conditions at Scotstoun.
The home side adapted better to the heavy fog to claim their first Heineken Champions Cup win of the season, with fly-half Ross Thompson kicking 15 points.
2020 champions Exeter briefly hit back in the second half through Sam Simmonds, but Glasgow responded almost immediately through Johnny Matthews in a dominant display.
Racing vs Ospreys - Match cancelled
An ECPR statement read: "EPCR has been informed by Ospreys that they have a recorded a number of positive tests for Covid-19 among their playing squad and as a consequence, the club is not in a position to safely fulfil its Heineken Champions Cup, Round 2 fixture against Racing 92 scheduled for Saturday 18 December.
"The Pool A fixture at Paris La Défense Arena is therefore cancelled with Racing 92 awarded the match on a 28-0, five match points basis, in accordance with the Tournament Rules.
"EPCR would like to emphasise that awarding the match to Racing 92 is a tournament management measure with the objective of ensuring that all fixtures in the 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup are accounted for, and not a sanction."
Munster vs Castres - 7.45pm, BT Sport 2HD - Watch live stream
Match report to follow.
Sunday 19 December
Leicester 29-23 Connacht - Watch live stream
Leicester fought off a plucky Connacht to preserve their unbeaten start to their European campaign.
The Tigers have now won 13 straight games in all competitions but were tested from the outset by an impressive Connacht side coming off the back of victory over Stade Francais in round one.
The United Rugby Championship outfit were 17-12 ahead at the break, in large part thanks to scores from John Porch and Jack Carty.
After a Carty penalty, prop Finlay Bealham was sin-binned and Leicester's Freddie Steward's converted try cut the visitors' lead to one.
With the man advantage, Hosea Saumaki scored the winning try for the hosts.
The bonus-point success means Leicester are third in Pool B at the halfway point of the group stage, level on nine points with leaders Harlequins and Munster. Connacht are fourth with six points.
Scarlets vs Bordeaux - Match cancelled
Following a meeting of the EPCR Board it has been decided that due to current exceptional circumstances, Round 2 matches in the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup between French and UK clubs scheduled for Saturday and Sunday are postponed.
