European Rugby Champions Cup 2017/18

European Rugby Champions Cup 2017/18
master	Leinster Rugby (4th title)
Teams	20th
countries	England France Ireland Italy Scotland Wales
Games	67  (of which 67 played)
tries	376  (ø 5.61 per game)
spectator	1.005.537  (ø 15.008 per game)
Most of the points	Owen Farrell , Saracens (92)
Most attempts	Dan Evans , Ospreys (6)
← European Rugby Champions Cup 2016/17 European Rugby Champions Cup 2018/19 →

Final of the ERCC 2017/18 between Leinster Rugby and Racing 92 in San Mamés, Bilbao

The European Rugby Champions Cup 2017/18 was the fourth edition of the European Rugby Champions Cup , the most important European cup competition in rugby union . 20 teams from six countries were involved. The competition began on October 13, 2017, and the final took place on May 12, 2018 in San Mamés in Bilbao . The Irish team Leinster Rugby won the title .

Attendees

The following teams were eligible to participate:

• the six best placed in the English Premiership in England
• the top six of the top 14 in France
• from the Pro12 the best-placed team from Italy , Ireland , Scotland and Wales
• In addition, the three best teams from the Pro12, not yet taken into account, according to table position
• the winner of a play-off competition in which the seventh place of the Premiership and Top 14, as well as the seventh and eighth place of the Pro12 participate; if the winner of the European Rugby Challenge Cup 2016/17 did not qualify for the Champions Cup through his league placement, he will take part in this play-off

mode

There were five groups with four teams each. Each team played a home and an away game against the three group opponents. In the group stage, the teams received:

• four points for a win
• two points for a tie
• a bonus point for four or more attempts
• a bonus point for a loss of seven or less points

For the quarter-finals, the five group winners (classified according to the number of points won in places 1–5) and the three best runners-up (classified in places 6–8) qualified. Teams in places 1-4 had home rights in the quarterfinals. The first played against the eighth, the second against the seventh, the third against the sixth and the fourth against the fifth.

Play-off

The seventh and eighth place finishers in the English Premiership and French Top 14 will meet the seventh and eighth place finishers in the Pro12 to determine the last participant in the Champions Cup.

Semifinals

May 19, 2017 6:00 PM CEST	Stade Français	46: 21	Cardiff Blues	Stade Jean-Bouin , Paris Spectators: 4,767 Referee: Greg Garner ( England )
		(10:14) report

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May 20, 2017 4:00 pm WEST	Northampton Saints	21:15	Connacht rugby	Franklin's Gardens , Northampton Spectators: 9,561 Referee: Mathieu Raynal ( France )
		(13:10) Report

final

May 26, 2017 7:45 pm WEST	Northampton Saints	23:22	Stade Français	Franklin's Gardens , Northampton Spectators: 10,273 Referee: John Lacey ( Ireland )
		(9:22) Report

draw

The participants were drawn into the preliminary round groups on June 8, 2017 in Neuchâtel . The betting order was based on performance in the respective championships.

Pot 1	Exeter Chiefs	Scarlets	ASM Clermont Auvergne	Munster rugby	Wasps RFC
Pot 2	Saracens	Leinster rugby	Atlantique Stade Rochelais	RC Toulon	Racing 92
Pot 3	Bath rugby	Ulster rugby	Montpellier Hérault RC	Leicester Tigers	Ospreys
Pot 4	Harlequins	Glasgow Warriors	Castres Olympique	Benetton Rugby Treviso	Northampton Saints

Group stage

Group winners, qualified for quarter-finals

Top three runners-up, qualified for quarter-finals

Group 1

	team	Games	Victories	Unent.	Ndlg.	Game points	Diff.	Bonus points	Table points
1.	Atlantique Stade Rochelais	6th	4th	0	2	156: 121	+ 35	4th	20th
2.	Wasps RFC	6th	3	0	3	154: 121	+ 33	5	17th
3.	Ulster rugby	6th	4th	0	2	132: 118	+ 14	1	17th
4th	Harlequins	6th	1	0	5	106: 188	- 82	3	7th

October 13, 2017 7:45 pm WEST	Ulster rugby	19: 9	Wasps RFC	Kingspan Stadium , Belfast Spectators: 15,291 Referee: Ben Whitehouse ( Wales )
		(3: 6) Report

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October 14, 2017 5:30 pm WEST	Harlequins	27:34	Atlantique Stade Rochelais	The Stoop , London Spectators: 11,705 Referee: Marius Mitrea ( Italy )
		(17:24) Report

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October 22, 2017 16:15 CEST	Atlantique Stade Rochelais	41: 17	Ireland	Stade Marcel-Deflandre , La Rochelle Spectators: 16,000 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
		(13:10) Report

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October 22, 2017 5:30 p.m. WEST	Wasps RFC	41:10	Harlequins	Ricoh Arena , Coventry Spectators: 12,806 Referee: Mathieu Raynal ( France )
		(21: 3) Report

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December 10, 2017 1:00 PM GMT	Harlequins	5:17	Ulster rugby	The Stoop, London Spectators: 8,327 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
		(0: 8) report

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December 10, 2017 14:00 CET	Atlantique Stade Rochelais	49:29	Wasps RFC	Stade Marcel-Deflandre, La Rochelle Spectators: 16,000 Referee: John Lacey ( Ireland )
		(30:12) Report

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December 15, 2017 7:45 PM GMT	Ulster rugby	52:24	Harlequins	Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Spectators: 15,646 Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
		(16:12) Report

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December 17, 2017 1:00 PM GMT	Wasps RFC	21: 3	Atlantique Stade Rochelais	Ricoh Arena, Coventry Spectators: 12,931 Referees: George Clancy (Ireland)
		(7: 0) report

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January 13, 2018 5:30 PM GMT	Harlequins	33:28	Wasps RFC	The Stoop, London Spectators: 10,354 Referee: Romain Poite (France)
		(12:21) report

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January 13, 2018 13:00 GMT	Ulster rugby	20: 13	Atlantique Stade Rochelais	Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Spectators: 15,004 Referee: Wayne Barnes ( England )
		(10: 6) Report

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January 21, 2018 3:15 pm GMT	Wasps RFC	26: 7	Ulster rugby	Ricoh Arena, Coventry Spectators: 13,124 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
		(14: 7) Report

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January 21, 2018 4:15 p.m. CET	Atlantique Stade Rochelais	16: 7	Harlequins	Stade Marcel-Deflandre, La Rochelle Spectators: 16,000 Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
		(13: 0) report

Group 2

	team	Games	Victories	Unent.	Ndlg.	Game points	Diff.	Bonus points	Table points
1.	ASM Clermont Auvergne	6th	5	0	1	165: 104	+ 61	2	22nd
2.	Saracens	6th	3	1	2	205: 146	+ 69	4th	18th
3.	Ospreys	6th	2	1	3	152: 148	+ 4	5	15th
4th	Northampton Saints	6th	1	0	5	115: 239	- 134	2	6th

October 15, 2017 5:30 PM WEST	Northampton Saints	13:57	Saracens	Franklin's Gardens , Northampton Spectators: 13,320 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère ( France )
		(6:29) Report

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October 15, 2017 5:30 PM WEST	Ospreys	21:26	ASM Clermont Auvergne	Liberty Stadium , Swansea Spectators: 7,458 Referee: Andrew Brace ( Ireland )
		(7:20) report

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October 21, 2017 4:15 p.m. CEST	ASM Clermont Auvergne	24: 7	Northampton Saints	Stade Marcel-Michelin , Clermont-Ferrand Spectators: 18,444 Referee: Ben Whitehouse ( Wales )
		(14: 0) report

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October 21, 2017 7:45 pm WEST	Saracens	36:34	Ospreys	Allianz Park , London Spectators: 9,045 Referee: Marius Mitrea ( Italy )
		(17:17) Report

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December 9, 2017 5:30 PM GMT	Northampton Saints	32: 43	Ospreys	Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Spectators: 8,105 Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
		(3:17) Report

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December 11, 2017 5:30 PM GMT	Saracens	14:46	ASM Clermont Auvergne	Allianz Park, London Spectators: 2,811 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
		(7:14) Report

The game should originally have taken place on December 10th. After heavy snowfall, it was postponed for a day for safety reasons.

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December 17, 2017 4:15 p.m. CET	ASM Clermont Auvergne	24:21	Saracens	Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand Spectators: 18,808 Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
		(12:13) report

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December 17, 2017 3:15 pm GMT	Ospreys	32:15	Northampton Saints	Liberty Stadium, Swansea Spectators: 6,947 Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
		(11: 0) report

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January 13, 2018 5:30 PM GMT	Northampton Saints	34: 21	ASM Clermont Auvergne	Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Spectators: 8,253 Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
		(10:15) report

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January 13, 2018 7:45 PM GMT	Ospreys	15:15	Saracens	Liberty Stadium, Swansea Spectators: 9,158 Referee: John Lacey Ireland
		(6: 9) Report

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January 20, 2018 3:15 pm GMT	Saracens	62: 14	Northampton Saints	Allianz Park, London Spectators: 10,000 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
		(36:14) Report

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January 20, 2018 4:15 pm CET	ASM Clermont Auvergne	24: 7	Ospreys	Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand Spectators: 18.007 Referee: JP Doyle ( England )
		(13: 0) report

Group 3

	team	Games	Victories	Unent.	Ndlg.	Game points	Diff.	Bonus points	Table points
1.	Leinster rugby	6th	6th	0	0	176: 93	+ 83	3	27
2.	Exeter Chiefs	6th	3	0	3	138: 117	+ 21	3	15th
3.	Montpellier Hérault RC	6th	2	0	4th	130: 163	- 33	5	13
4th	Glasgow Warriors	6th	1	0	5	128: 199	- 71	3	7th

October 14, 2017 1:00 p.m. WEST	Leinster rugby	24: 17	Montpellier Hérault RC	RDS Arena , Dublin Spectators: 15,995 Referee: Wayne Barnes ( England )
		(12: 7) Report

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October 14, 2017 7:45 pm WEST	Exeter Chiefs	24:15	Glasgow Warriors	Sandy Park , Exeter Spectators: 10,672 Referee: Alexandre Ruiz ( France )
		(14:10) Report

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October 21, 2017 1:00 p.m. WEST	Glasgow Warriors	18:34	Leinster rugby	Scotstoun Stadium , Glasgow Spectators: 7,351 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
		(10:17) report

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October 22, 2017 14:00 CEST	Montpellier Hérault RC	24:27	Exeter Chiefs	Altrad Stadium , Montpellier Spectators: 9,541 Referee: John Lacey ( Ireland )
		(17:10) Report

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December 8, 2017 14:00 CET	Montpellier Hérault RC	22:29	Glasgow Warriors	Altrad Stadium, Montpellier Spectators: 7,351 Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
		(17:19) Report

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December 10, 2017 3:15 pm GMT	Exeter Chiefs	8:18	Leinster rugby	Sandy Park, Exeter Spectators: 12,606 Referee: Romain Poite (France)
		(3: 8) Report

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December 16, 2017 14:00 CET	Montpellier Hérault RC	36: 26	Glasgow Warriors	Altrad Stadium, Montpellier Spectators: 11,000 Referee: JP Doyle (England)
		(14:19) Report

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December 16, 2017 3:15 pm GMT	Leinster rugby	22:17	Exeter Chiefs	Aviva Stadium , Dublin Spectators: 40,064 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
		(9:17) Report

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January 13, 2018 3:15 pm GMT	Exeter Chiefs	41:10	Montpellier Hérault RC	Sandy Park, Exeter Spectators: 11,427 Referee: Nigel Owens ( Wales )
		(7: 0) report

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January 14, 2018 13:00 GMT	Leinster rugby	55: 19	Glasgow Warriors	RDS Arena, Dublin Spectators: 15,947 Referee: Marius Mitrea ( Italy )
		(34: 7) Report

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January 20, 2018 1:00 PM GMT	Glasgow Warriors	28:21	Exeter Chiefs	Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Spectators: 7,351 Referee: Romain Poite (France)
		(7: 7) Report

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January 20, 2018 14:00 CET	Montpellier Hérault RC	14:23	Leinster rugby	Altrad Stadium, Montpellier Spectators: 8,250 Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
		(14: 8) Report

Group 4

	team	Games	Victories	Unent.	Ndlg.	Game points	Diff.	Bonus points	Table points
1.	Munster rugby	6th	4th	1	1	167: 87	+ 80	3	21st
2.	Racing 92	6th	4th	0	2	128: 105	+ 23	3	19th
3.	Castres Olympique	6th	2	1	3	111: 154	- 43	2	12
4th	Leicester Tigers	6th	1	0	5	118: 171	- 53	3	7th

October 13, 2017 19:45 CEST	Racing 92	22:18	Leicester Tigers	Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir , Colombes Spectators: 9,333 Referee: John Lacey ( Ireland )
		(19:15) Report

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October 15, 2017 14:00 WEST	Castres Olympique	17:17	Munster rugby	Stade Pierre-Antoine , Castres Spectators: 9,577 Referee: Matthew Carley ( England )
		(14:10) Report

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October 21, 2017 5:30 pm WEST	Leicester Tigers	54:29	Castres Olympique	Welford Road , Leicester Spectators: 18,304 Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
		(35: 3) Report

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October 21, 2017 5:30 pm WEST	Munster rugby	14: 7	Racing 92	Thomond Park , Limerick Spectators: 22,054 Referee: JP Doyle (England)
		(0: 0) report

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December 9, 2017 6:30 p.m. CET	Castres Olympique	16: 13	Racing 92	Stade Pierre-Antoine, Castres Spectators: 8,538 Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
		(6: 6) Report

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December 9, 2017 7:45 PM GMT	Munster rugby	33:10	Leicester Tigers	Thomond Park, Limerick Spectators: 23,503 Referee: Jérôme Garcès ( France )
		(23: 3) Report

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December 16, 2017 4:15 pm CET	Racing 92	29: 7	Castres Olympique	Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes Spectators: 9,067 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
		(17: 7) Report

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December 17, 2017 5:30 PM GMT	Leicester Tigers	16:25	Munster rugby	Welford Road, Leicester Spectators: 23,100 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
		(10:12) report

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January 14, 2018 16:15 CET	Racing 92	34:30	Munster rugby	U Arena , Nanterre Spectators: 16,155 Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
		(13: 7) Report

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January 14, 2018 18:30 CET	Castres Olympique	39: 0	Leicester Tigers	Stade Pierre-Antoine, Castres Spectators: 8,400 Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
		(27: 0) report

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January 21, 2018 1:00 PM GMT	Leicester Tigers	20:23	Racing 92	Welford Road, Leicester Spectators: 18,165 Referee: Nigel Owens ( Wales )
		(9:14) Report

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January 21, 2018 1:00 PM GMT	Munster rugby	48: 3	Castres Olympique	Thomond Park, Limerick Spectators: 23,116 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
		(13: 3) Report

Group 5

	team	Games	Victories	Unent.	Ndlg.	Game points	Diff.	Bonus points	Table points
1.	Scarlets	6th	4th	0	2	162: 123	+ 39	5	21st
2.	RC Toulon	6th	4th	0	2	159: 125	+ 34	3	19th
3.	Bath rugby	6th	4th	0	2	151: 121	+ 30	2	18th
4th	Benetton Rugby Treviso	6th	0	0	6th	97: 200	- 103	4th	4th

October 14, 2017 5:30 pm WEST	Bath rugby	23: 0	Benetton Rugby Treviso	Recreation Ground , Bath Spectators: 13,160 Referee: Mike Adamson ( Scotland )
		(13: 0) report

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October 15, 2017 4:15 p.m. CEST	RC Toulon	21:20	Scarlets	Stade Mayol , Toulon Spectators: 13,882 Referee: Luke Pearce ( England )
		(18: 3) Report

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October 20, 2017 7:45 PM WEST	Scarlets	13:18	Bath rugby	Parc y Scarlets , Llanelli Spectators: 11,479 Referee: Romain Poite ( France )
		(10:12) report

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October 21, 2017 4:15 p.m. CEST	Benetton Rugby Treviso	29:30	RC Toulon	Stadio Comunale di Monigo , Treviso Spectators: 5,000 Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
		(14:13) Report

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December 9, 2017 1:00 PM GMT	Scarlets	33:28	Benetton Rugby Treviso	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Spectators: 6,856 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
		(21:14) Report

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December 9, 2017 4:15 p.m. CET	RC Toulon	24:20	Bath rugby	Stade Mayol, Toulon Spectators: 13,541 Referee: Andrew Brace ( Ireland )
		(7:13) Report

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December 16, 2017 14:00 CET	Benetton Rugby Treviso	12:31 pm	Scarlets	Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso Spectators: 2,600 Referee: Romain Poite (France)
		(0:24) report

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December 16, 2017 4:15 pm GMT	Bath rugby	26:21	RC Toulon	Recreation Ground, Bath Spectators: 14,422 Referee: Nigel Owens ( Wales )
		(23:13) Report

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January 12, 2018 7:45 PM GMT	Bath rugby	17:35	Scarlets	Recreation Ground, Bath Spectators: 13,822 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
		(3:22) Report

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January 14, 2018 14:00 CET	RC Toulon	36: 0	Benetton Rugby Treviso	Stade Mayol, Toulon Spectators: 13,489 Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
		(10: 0) report

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January 20, 2018 5:30 PM GMT	Scarlets	30: 27	RC Toulon	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Spectators: 14,476 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
		(27:21) Report

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January 20, 2018 6:30 PM CET	Benetton Rugby Treviso	28:47	Bath rugby	Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso Spectators: 3,300 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
		(7:35) report

Knockout round

Seeding list

1. Leinster rugby
2. ASM Clermont Auvergne
3. Munster rugby
4. Scarlets
5. Atlantique Stade Rochelais
6. RC Toulon
7. Racing 92
8. Saracens

Quarter finals

March 30, 2018 5:30 PM WEST	Scarlets	29: 17	Atlantique Stade Rochelais	Parc y Scarlets , Llanelli Spectators: 15,373 Referee: Luke Pearce ( England )
	Attempts: Patchell 60. S. Williams 75. Increase increments: Halfpenny (2/2) Penalty kicks: Halfpenny (5/6) 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, 45th	(12:10) Report	Attempts: Sazy 8th raised Boudehent 80th raised increases: Balès (1/1) Noble (1/1) Penalty kicks: Balès (1/1) 40.

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March 31, 2018 3:15 pm WEST	Munster rugby	20:19	RC Toulon	Thomond Park , Limerick Spectators: 26,265 Referee: Nigel Owens ( Wales )
	Attempts: Murray 27. Increased Conway 74. Increased increases: Keatley (2/2) Penalty kicks: Keatley (2/2) 31., 55.	(10: 6) Report	Attempts: Ashton 64th increases: Trinh-Duc (1/1) Penalty kicks: Belleau (1/1) 9. Trinh-Duc (2/2) 60th, 67th Dropgoals: Belleau (1/1) 18th

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April 1st, 2018 14:00 CEST	ASM Clermont Auvergne	17:28	Racing 92	Stade Marcel-Michelin , Clermont-Ferrand Spectators: 18,598 Referee: Wayne Barnes ( England )
	Attempts: Betham 33. n.erh. Penalty kicks: Parra (4/4) 5th, 9th, 17th, 44th	(14:13) Report	Attempts: Nakarawa 24th received Andreu 63rd received Palu 65th received Penalty kicks : machenaud (3/4) 31., 40., 41.

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April 1, 2018 3:30 pm WEST	Leinster rugby	30: 19	Saracens	Aviva Stadium , Dublin Spectators: 51,700 Referee: Jérôme Garcès ( France )
	Attempts: Ringrose 3rd raised Leavy 46th raised Lowe 57th raised elevations: Sexton (2/2) McFadden (1/1) Penalty kicks: Sexton (3/3) 20th, 33rd, 42nd	(13:12) Report	Attempts: Cowan 63rd increases: Farrell (1/1) Penalty kicks: Farrell (3/3) 11th, 15th, 26th Bosch (1/1) 34.

Semifinals

April 21, 2018 3:30 pm WEST	Leinster rugby	38:16	Scarlets	Aviva Stadium , Dublin Spectators: 48,455 Referee: Romain Poite ( France )
	Tries: Ryan . 9. erh Healy . Erh 26 McFadden . 39. erh Fardy . 49. erh Sexton . 59. erh increases: Sexton (5/5) penalty kicks: Sexton (1/1) 18th	(24: 9) Report	Attempts: Beirne 78. Raised elevations: Patchell (1/1) Penalty kicks : Halfpenny (3/3) 5th, 21st, 33rd

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April 22, 2018 16:15 CEST	Racing 92	27:22	Munster rugby	Stade Chaban-Delmas , Bordeaux Spectators: 24,574 Referee: JP Doyle ( England )
	Tries: Thomas . 4. erh Thomas . 17 erh Machenaud 21 erh. Increases: Machenaud (3/3) penalty kicks: Machenaud (2/2) 25, 42.	(24: 3) Report	Attempts: Zebo 62nd n.erh. Marshall 75th increased Conway 80th increased increases: Hanrahan (2/3) Penalty kicks: Keatley (1/1) 16.

final

May 12, 2018 5:45 PM CEST	Leinster rugby	15:12	Racing 92	San Mamés , Bilbao Spectators: 52,282 Referee: Wayne Barnes ( England )
	Penalty kicks: Sexton (3/5) 16th, 38th, 53rd Nacewa (2/2) 73rd, 78th	(6: 6) Report	Penalty kicks : Iribaren (4/5) 3rd, 21st, 44th, 70th

15th Rob Kearney 14th Jordan Larmour 13 Garry Ringrose 12 Robbie Henshaw 11 Isa Nacewa 10 Jonathan Sexton 09 Luke McGrath 61. 08th Jordi Murphy 61. 07th Dan Leavy 06th Scott Fardy 05 James Ryan 04th Devin Toner 03 Tadhg Furlong 66. 02 Sean Cronin 61. 01 Cian Healy 68. Substitute: 16 James Tracy 61. 17th Jack McGrath 68. 18th Andrew Porter 66. 19th Rhys Ruddock 20th Jack Conan 61. 21st Jamison Gibson Park 61. 22nd Joey Carbery 23 Rory O'Loughlin Trainer:  Leo Cullen

15th Louis Dupichot 30. 38. 14th Teddy Thomas 13 Virimi Vakatawa 12 Henry Chavancy 11 Marc Andreu 10 Pat Lambie 3. 09 Teddy iribars 08th Yannick Nyanga 07th Bernard Le Roux 69. 06th Wenceslas Lauret 05 Leone Nakarawa 04th Donnacha Ryan 03 Cedate Gomes Sa. 54. 02 Camille chat 44, 54, 58. 01 Eddy Ben Arous 54. Substitute: 16 Ole Avei 44, 54, 58. 17th Wasil Kakowin 54. 18th Census Johnston 41. 19th Boris Palu 20th Baptiste Chouzenoux 69. 21st Antoine Gibert 22nd Rémi Talès 3. 23 Joe Rocococo 30. 38. Trainer:  Laurent Labit

Web links

• Official website

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Champions Cup update - Saracens v Clermont. EPRC, December 11, 2017, accessed December 12, 2017 .