2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup

The 2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup (known as the Heineken Champions Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the eighth season of the European Rugby Champions Cup, the annual club rugby union competition run by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) for teams from the top six nations in European rugby. It was the 27th season of pan-European professional club rugby competition.

2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup
Tournament details
Countries England
 France
 Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales
Tournament format(s)Round-robin and knockout
Date10 December 2021 – 28 May 2022
Tournament statistics
Teams24
Matches played60
Attendance843,371 (14,056 per match)
Highest attendance42,067 - Leinster v Toulouse
14 May 2022[1]
Lowest attendance4,000 - Sale Sharks v Ospreys
23 January 2022[lower-alpha 1]
Tries scored396 (6.6 per match)
Top point scorer(s)Ireland Johnny Sexton (Leinster)
65 points
Top try scorer(s)Ireland James Lowe (Leinster)
10 tries
Final
VenueStade Vélodrome, Marseille
ChampionsFrance La Rochelle (1st title)
Runners-upIreland Leinster

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 24-team, two pool tournament format adopted for the previous season remained.[2]

This is the final year, under the current sponsorship deal, with Dutch beer brand Heineken, after a four-year deal was agreed starting from the 2018/19 season.[3]

The tournament commenced in December 2021. On 28 May 2022, Stade Rochelais won the final at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France, defeating Leinster 24 points to 21.[4][5][6]

Teams

Twenty-four clubs from the three major European domestic and regional leagues are competing in the Champions Cup.

The distribution of the teams are:

The following teams have qualified for the tournament as of 12 June 2021.

Premiership Top 14 United Rugby Championship (Pro14)
England England France France Ireland Ireland Scotland Scotland Wales Wales

Team details

Below is the list of coaches, captain and stadiums with their method of qualification for each team.

Note: Placing shown in brackets, denotes standing at the end of the regular season for their respective leagues, with their end of season positioning shown through CH for Champions, RU for Runner-up, SF for losing Semi-finalist, and QF for losing Quarter-finalist.

Team Coach /
Director of Rugby		 Captain Stadium Capacity Method of qualification
England Bath England Stuart Hooper England Charlie Ewels The Recreation Ground 14,509 Premiership top 8 (7th)
France Bordeaux Bègles France Christophe Urios France Jefferson Poirot Stade Chaban-Delmas 34,694 Top 14 top 8 (4th)
England Bristol Bears Samoa Pat Lam New Zealand Steve Luatua Ashton Gate 27,000 Premiership top 8 (3rd) (SF)
Wales Cardiff Rugby Wales Dai Young Wales Josh Turnbull Cardiff Arms Park 12,125 Pro14 Conference B (4th)
France Castres Argentina Mauricio Reggiardo France Mathieu Babillot Stade Pierre-Fabre 12,500 Top 14 top 8 (6th) (QF)
France Clermont New Zealand Jono Gibbes France Camille Lopez Stade Marcel-Michelin 19,022 Top 14 top 8 (5th) (QF)
Ireland Connacht Australia Andy Friend Ireland Jack Carty Galway Sportsgrounds 8,129 Pro14 Conference B (2nd)
England Exeter Chiefs England Rob Baxter England Jack Yeandle
England Joe Simmonds		 Sandy Park 13,593 Premiership top 8 (2nd) (RU)
Scotland Glasgow Warriors England Danny Wilson Scotland Fraser Brown
Scotland Ryan Wilson		 Scotstoun Stadium 7,351 Pro14 Conference A (4th)
England Harlequins Australia Billy Millard South Africa Stephan Lewies Twickenham Stoop 14,800 Premiership top 8 (1st) (CH)
France La Rochelle Ireland Ronan O'Gara France Grégory Alldritt Stade Marcel-Deflandre 16,000 Top 14 top 8 (2nd) (RU)
England Leicester Tigers England Steve Borthwick England Ellis Genge Mattioli Woods Welford Road 25,849 Premiership top 8 (6th)
Ireland Leinster Ireland Leo Cullen Ireland Johnny Sexton RDS Arena
Aviva Stadium		 18,500
51,700		 Pro14 Conference A (1st) (CH)
France Montpellier France Philippe Saint-André France Fulgence Ouedraogo Altrad Stadium 15,697 2020–21 Challenge Cup Champion
Ireland Munster South Africa Johann van Graan Ireland Peter O'Mahony Thomond Park 25,600 Pro14 Conference B (1st) (RU)
England Northampton Saints New Zealand Chris Boyd England Lewis Ludlam Franklin's Gardens 15,200 Premiership top 8 (5th)
Wales Ospreys England Toby Booth Wales Justin Tipuric Swansea.com Stadium 21,088 Pro14 Conference A (3rd)
France Racing 92 France Laurent Travers France Henry Chavancy Paris La Défense Arena 30,681 Top 14 top 8 (3rd)
England Sale Sharks England Alex Sanderson South Africa Jono Ross AJ Bell Stadium 12,000 Premiership top 8 (3rd) (SF)
Wales Scarlets Wales Dwayne Peel Wales Jonathan Davies Parc y Scarlets 14,870 Pro14 Conference B (3rd)
France Stade Français Argentina Gonzalo Quesada France Yoann Maestri Stade Jean-Bouin 20,000 Top 14 top 8 (6th) (QF)
France Toulouse France Ugo Mola France Julien Marchand Stade Ernest-Wallon 19,500 Top 14 top 8 (1st) (CH)
Ireland Ulster England Dan McFarland Ireland Iain Henderson Ravenhill Stadium 18,196 Pro14 Conference A (2nd)
England Wasps England Lee Blackett England Joe Launchbury Ricoh Arena 32,609 Premiership top 8 (8th)

Seeding and draw

The twenty four teams are seeded based on their finishing position in end of season playoffs and league positions. This follows the format from the previous season with the number 1 and number 2 ranked clubs from each league in Tier 1, the number 3 and number 4 ranked clubs in Tier 2, the number 5 and 6 ranked clubs in Tier 3, and the number 7 and number 8 ranked clubs in Tier 4.[7]

Tier Rank Top 14 Premiership United Rugby Championship (Pro14)
11France ToulouseEngland HarlequinsIreland Leinster
2France La RochelleEngland Exeter ChiefsIreland Munster
23France Racing 92England Bristol BearsIreland Ulster
4France Bordeaux BèglesEngland Sale SharksIreland Connacht
35France ClermontEngland Northampton SaintsWales Scarlets
6France Stade FrançaisEngland Leicester TigersWales Ospreys
47France CastresEngland BathWales Cardiff
8France MontpellierEngland WaspsScotland Glasgow Warriors

The draw took place on 21 July 2021 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Pool Stage
Main article: 2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage

Teams are awarded four points for a win, two for a draw, one for scoring four tries in a game, and one for losing by less than eight points.

Key to colours
     Top 8 in each pool, advance to round of 16.
     Teams ranked 9th–11th in each pool advance to 2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup round of 16

Pool A
Pool A Standings [8]
Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
France Racing 92 440012624+1021633019
Ireland Ulster 440011496+181593019
France La Rochelle 43109764+331172016
Ireland Leinster 430119862+1363083015
England Sale Sharks 42118948+411351112
England Exeter Chiefs 420212782+451973011
France Montpellier 420278157–799232010
France Clermont 41127982–3810028
Scotland Glasgow Warriors 410382117–35715015
England Northampton Saints 400456124–68617022
England Bath 401348148–100622002
Wales Ospreys 400433123–90317000

Pool B
Pool B Standings [9]
Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
England Leicester Tigers 440010264+381473019
England Harlequins 4400135101+3418153019
Ireland Munster 440011547+681252018
England Bristol Bears 431010838+701643017
Ireland Connacht 4103118104+1416143310
France Bordeaux 41125854+487118
France Toulouse 41126165–488107
France Stade Français 41126395–32714107
Wales Cardiff 410385118–331316217
England Wasps 411251102–51613006
France Castres 40047791–1499145
Wales Scarlets 401331125–94419002

Knockout stage

The knockout stage began across the 8/9/10 April with a home and away round of 16 matches consisting of the top eight ranked teams from each pool.

Bracket
Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
              
A1 France Racing 92 22 33 55
B8 France Stade Français 9 22 31
A1 France Racing 92 41
A5 England Sale Sharks 22
B4 England Bristol Bears 10 29 39
A5 England Sale Sharks 9 35 44
A1 France Racing 92 13
A3 France La Rochelle 20
A3 France La Rochelle 31 31 62
B6 France Bordeaux 13 23 36
A3 France La Rochelle 31
A7 France Montpellier 19
B2 England Harlequins 26 33 59
A7 France Montpellier 40 20 60
France La Rochelle 24
Ireland Leinster 21
B1 England Leicester Tigers 29 27 56
A8 France Clermont 10 17 27
B1 England Leicester Tigers 14
A4 Ireland Leinster 23
A4 Ireland Leinster 26 56 82
B5 Ireland Connacht 21 20 41
A4 Ireland Leinster 40
B7 France Toulouse 17
B3 Ireland Munster 8 26 34
A6 England Exeter Chiefs 13 10 23
B3 Ireland Munster 24 (2)
B7 France Toulouse (p) 24 (4)
A2 Ireland Ulster 26 23 49
B7 France Toulouse 20 30 50

First leg
8 April 2022
20:00 IST
Connacht Ireland21–26Ireland Leinster
Try: Porch 2' m
Fifita 60' c
Con: Carty (1/2) 61'
Pen: Carty (3/3) 33', 40'+4, 45'		ReportTry: Lowe (2) 22' c, 26' m
Keenan 52' m
Con: Sexton (1/3) 23'
Pen: Sexton (2/2) 18', 37'
Byrne (1/1) 76'
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 8,126[10]
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
9 April 2022
13:00 BST
Sale Sharks England9–10England Bristol Bears
Pen: du Preez (3/4) 4', 9', 77'ReportTry: Radradra 71' c
Con: Sheedy (1/1) 72'
Pen: Sheedy (1/1) 25'
AJ Bell Stadium
Attendance: 4,672
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
9 April 2022
14:00 CET
Bordeaux France13–31France La Rochelle
Try: Woki 50' m
Mori 67' m
Pen: Lucu (1/1) 9'		ReportTry: Rhule 21' c
Danty 53' m
Penalty try 63'
Con: West (1/2) 22'
Pen: West (4/4) 9', 38' 48', 71'
Stade Chaban-Delmas
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
9 April 2022
16:15 CET
Toulouse France20–26Ireland Ulster
Try: Meafou 6' c
Ntamack 79' c
Con: Ramos (2/2) 7', 79'
Pen: Ramos (1/2) 40'		ReportTry: Baloucoune (3) 12' c, 44' m, 66' c
Warwick 58' c
Con: Cooney (3/4) 13', 59', 66'
Le Stadium
Attendance: 28,000
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
9 April 2022
17:30 BST
Exeter Chiefs England13–8Ireland Munster
Try: Hogg 5' m
Vermeulen 37' m
Drop: Hogg (1/1) 65'		ReportTry: S. Daly 66' m
Pen: Healy (1/1) 56'
Sandy Park
Attendance: 10,307
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
9 April 2022
18:30 CET
Stade Français France9–22France Racing 92
Pen: Segonds (2/2) 37', 40+2'
Sánchez (1/2) 70'		ReportTry: Fickou 60' c
Con: Le Garrec (1/1) 60'
Pen: Le Garrec (5/6) 14', 20', 23', 30', 76'
Stade Jean-Bouin
Attendance: 12,500
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
10 April 2022
14:00 CET
Montpellier France40–26England Harlequins
Try: N'Gandebe 21' c
Mercer (2) 31' c, 38' c
Reinach 34' m
Lamositele 41' m
Con: Garbisi (3/5) 22', 32', 39'
Pen: Garbisi (1/2) 47'
Pollard (2/2) 74', 80'		ReportTry: Hammond 40' m
Esterhuizen 61' c
Marchant 65' c
Lynagh 78' c
Con: Smith (3/4) 62', 66', 79'
Altrad Stadium
Attendance: 7,500
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
10 April 2022
16:15 CET
Clermont France10–29England Leicester Tigers
Try: Tiberghien 12' c
Con: Parra (1/1) 14'
Pen: Parra (1/1) 27'		ReportTry: Genge 18' m
Montoya 32' m
Van Poortvliet 45' m
Saumaki 52' c
Potter 64' c
Con: Ford (2/5) 53', 65'
Stade Marcel-Michelin
Attendance: 15,328
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

Second leg
15 April 2022
17:30 IST
Leinster Ireland56–20Ireland Connacht
Try: Gibson-Park 10' c
Henshaw (2) 17' c, 41' c
Furlong 27' c
Lowe (4) 35' c, 54' c, 64' c, 80' c
Con: Sexton (6/6) 11', 17', 28', 35', 42', 56'
R. Byrne (2/2) 66', 80'		ReportTry: O'Halloran 45' m
Arnold 61' m
Papali'i 69' c
Con: Carty (1/3) 70'
Pen: Carty (1/2) 1'
Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 32,604[11]
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
15 April 2022
20:00 BST
Bristol Bears England29–35England Sale Sharks
Try: Thacker 48' c
Morahan (2) 53' c, 77' m
Joyce 62' c
Con: Sheedy (3/4) 49', 53', 63'
Pen: Sheedy (1/2) 20'		ReportTry: de Jager 31' c
Van der Merwe 40' c
Roebuck 41' c
Ross 74' m
Con: R. du Preez (3/4) 31', 40+1', 41'
Pen: R. du Preez (3/3) 23', 65', 72'
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 13,840
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
16 April 2022
12:30 BST
Harlequins England33–20France Montpellier
Try: Jones 1' c
Dombrandt 14' c
Marchant 29' c
Lynagh (2) 38' c, 75' m
Con: Smith (4/5) 2', 16', 30', 39'		ReportTry: Reilhac 11' c
Tisseron 33' c
Con: Foursans-Bourdette (2/2) 12', 34'
Pen: Foursans-Bourdette (1/1) 27'
Pollard (1/2) 55'
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 14,800
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
16 April 2022
15:00 IST
Munster Ireland26–10England Exeter Chiefs
Try: Carbery 25' c
de Allende 72' c
Con: Carbery (2/2) 26', 72'
Pen: Carbery (4/4) 5', 16', 59', 64'		ReportTry: S. Maunder 10' m
Vermeulen 48' m
Thomond Park
Attendance: 21,125 [12]
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
16 April 2022
16:00 CET
La Rochelle France31–23France Bordeaux
Try: West 41' c
Alldritt 47' c
Kerr-Barlow 54' c
Botia 68' c
Con: West (4/4) 42', 48', 55', 68'
Pen: West (1/2) 20'		ReportTry: Massé 52' c
Mori 76' c
Con: Lucu (1/1) 52'
Garcia (1/1) 77'
Pen: Lucu (2/3) 15', 37'
Garcia (1/1) 64'
Stade Marcel-Deflandre
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
16 April 2022
17:30 BST
Leicester Tigers England27–17France Clermont
Try: Liebenberg 8' c
Scott 49' m
Penalty try 61'
Steward 65' m
Con: Ford (1/2) 9'
Pen: Ford (1/1) 45'		ReportTry: Raka 57' c
Lee 68' c
Con: Parra (2/2) 58', 69'
Pen: Lopez (1/1) 16'
Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Attendance: 22,722
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
16 April 2022
20:00 IST
Ulster Ireland23–30France Toulouse
Try: McIlroy (2) 10' c, 37' c
Con: Cooney (2/2) 11', 39'
Pen: Cooney (3/3) 18', 52', 68'		ReportTry: Ramos 21' c
Ntamack 26' c
Dupont 74' c
Con: Ramos (3/3) 22', 27', 75'
Pen: Ramos (3/3) 1', 13', 63'
Ravenhill Stadium
Attendance: 18,196
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
17 April 2022
16:30 CET
Racing 92 France33–22France Stade Français
Try: Penalty try 34'
Thomas (2) 43' c, 78' m
Lauret 72' m
Con: Le Garrec (1/3) 44'
Pen: Le Garrec (3/3) 19', 30', 55'		ReportTry: Veainu 5' c
Lapegue (2) 21' m, 37' c
Con: Sánchez (2/3) 5', 38'
Pen: Sánchez (1/1) 13'
Paris La Défense Arena
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

Quarter-finals
7 May 2022
15:00 IST
Munster Ireland24–24 (a.e.t.)France Toulouse
Try: Kendellen 9' c
Earls 38' c
Haley 43' c
Con: Carbery (3/3) 9', 39', 44'
Pen: Carbery (1/3) 56'		ReportTry: Ntamack 11' c
Lebel (2) 25' c, 66' c
Con: Ramos (3/3) 12', 26', 66'
Pen: Ramos (1/1) 75'
Penalties
Murray checkY
Healy ☒N
Carbery checkY
Murray ☒N
Healy ☒N		2–4checkY Dupont
checkY Ramos
checkY Ntamack
checkY Dupont
Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 40,479[13]
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
7 May 2022
18:30 CEST
La Rochelle France31–19France Montpellier
Try: Priso 12' c
Vito 22' c
Botia 47' m
Con: West (2/3) 13', 23'
Pen: West (4/4) 17', 64', 69', 78'		ReportTry: Thomas 28' c
Reilhac 41' c
Mercer 53' m
Con: Foursans-Bourdette (2/3) 30', 42'
Stade Marcel-Deflandre
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
7 May 2022
17:30 BST
Leicester Tigers England14–23Ireland Leinster
Try: Ashton 45' c
Dolly 78' c
Con: Ford (2/2) 46', 78'		ReportTry: Van der Flier 14' c
Henshaw 19' c
Con: Sexton (2/2) 16', 20'
Pen: Sexton (2/2) 3', 36'
Byrne (1/1) 65'
Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Attendance: 19,066
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
8 May 2022
16:00 CEST
Racing 92 France41–22England Sale Sharks
Try: Thomas 41' c
Russell 49' c
Imhoff 68' m
Spring 79' c
Con: Le Garrec (2/3) 42', 50'
Machenaud (1/1) 80'
Pen: Le Garrec (5/6) 11', 14', 47', 62', 67'		ReportTry: Tuilagi 40' c
Van der Merwe 54' c
B. Curry 73' m
Con: R. du Preez (2/3) 40+1', 55'
Pen: R. du Preez (1/2) 22'
Paris La Défense Arena
Attendance: 9,356
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

Semi-finals
14 May 2022
15:00 IST
Leinster Ireland40–17France Toulouse
Try: Lowe (2) 14' c, 49' c
Van der Flier 19' c
Keenan 78' c
Con: Sexton (3/3) 16', 20', 51'
Byrne (1/1) 79'
Pen: Sexton (3/3) 4', 12', 33'
Byrne (1/1) 73'		ReportTry: Dupont 6' c
Tolofua 65' c
Con: Ramos (2/2) 7', 65'
Pen: Ramos (1/1) 24'
Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 42,067[1]
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
15 May 2022
16:00 CEST
Racing 92 France13–20France La Rochelle
Try: Vakatawa 25' c
Con: Le Garrec (1/1) 27'
Pen: Le Garrec (2/3) 2', 50'		ReportTry: Alldritt 40+2' m
Penalty try 52'
West 80' m
Pen: West (1/3) 32'
Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 15,522 [14]
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)

Final
Main article: 2022 European Rugby Champions Cup Final
28 May 2022
17:45
La Rochelle France24–21Ireland Leinster
Try: Rhule 9' c
Bourgarit 60' c
Retière 79' c
Con: West (3/3) 11', 61', 80'
Pen: West (1/1) 41'		ReportPen: Sexton (6/6) 4', 8', 22', 40+2', 47', 53'
R. Byrne (1/1) 64'
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 59,682
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

See also

Notes
  1. When crowds were in attendance

References
  1. "Sublime Leinster dethrone Toulouse to march into Champions Cup final". the42. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  2. "Twickenham Stadium to host 2021 EPCR finals". European Professional Club Rugby. 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  3. "EPCR confirms Heineken Champions Cup title sponsorship – SportsPro Media". www.sportspromedia.com. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  4. "EPCR statement – 2021 Marseille finals and semi-final matches". European Professional Club Rugby. 2021-03-31. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  5. "Key 2021/22 EPCR dates announced". European Professional Club Rugby. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  6. "Ronan O'Gara leads La Rochelle to first Champions Cup title with stunning last-gasp victory over Leinster". The 42. 22 May 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  7. "2021–22 Heineken Cup format and qualifiers confirmed". Scarlets Rugby. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  8. "Pool Tables". Heineken Champions Cup. EPCR. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  9. "Pool Tables". Heineken Champions Cup. EPCR. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  10. "Connacht 21-26 Leinster: Hosts cause Leo Cullen's side all sorts of problems as Lowe steals the show". irish mirror. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  11. Glennon, Michael (15 April 2022). "Lowe lays waste to Connacht as Leinster let loose". RTE. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  12. "Munster Rugby Fixtures & Results". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  13. "Munster Lose Place-Kicking Competition As Toulouse Advance". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  14. "Coupe d'Europe: La Rochelle, en dominant le Racing 92, s'offre une deuxième finale de suite". La Croix. 15 May 2022.
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