Toulon Put Harlequins Investec Champions Cup Campaign On The Rocks
Toulon Put Harlequins Investec Champions Cup Campaign On The Rocks
Toulon defeated Harlequins 33-21 in a thrilling match, dominating the first half and holding off a late Harlequins surge. Full scoring summary included.
Toulon emerged victorious against Harlequins in a thrilling match on Saturday, securing a 33-21 win at home. The French side capitalized on an explosive first-half performance, building a commanding 26-0 lead by halftime. Harlequins rallied in the second half, but the early deficit proved too great to overcome.
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The game kicked off with Gianmarco Lucchesi scoring a try in the first minute, followed by a successful conversion by Baptiste Serin. Toulon’s dominance continued as Serin added another try and conversion in the 24th minute. Jiuta Wainiqolo capped off the half with a try in extra time, with Serin converting to give Toulon a comfortable halftime lead.
Harlequins’ Late Surge Not Enough
Harlequins found their rhythm in the second half, with tries from Will Porter, Jack Walker, and Nick David. Marcus Smith’s precise kicking added three conversions, narrowing the gap. Despite their efforts, the Harlequins couldn’t overturn Toulon’s first-half advantage.
Gaël Drean’s try in the 56th minute, converted by Serin, sealed the win for Toulon, who dominated possession and capitalized on Harlequins’ defensive lapses. The visitors’ resurgence in the final 30 minutes brought excitement, but Toulon held firm to secure the win.
The Leicester Tigers came into Round 3 of the Investec Champions Cup looking to secure a win to stay in play for the Round of 16. Winless Ulster Rugby, however, would not go down without a fight.
Putting up 10 points within the first nine minutes of play, Ulster took an early lead in the match. But the Tigers found their rhythm with a 12-point rally before the half.
Led by two Josh Bassett tries and a conversion by Handre Pollard, Leicester entered halftime ahead 12-10.
Coming back from halftime, Leicester showed dominance, leaving Ulster Rugby scoreless. There was no contest in the second half, allowing Leicester a secure 38-10 win.
Toulon Vs. Harlequins Scoring Summary
Toulon
Tries: Gianmarco Lucchesi (1'), Baptiste Serin (24'), Esteban Abadie (38'), Jiuta Wainiqolo (40'+1'), Gaël Drean (56').
Conversions: Baptiste Serin (2', 25', 40'+2', 57').
Harlequins
Tries: Will Porter (50'), Jack Walker (54'), Nick David (80').
Conversions: Marcus Smith (50', 54', 80').
What's Next For Toulon and Harlequins?
Concluding their pool action, Toulon will travel to Manchester to face the Sale Sharks whilst Harlequins will host the Glasgow Warriors.
Investec Champions Cup 2025 Round 3 Schedule
All Times Eastern
- Glasgow Warriors 29, Racing 92 19
- DHL Stormers 40 vs. Sale Sharks 0, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 a.m., DHL Stadium
- Exeter Chiefs 17 vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles 69, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy Park
- Hollywoodbets Sharks 8 vs. Stade Toulousain 20, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 a.m., Hollywoodbets Kings Park
- Munster Rugby 17 vs. Saracens 12, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 p.m., Thomond Park
- Stade Francais Paris 45 vs. Northampton Saints 35, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 p.m., Stade Jean Bouin
- Leicester Tigers 38 vs. Ulster Rugby 10, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 p.m., Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Castres Olympique 49 vs. Vodacom Bulls 10, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 p.m., Stade Pierre-Fabre
- RC Toulon 33 vs. Harlequins 21 Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 a.m., Stade Felix Mayol
- Stade Rochelais vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 a.m., Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Bristol Bears vs. Benetton Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 a.m., Ashton Gate
- Bath Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 p.m., The Rec
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 4
- Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3 PM, Kingspan Stadium
- Vodacom Bulls vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
- Northampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens
- ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel-Michelin
- Benetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stadio Monigo
- Leinster Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
- Harlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
- Racing 92 vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Paris La Defense Arena
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Saracens vs. Castres Olympique, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, StoneX Stadium
- Stade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
- Sale Sharks vs. RC Toulon, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 12:30 PM, Salford Community Stadium
Investec Champions Cup Format
Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
- 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
- Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
- Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
- The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.
Investec Champions Cup Weekends
- Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
- Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
- Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
- Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
- Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
- Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
- Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
- 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Watch Harlequins Vs. Stormers For Free On FloRugby's YouTube
When Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?
The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4.
The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup).
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