Stars of the world game will go head-to-head in Europe this weekend with no margin for error as clubs representing all three professional domestic leagues in the Northern Hemisphere contest the final four places in the Heineken Champions Cup.

As club rugby enjoys a step up in intensity, more than 120,000 supporters will be packed in to the four venues to witness what promises to be another compelling series of quarter-final matches which will also be broadcast to fans worldwide, and every minute of the action will be live on BT Sport in the United Kingdom and Ireland. 

Champions Cup Down To Eight

Five of the elite clubs which have qualified for the knockout stage have previously lifted the trophy styled as The One to Win in club rugby, sharing 13 European Cups between them, while Edinburgh Rugby, Glasgow Warriors and Racing 92 are looking to get their hands on the prestigious silverware for the first time in Newcastle on 11 May. 

Fifteen nominees will also be looking to impress and strengthen their hopes of being crowned EPCR European Player of the Year following the final in England’s Northeast.

See videos on all Player of the Year Nominees

Tickets are in short supply for the 2019 showpiece at St James’ Park and places have been similarly in demand this weekend with the prospect of top-quality fare in Scotland, England, Ireland and France. 

Edinburgh are eyeing up a UK record attendance for a tournament quarter-final when they welcome Munster Rugby to BT Murrayfield on Saturday live and free-to-air on Channel 4 and Virgin Media with the current benchmark of 37,888 set in 2013 when Saracens played Ulster Rugby at Twickenham.

Meanwhile, the clash of holders, Leinster Rugby, and Ulster at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium in a repeat of the 2012 final, is sold out, and big attendances are also on the cards for Allianz Park (Saracens v Glasgow Warriors) and Paris La Défense Arena (Racing 92 v Toulouse) as Europe’s leading clubs battle it out.

Subscribers in the Middle East and North Africa can see the Heineken Champions Cup Quarterfinals LIVE on FloRugby

Racing 92 vs Toulouse KO March 31 3:15PM (UTC-GMT)

Leinster vs Ulster KO March 30 5:45PM (UTC-GMT)

Edinburgh vs Munster KO March 30 12:45PM (UTC-GMT)

Saracens vs Glasgow KO March 30 3:15PM (UTC-GMT)

Also, following the recent passing of René Fontès, a former EPCR Board member, vice-president of the LNR and president of ASM Clermont Auvergne, a minute’s silence will be observed before all quarter-final matches in the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. 

Several rivalries will also be renewed in the Challenge Cup where four past winners are among the line-up vying for a place at St James’ Park on Finals weekend.

ASM Clermont Auvergne and Northampton Saints have won the tournament four times between them and they will need no introduction to one another as they meet for the fifth time in two seasons at Stade Marcel-Michelin (Sunday 19.00 local time).

Challenge Cup Highlights:

• Plenty of Challenge Cup experience will kick off the European weekend when Sale Sharks welcome Connacht Rugby to the AJ Bell Stadium tomorrow evening (19.45 local time). The Gallagher Premiership side won the tournament twice, and no club has played more matches in the tournament than Connacht. Both won the home leg of their Pool 3 meetings earlier in the season. 

Subscribers in the Middle East and North Africa can see the Heineken Challenge Cup Quarterfinals LIVE on FloRugby

Sale vs Connacht Friday March 29 KO 7:45PM GMT

Worcester vs Harlequins Saturday March 30 8:15PM GMT

La Rochelle vs Bristol Bears Sunday March 31 11:45AM GMT

Clermont Auvergne vs Northampton Saints Sunday March 31 5:00PM GMT

• There were two away wins in Pool 4 when La Rochelle faced Bristol Bears earlier this season. La Rochelle is looking for their second semi-final berth in as many participations in this tournament when the two meet again on Sunday on the Atlantic coast (13.45 local time).

• Worcester Warriors and Harlequins didn’t meet during the pool stage but are well acquainted from the Premiership. The winners of Pools 2 and 5 go head-to-head at Sixways Stadium on Saturday night with Quins seeking to extend their record of three Challenge Cup trophies.