Four-time winners of the Heineken Champions Cup in Leinster Rugby take on three-time winners RC Toulon in a mouth-watering Round of 16 contest at the RDS Arena in Dublin. 

The Irish province have lost their previous two knockout round matches in the competition, both to Saracens, losing in the 2018/19 final and during the quarter-final of last year’s competition, but will be buoyed by lifting the Guinness PRO14 title at the weekend. 

Toulon, meanwhile, will be eager to maintain their 100% record over their Irish opposition, having won four meeting out of four between the two sides to date. The French outfit – like Leinster – are unbeaten when they take the field in the 2020/21 campaign – a 26-14 victory over Sale Sharks was coupled with a COVID-19 forfeit to Scarlets. 

The game at the RDS Arena begins at 17:30 local time on April 2 and will be available to watch on BT Sport in the United Kingdom and Ireland and beIN SPORTS in France.

Pool positions 

Leinster Rugby, 1st Pool A; 10 points 

RC Toulon, 7th Pool A; 4 points 

Head-to-head record 

Leinster Rugby wins: 0 

Draws: 0 

RC Toulon wins: 4 

Leading 2020/21 points-scorers 

Leinster Rugby: Ross Byrne (20) 

RC Toulon: Louis Carbonel (16) 

Key quotes 

  • Stuart Lancaster (Leinster): “Toulon are a very big, very powerful team. They play a very expansive style like Toulouse, so we need to be at our best defensively. If you give their powerful ballcarriers time and space to move, then it’s going to be a very difficult day.” 
  • Sergio Parisse (Toulon): “It’s the kind of game every player dreams of playing, so there is nothing better to get your head straight. The stake is immense, and the match will be huge. They are solid in front, behind, in the scrum, have experience but also some excellent young talents – it is a flawless team.

Match facts

  • Leinster and Toulon have met four times before in the Heineken Champions Cup, the TOP 14 side winning all four of those clashes.
  • Toulon and Leinster last met in the Heineken Champions Cup in the 2015/16 season, the French side picking up a pair of pool stage victories including a 16-20 win at the Aviva Stadium.
  • Since Toulon beat Leinster in December 2015, the Irish side have won 17 of their 18 ensuing home games in the Heineken Champions Cup (lost v Saracens in September 2020).
  • Overall Toulon have won eight of their 10 Heineken Champions Cup games against Irish sides, a pair of defeats against Munster the only blemishes.
  • Leinster have won eight of their last nine Heineken Champions Cup matches, averaging 34 points and 4.6 tries per game in those victories.
  • Leinster have averaged more carries (140) and passes (182) than any other side in the Heineken Champions Cup this season.