Mixed fortunes for Scotland rugby stars as Investec Champions Cup quarter-final line-up set
Finn Russell among Scots to progress from round of 16 with their clubs
Several Scotland stars have joined their international teammates from Glasgow Warriors in the quarter finals of this season’s Champions Cup.
There were 12 capped players in total from Gregor Townsend’s usual call-ups featuring in the 23 man squads of the 14 non-Scottish clubs. However, not all of them were able to make it through.
It all started on Friday night as Rory Hutchison’s Northampton Saints became the first team to progress with a 49-41 win over Castres. The 30-year old utility player was introduced from the replacements earlier than he might have expected as an injury to winger James Ramm in the 37th minuted forced an early change.
Finn Russell leads Bath into quarter finals
Saints’ reward for beating the French side is a trip to the Rec to face Gallagher Premiership rivals Bath who were once again guided by Finn Russell as his teammates ran in four tries, of which he converted three, in a 31-22 win over Saracens. He was joined in the starting XV by Josh Bayliss who played an hour while Cam Redpath had a late cameo from the bench.
Bath’s progression came at the expense of international teammates Fergus Burke and Andy Onyama-Christie. Fly half Burke kicked one conversion for the visitors.
Toulon up next for Glasgow
Glasgow’s quarter-final opponents Toulon were given a stern test at home to Stormers and a final score of 28-27 in favour of the French side demonstrates how close that tie was. Ben White scored the opening try of the game in the eighth minute and played the full 80.
Blair Kinghorn’s Toulouse, who will face reigning champions Bordeaux next, beat Tom Jordan’s Bristol Bears 59-26. Kinghorn entered the pitch in the 63rd minute while Jordan played the full 80 for his team.
Front rowers Will Hurd and George Turner both exited the competition with Leicester Tigers and Harlequins respectively with the latter losing 26-17 at home to Gus Warr’s Sale Sharks. Three Scotland stars; Elliot Millar-Mills (Northampton), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux) and Arron Reed (Sale) did not feature for their sides.
2026 Champions Cup quarter-final fixtures: Leinster vs Sale, Bath vs Northampton Saints, Glasgow Warriors v Toulon, Bordeaux Begles v Toulouse.
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