The 2013/14 Heineken Cup reaches the knockout stage as the remaining eight teams go head-to-head in the quarter-finals and you can watch all four games live on Sky Sports.
Forming part of a bumper weekend of European rugby in both the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups, the quarter-finals are the hottest tickets in Europe with all four venues in Ireland and France sold out for weeks, for what is being billed as the greatest quarter-final line-up in the tournament’s history.
The battle for supremacy in this season’s Heineken Cup is now down to three teams from Ireland, three from France and two from England.
Munster and Toulouse are first up, meeting at Thomond Park in a repeat of the 2008 final at the Millennium Stadium.
The Irish province came out on top that day, recording a nail-biting 16-13 victory and claiming their second Heineken Cup crown
in three seasons.
Elsewhere, last season’s beaten finalists Clermont clash with Leicester Tigers and Toulon take on Leinster.
The reigning champions, Toulon are unbeaten at the fortress-like Stade Mayol in ten Heineken Cup outings.
Ulster square off against Saracens in their first home quarter-final since the 1998/99 tournament.
They ended up going all the way that season, beating Toulouse, Stade Francais and Colomiers to become the first Irish side to lift
the Heineken Cup.
Finally on Sunday, 2013 champions Toulon host 2012 winners Leinster in the last of the four quarter-finals.
The Amlin Challenge Cup has also reached the quarter-final stage and Sky Sports will be showing all four matches from Thursday through to Sunday, in a competition which has strong English representation.
Sale Sharks square off against Northampton Saints on Thursday, while Stade Français host Harlequins the following day.
Sale comfortably topped their pool, winning five of six matches to finish well clear of second-placed Biarritz.
They’ll certainly have their work cut out against Northampton, though.
The Aviva Premiership leaders dropped down from the Heineken Cup and have already got the better of the Sharks this season.
British and Irish Lions winger George North was one of their five try scorers in a 33-14 league victory in September.
Harlequins have also dropped down from the Heineken Cup and will be out to make the most of their second chance at European success when they face last season’s beaten finalists Stade Français.
The French side booked their place in the last eight with a seven-try triumph over Portuguese side Lusitanos XV.
Sky Sports viewers can also catch the remaining Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.
Bath and Brive do battle at the Recreation Ground, while London Wasps welcome Gloucester to Adams Park.
This weekend’s European rugby quarter-finals take place amid the backdrop of a compromise deal between Sky Sports and BT Sport for TV coverage of the new European club competitions which succeed the Heineken and Amlin Cups in 2014/15.
Sky Sports’ live coverage of the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup is presented by Alex Payne and James Gemmill, alongside regular analysts Will Greenwood, Scott Quinnell, Paul Wallace and Dewi Morris.
Leading the commentary teams will be Miles Harrison, Mark Robson, Martin Gillingham, Stuart Barnes, Ieuan Evans and Scott Hastings.
If you miss any of the live action, highlights of the whole weekend’s action will be shown in European Rugby Special on Sunday evening at 9.30pm.
Live coverage can be viewed in a variety of ways by Sky Sports customers on all devices via Sky Go, as well as via the Heineken Cup Events Centre.
For further information about the Heineken Cup, visit the official website or the Sky Sports rugby union website.
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