The key facts

  • Leinster beat Clermont 48:23, Prendergast scored 16 points
  • Hiron Andrews (31) found dead in a hotel on the eve of the match against La Rochelle
  • Bulls 56:20, Stormers 49:12, Glasgow 47:27, Bordeaux-Bègles 36:36 with Gloucester

Leinster made a confident start to the Champions Cup

Four-time trophy winner Leinster opened the tournament with a bonus-point away win over Clermont — 48:23. Fly-half Sam Prendergast scored one of the team's seven tries, converted four and added a penalty, collecting 16 points. Captain Dan Sheehan crossed for two tries, with Tadhg Furlong, Jack Conan and Tommy O'Brien also scoring, while a powerful scrum earned the Leinstermen a penalty try. For Clermont, Joris Jurand and replacement centre Matis Bloubé scored tries, with the remaining points coming from New Zealander Harry Plummer. Head coach Leo Cullen noted: 'There was a lot of really good stuff in the game,' adding that matches come in a packed schedule and the team needs to move on.

Tournament against the backdrop of Hiron Andrews' death

The games took place in a mournful atmosphere: 31-year-old Johannesburg Lions lock Hiron Andrews was found dead in his hotel on Friday, the day before the match against La Rochelle. According to local authorities' information passed to AFP, he was found in a state of cardiac arrest in the shower cubicle. The Lions said they would play the match in Andrews' memory, and a minute's silence was announced before all Champions Cup and Challenge Cup fixtures this weekend. Andrews' death came exactly 10 years after the death of Munster coach Anthony Foley, who died in a hotel before a game against Racing 92 — those teams had planned a commemoration in Cork on Saturday.

South African clubs won at home

The Bulls crushed Stade Français 56:20, outscoring their opponents in tries 8:2 and earning a bonus point; the Parisians, who had not won an away match in the tournament since 2015, succumbed to the heat, the altitude and a series of defensive errors. The Stormers, despite a red card for hooker JJ Kotze in the first half, crushed a weakened Bristol 49:12: Leolin Zas and Jonathan Roche each scored two tries, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted all seven. For Bristol, Joe Owen and Sol Moody distinguished themselves.

Glasgow wore down Sale, Bordeaux-Bègles began their title defence with a draw

Glasgow came back from an early deficit and beat Andrew's former club Sale 47:27. The visitors led by 12 points as early as the ninth minute, but disciplinary problems cost them dearly: Glasgow seized the initiative with a penalty try and a score against 13 opposing players. By half-time the Scots led by six points and pulled away in the second half, finishing the match with six tries to three. On Friday, two-time reigning Champions Cup holder Bordeaux-Bègles began their title defence with a spectacular 36:36 draw away to Gloucester.