La Rochelle became the fifth team to win back-to-back European Champions Cups on Saturday when they clawed back a 17-point deficit to beat Leinster 27-26 at the Aviva Stadium in another breathless final between the sides.
Leinster scrum-half Nick McCarthy has announced he is gay, and has thanked coaches Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster for their "unbelievable" support in what he said has been a difficult decision.
A last-minute try by Arthur Retiere after a monumental goal-line assault gave La Rochelle a stunning 24-21 victory over favourites Leinster in a superb European Champions Cup final in Marseille on Saturday.
Gallagher Premiership clubs Saracens, Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs progressed into the Champions Cup semifinals over the weekend.
Ireland forward Sean O'Brien has been ruled out of the World Cup in Japan.
England's Saracens were crowned champions of Europe for the third time in four years as they came from 10-0 down to beat last year's winners Leinster.
Leinster coach John Fogarty will join the Ireland coaching staff after the 2019 World Cup, the club confirmed Monday.
Defending champions Leinster outclassed Toulouse 30-12 to reach the Champions Cup final.
Ireland flanker Dan Leavy will miss this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan after he was ruled out of the rest of the season with a "complex" knee ligament injury.
Johnny Sexton has signed a contract extension with the Irish Rugby Football Union which will see him play rugby in Ireland up to the end of the 2020/21 season.
Leinster fans were not allowed to bring 1,500 flags into the Rec Stadium ahead of the Champions Cup clash against Bath on Saturday because it failed a health and safety test.
Joe Schmidt has insisted Garry Ringrose's Test debut will not automatically usher in a brand-new Ireland centre pairing dynasty with Robbie Henshaw.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt faced fresh injury concerns over Jonathan Sexton and Sean O'Brien who were both withdrawn in Leinster's defeat to Montpellier in the Champions Cup on Sunday.
All the reaction from around the European Champions Cup Round 2 as Toulon got back to winning ways and Munster remembered Anthony Foley.
The Champions Cup began with Saracens inflicting a first home defeat on Toulon, Connacht's fightback to beat Toulouse and Scarlets extending Sale's losing streak in Europe to 12.
| Pool 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Team | GP | PD | P |
| 1 | Bordeaux Begles | 4 | +89 | 17 |
| 2 | Bulls | 4 | +30 | 15 |
| 3 | Lyon | 4 | -2 | 12 |
| 4 | Saracens | 4 | -17 | 10 |
| 5 | Connacht | 4 | -52 | 6 |
| 6 | Bristol Rugby | 4 | -48 | 5 |
| Pool 2 | ||||
| R | Team | GP | PD | P |
| 1 | Stade Toulousain | 4 | +109 | 20 |
| 2 | Harlequins | 4 | +42 | 15 |
| 3 | Bath Rugby | 4 | +22 | 15 |
| 4 | Racing 92 | 4 | -1 | 8 |
| 5 | Ulster | 4 | -59 | 5 |
| 6 | Cardiff Blues | 4 | -113 | 3 |
| Pool 3 | ||||
| R | Team | GP | PD | P |
| 1 | Northampton Saints | 4 | +62 | 18 |
| 2 | Exeter Chiefs | 4 | -12 | 13 |
| 3 | Glasgow Warriors | 4 | +14 | 10 |
| 4 | Munster | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| 5 | Bayonne | 4 | -25 | 8 |
| 6 | Toulon | 4 | -39 | 2 |
| Pool 4 | ||||
| R | Team | GP | PD | P |
| 1 | Leinster | 4 | +70 | 19 |
| 2 | Stormers | 4 | +3 | 14 |
| 3 | La Rochelle | 4 | +38 | 12 |
| 4 | Leicester Tigers | 4 | -38 | 9 |
| 5 | Sale Sharks | 4 | -7 | 6 |
| 6 | Stade Francais Paris | 4 | -66 | 2 |
