Live European rugby on Sky this weekend

Last Updated: 16/01/15 12:36pm

Champion Saturday sees Leinster and Toulon, winners of five of the last six European crowns, in action as the Champions Cup returns. #EuroRugbyonSky

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Champion Saturday sees Leinster and Toulon, winners of five of the last six European crowns, in action as the Champions Cup returns. #EuroRugbyonSky
Champion Saturday sees Leinster and Toulon, winners of five of the last six European crowns, in action as the Champions Cup returns. #EuroRugbyonSky

Sky Sports once again brings you the best of European rugby action as we broadcast six live games this weekend.

Leicester v Scarlets, 7pm Friday 16 January, live on Sky Sports 3 HD

We start with a trip to Welford Road as Leicester Tigers host Welsh rivals Scarlets in a Pool 3 clash on Friday night. Richard Cockerill's men kept themselves in contention in the tournament with an impressive home win over Toulon in Round 3, but they will need to win both their remaining games if they are to fight for a quarter-final place in April.

Scarlets find themselves in the same situation with two wins from their previous four encounters in the competition, making this game a straight knock-out for both sides. Scarlets have had some mixed form in the PRO12 leading up to this fixture, but as proof of their ability their last two victories came against Glasgow and Ospreys – the two top teams in the league.

Toulon v Ulster, 3pm Saturday 17 January, live on Sky Sports 2 HD

On Saturday we cross over to France to watch Ulster take on defending champions Toulon. With just one win in their opening four fixtures Ulster are out of the competition, but they will want to prove they are still capable of turning teams over in the same fashion that saw them make the final of the Heineken Cup three seasons ago.

Toulon suffered defeat to Leicester at Welford Road in their only loss of the European season so far. The French giants will be eager to ensure they win this game with a bonus point, which – if either Leicester or Scarlets fail to do the same – would mean guaranteed quarter-final qualification with a game in hand.

Leinster v Castres, 5.15pm Saturday 17 January, live on Sky Sports 2 HD

The race is on for Leinster as they sit in second place in Pool 2 ahead of their match against Castres in Dublin. Harlequins are in top spot and Wasps in third, but only one point separates the three sides as they go into Round 5. With Wasps playing Quins this weekend, the loser of which is likely to be out of contention, Leinster will be on the hunt for all five points in a bid for top spot as they move towards the final round.

Despite a strong squad Castres have struggled this season and lost the reverse fixture of this match in the second round 21-16. They have slumped to a poor position in the Top 14 and have failed to register a win in the European competition, but last year’s Top 14 finalists will not go out with a limp. Expect them to throw everything at Leinster in typical French fashion.

Sale v Clermont, 5.30pm Saturday 17 January, live on Sky Sports 2 via the Red Button

Can Sale avenge their last-gasp loss to Munster in Round 2?

Sale Sharks welcome Clermont to the AJ Bell Stadium in our final Saturday fixture. When these two teams met in Round 2 it was a comfortable win for Clermont, but it was the only game in which the resurgent Sale side were not in contention in their first four games of the competition. Both games against Saracens went the distance and they lost to Munster in Round 1 by a single point courtesy of a classic Munster drop goal at the death. This week they will be looking to go one better.

Danny Cipriani is reportedly awaiting confirmation of his England future before making a decision on a possible move to Toulon. Will he see this game as a chance to showcase his credentials for Stuart Lancaster and his coaching team?

Glasgow v Montpellier, 12.30pm Sunday 18 January, live on Sky Sports 2 HD

On Sunday our cameras will be in the Scotstoun Stadium where Glasgow face Montpellier in a must-win game for the Scots. In this fixture in Round 2 they scraped through by just two points, but this time Gregor Townsend’s men will need to be in full cry for a bonus-point win if they are to remain in contention for a play-off spot once the pool stage comes to an end.

Glasgow are in second place in Pool 4 and find themselves six points adrift of leaders Toulouse. A victory for Toulouse will mean they will end the pool stage at the top of the table, with Glasgow needing to claim bonus-point victories in both their remaining games if they are to hope for a runner-up quarter-final place.

Connacht v Exeter, 3pm Sunday 18 January, live on Sky Sports 2 HD

Our weekend rugby coverage ends with a top-of-the-table Challenge Cup clash between Ireland’s Connacht and Exeter Chiefs. Both sides have only lost one encounter in the competition so far, with Exeter sitting marginally ahead of their rivals thanks to bonus point superiority.

Both of these sides have surprised the oppostion in their respective leagues, with Connacht in sixth place in the PRO12 and Exeter sitting fifth in the Premiership. Both these sides will qualify for next season’s Champions Cup if they continue that domestic form, but first they face-off for dominance of Pool 2 and a place in the quarter-finals.