Saracens tumbled out of the Investec Champions Cup after a 45-12 loss at Bordeaux while Exeter beat Bath and Leinster defeated Leicester to reach the quarter-finals.
Marcus Smith provided the magic as Harlequins edged into the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals.
It's been eight years since the Premiership had more than three clubs make it to the Champions Cup quarter-finals, but there remain six in play this season.
Sale dropped into the Challenge Cup after being brushed aside by La Rochelle as the French giants kept alive their bid for a hat-trick of Champions Cup titles.
Munster conspired to suffer defeat from the jaws of victory in the Champions Cup, losing 26-23 to 14-player Northampton Saints at a stunned Thomond Park.
Harlequins produced a 47-19 win over Ulster that keeps them in the chase for home advantage in the Champions Cup knockouts, and leaves Ulster out.
Bath passed the biggest test of their revival yet by toppling Top 14 leaders Racing 92 29-25 and qualifying for the Champions Cup knockouts in April.
Rounding up a busy Saturday with eight matches in the Champions Cup as Harlequins thump Cardiff and Exeter progress, but Sale and Bristol lose.
Northampton registered nine tries as they thrashed Bayonne 61-14 to reach the Investec Champions Cup knockout stages.
Clinical Ulster secured a big victory against Racing 92 in the Champions Cup while Bath edged out Cardiff and holders La Rochelle lost again.
Northampton Saints defied a succession of injuries and a determined Toulon to register a 22-19 Champions Cup victory at Franklin's Gardens.
Munster have issued stadium bans to the supporter who grabbed Bayonne's Konstantin Mikautadze during a scuffle between players at Thomond Park.
Leinster beat defending champions La Rochelle at the fourth time of asking, battling to a 16-9 away Champions Cup win in dreadful conditions.
Sale produced a superb second-half show to open their Champions Cup campaign with a 28-5 victory over Stade Francais at AJ Bell Stadium.
Jack Crowley missed a last-gasp drop-goal as Munster were held to a draw at home to Bayonne in Champions Cup Pool 3, with the French side striking late.
Henry Slade held his nerve as Exeter launched their Champions Cup campaign with a stunning 19-18 victory over Toulon.
Tommy Freeman scored two tries as Northampton opened their Champions Cup campaign with a three-try 28-19 victory away to Glasgow.
The premier club competition in rugby returns this weekend in the form of the Champions Cup, but it does so in a new format.
Owen Farrell will make his first appearance since his decision to step away from Test rugby was announced when Saracens launch their Champions Cup campaign.
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has been hit with a three-game ban - but will be able to play in the Rugby World Cup later this year following a disciplinary hearing.
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