All to play for as race for Champions Cup quarter-finals hots up

Glasgow Warriors play Cardiff Blues at Scotstoun on Sunday afternoon knowing a win would take them one step closer to qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup for only the second time in their history.

A bonus-point win would give them an even better chance of progressing, as the five pool winners and the three runners-up with the highest number of points will qualify.

The Warriors are currently second in Pool 3, with 14 points after two bonus-point wins away against Cardiff Blues and Lyon and a home win over Lyon in horrific conditions at Scotstoun last month.

As it stands, Toulouse, Munster, Saracens, Racing and Edinburgh would qualify as pool winners and Leinster (15), Glasgow Warriors (14) and Ulster (14) would qualify as the three best runners-up. Castres (9), Exeter (8) and Gloucester (8) from Pool 2, Leicester (6) from Pool 4 and Montpellier (11) and Newcastle (8) from Pool 5 are also still in the running to qualify.

Exeter Chiefs’ 16 points in 2015/16 is the lowest total by a pool winner, while Toulon’s 16 points in 2016/17 is the lowest total by a best runner-up.

Glasgow’s final pool match is against Saracens at Allianz Park on Saturday 19 January (kick-off 1pm).

There are now fewer than 125 tickets remaining for Sunday’s game against Cardiff Blues and supporters are encouraged to snap up the last remaining tickets and get behind the Warriors in their quest to qualify for the Heineken Champions Cup knockout stages.