Favourable draw for French clubs

Paris - French clubs got the best of the draw for the European Champions Cup quarter-finals on Sunday with two-time defending champions Toulon having the home advantage along with Clermont and Racing Metro.

The French trio advanced with four English clubs - Bath, Northampton, Wasps and Saracens - making it to the last eight for the first time since 1998.

Three-time champions Leinster squeezed through as Pool 2 winners meaning Ireland avoided being without a team in the knockout stages for the first time in 17 years.

Racing will host last season's runners-up Saracens, and Wasps, runners-up in Pool Two, will head to Toulon, who were emphatic winners of Pool Three.

The winner of the Toulon versus Wasps tie will have the home advantage against the winner between Leinster and Bath.

Clermont or Northampton will have the home advantage in the final four against the winner of the Racing Metro versus Saracens clash.

The quarter-finals take place from April 3-5 with the semi-finals from April 17-19, and the final scheduled for Twickenham on May 2.

Quarter-final draw

Racing Metro (FRA) v Saracens (ENG)

Toulon (FRA) v Wasps (ENG)

Clermont (FRA) v Northampton (ENG)

Leinster (IRL) v Bath (ENG)