Racing 92, Ulster Rugby and Stade Rochelais qualified from Pool A at the weekend, the first two with 100% records, while Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, Munster Rugby and Bristol Bears are through from Pool B, the first three after three wins from three games.

In Pool A, Ulster triumphed 24-20 at Northampton Saints on Sunday to complete the double over the English club, with full-back Michael Lowry scoring a try in each half.

Racing cruised to a 25-10 victory at Ospreys, their fifth win in five games against the Welsh region, and it was also comfortable on Saturday for TOP 14 rivals Stade Rochelais, who notched five tries – with lock Remi Picquette grabbing a brace – in a 39-21 home success over Bath Rugby.

However, there was drama galore in Pool B, with Harlequins, Leicester and Munster all registering last-gasp victories to seal their places in the last 16.

Quins hit back from 33-19 down to triumph 36-33 at Cardiff Rugby with 24 minutes left in a 10-try extravaganza, fly-half Marcus Smith their inspiration with 16 points including the decisive 81st minute penalty.

Also on Friday night, Munster edged home by three points on the road, 16-13 at Castres Olympique, No.8 Gavin Coombes stealing the win with a try in the 77th minute.

It was even closer on Saturday for Leicester, who sneaked home 29-28 at Connacht Rugby after winger Hosea Saumaki dived over in the corner in the final play of the game to crown a comeback from 28-10 behind after 50 minutes.

Meanwhile, Bristol turned on the style in a breathless encounter at Ashton Gate to defeat Stade Français Paris 28-17, notching four tries including a double from Piers O’Conor.

However, the performance of Round 3 was Leinster Rugby’s club record-breaking Pool A 89-7 thrashing of Montpellier Hérault Rugby, who conceded 13 tries at the RDS Arena on Sunday, with Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier and Dan Sheehan all notching two, while Ross Byrne chalked up 19 points.

There were also big home wins for Exeter Chiefs – 52-17 against Glasgow Warriors in Pool A aided by a Tom O’Flaherty try hat-trick on Saturday – and Union Bordeaux-Bègles, who routed Scarlets 45-10 in Pool B on Sunday, with 18-year-old Louis Bielle-Biarrey marking his Heineken Champions Cup debut with a try treble.

Elsewhere, Wasps stunned defending champions Stade Toulousain 30-22 at Coventry Building Society Arena in Pool B on Saturday and ASM Clermont Auvergne overcame Sale Sharks 25-19 at home in Pool A on Sunday.

With one round of pool matches to go next weekend, seven teams have already sealed their places in the last 16 of this season’s Heineken Champions Cup.