They have reached the knockout stage of EPCR’s leading competition on three occasions, and as we build up to next season we take a look at their best outings in the competition.

2007/08: Quarter-finals

Then playing as Cardiff Blues, Cardiff reached the quarter-finals in 2007/08 by topping their pool ahead of Stade Français Paris, Bristol Bears and Harlequins.

They went through to the first knockout stage, then the quarter-finals, where they lost out to eventual runners-up Stade Toulouse 41-17.

2008/09: Semi-finals

Cardiff followed their 2007/08 campaign with what remains their best ever performance in the Heinekn Champions Cup, making the semi-finals.

In a campaign which saw Ben Blair top the points scorer rankings with 99, Cardiff led their pool and earned a first seeding for the knockouts as they won all their games. They then got revenge on Toulouse with a narrow 9-6 victory in the quarter-finals at the Millenium Stadium.

Their semi-final with Leicester Tigers went all the way to penalties after a thrilling 26-all draw, once again at the Millenium Stadium. Despite home crowd advantage Cardiff narrowly lost out 7-6 on penalties, Leicester going on to lose to Leinster Rugby in the finale.

2011/12: Quarter-finals

The last time that Cardiff made the knockout rounds came in 2011/12, where they went through as runner-up of their pool.

That landed them a game against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium who proved to have too much for the Welsh region, who hammered them 34–3 as the Irish province went on to win another title.

Cardiff Rugby will be back in the Heineken Champions Cup in 2023/24 after a one season absence in which they reached the quarter-final of the EPCR Challenge Cup, narrowly losing to Benetton Rugby.