2003/04: Quarter-finals

Edinburgh first reached the knockout stage of the competition in 2003/04, navigating a pool featuring Stade Toulousain, Neath-Swansea Ospreys and Leeds Carnegie as they won five of their six games.

They met Toulouse in the quarter-finals, the side who defeated them (33-0) in the pool stage, and they would suffer another bruising away defeat as they went down 36-10 at Stade Municipal.

2011/12: Semi-finals

It wouldn’t be until 2011/12 that Edinburgh made it to the knockout stage again, but they produced their best ever showing in the competition as they reached the semi-final stage.

They topped Pool 2, made up of Cardiff Blues, Racing and London Irish, with five wins from six, setting up another quarter-final against Toulouse.

There was a different outcome on this occasion as a Mike Blair try and 14 points from the boot of Greig Laidlaw saw them win 19-14 at BT Murrayfield Stadium.

Their hopes of reaching the final were ended by Ulster Rugby at Aviva Stadium - 14 points from Laidlaw again and a late Jim Thompson score weren’t quite enough for the Scottish region as they were defeated 22-19.

2018/19: Quarter-finals

Another quarter-final came in 2018/19 as Edinburgh won five of their six Pool 5 matches, finishing comfortably top ahead of Montpellier Hérault Rugby, RC Toulon and Newcastle Falcons.

They met Munster Rugby at BT Murrayfield Stadium in the last eight and led 13-10 with 10 minutes to play thanks to Chris Dean’s try and two Jaco van der Walt penalties.

But Munster’s Keith Earls dotted down for his second score of the game in the closing stages to snatch a 17-13 win for the Irish province.

2020/21: Round of 16

In a season disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, Edinburgh’s 16-15 win at Sale Sharks in Round 2 proved crucial as it earned them a sixth-place finish in Pool A and a place Round of 16.

They travelled to a strong Racing 92 side in the first round of the knockout stage and were thrashed 56-3 at Paris La Defense Arena.

As we approach Tuesday’s Heineken Champions Cup draw, we look at the teams returning to Europe’s top flight and highlights of their past appearances in the competition. We continue with a look at Edinburgh Rugby’s best campaigns.