The Irish province became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals of this season's competition when they defeated Northampton Saints 50-21 in Round 4 and are now on track to secure a home quarter-final.

Garry Ringrose spearheaded Leinster's seven-try spree with his second hat-trick of the European campaign and the four-time winners even prevented Northampton from getting a bonus point as they marched 10 points clear of the English club at the top of Pool 1.

Exeter Chiefs are similarly dominant in Pool 2, after they overwhelmed English rivals Sale Sharks 35-10 at Sandy Park on Sunday, when they defied filthy conditions – which forced a five-minute stoppage for a hailstorm – to net five tries, including a brace from Sam Simmonds.

Exeter’s position was aided by La Rochelle’s 12-7 triumph at Glasgow Warriors, the Chiefs’ nearest challengers, on Saturday.

The French pair of Toulouse and Racing 92 are also comfortable leaders in their groups, with four-time winners Toulouse nine points ahead of Gloucester Rugby in Pool 5 and Racing six in front of Munster Rugby in Pool 4.

In Round 4, Toulouse battled to a 26-18 win at TOP 14 rivals Montpellier on Saturday, with Rory Arnold notching two of their four tries and Lucas Tauzin grabbing the bonus point in the final minute.

A day earlier, Racing beat Ospreys 40-27 at La Defense Arena in an entertaining affair featuring 11 tries and doubles for Racing’s Juan Imhoff and Ospreys’ Lesley Klim.

The other Round 4 games in those pools saw defending champions Saracens keep their knockout hopes alive with a 15-6 home win over Munster and Connacht Rugby stage a superb comeback from 24-12 down with five minutes left to edge out Gloucester 27-24 at The Sportsground.

In Pool 3 the top two places look set to be filled by unbeaten leaders Ulster Rugby and ASM Clermont Auvergne, who are 11 points ahead of third-placed Harlequins after comprehensive fourth-round successes.

John Cooney led Ulster to a 34-10 victory at Quins on Friday with 19 points, before Clermont overran Bath Rugby 52-26 at Stade Marcel-Michelin on Sunday, scoring eight tries, with Alivereti Raka and George Moala notching doubles as the French side stormed into a 40-14 half-time lead.

Leinster Rugby made Heineken Champions Cup history by qualifying for the knockout stage with two rounds of pool matches remaining at the weekend.