La Rochelle, who will start the defence of their EPCR title at home to Northampton Saints the weekend of December 9-11 in Pool B, led 10-0 at the interval through a Tawera Kerr-Barlow try and five points from Antoine Hastoy.

Dillyn Leyds added a second-half try, with Hastoy kicking a further eight points, as La Rochelle held off a spirited comeback from Lyon, for whom Davit Niniashvili, Baptiste Couilloud and Josiah Maraku dotted down.

Elsewhere in the TOP 14, there was another Pool A v Pool B battle, between Union Bordeaux-Bègles and Montpellier Hérault Rugby, the latter coming out on top 29-19 thanks to first-half tries from Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Alexandre Bécognée, plus 19 points from the boot of Louis Carbonel. Two tries from Clément Maynadier and one for Federico Mori were in vain for the visitors.

Meanwhile, Castres Olympique, of Pool A, overcame Stade Français Paris 30-20 and Pool B outfit ASM Clermont Auvergne toppled Section Paloise 33-24. However, Pool A’s Racing 92 suffered a 31-25 reverse at Bayonne.

On the Gallagher Premiership’s opening day, 2020 Heineken Champions Cup victors Exeter Chiefs defeated Leicester Tigers 24-20 at Sandy Park in another Pool A v Pool B battle thanks to scores from Solomone Kata and Patrick Schickerling as well as a penalty try, with Schickerling’s try coming in the final minute.

In response, the 2022 quarter-finalists notched second-half tries through Hanro Liebenberg and Charlie Clare but in the end were made to pay for a weak first-half display.

London Irish also started their campaign in fine style, with a 45-14 home win over Worcester Warriors, the Pool B side dotting down seven times, including a brace from Henry Arundell. Ben Donnell, Ben White, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Will Joseph and Agustin Creevy also touched down for Irish.

Meanwhile, Harlequins won a high-scoring thriller at Newcastle Falcons 40-31, Tyrone Green, Wilco Louw, George Head, Lennox Anyanwu, Alex Dombrandt and Joe Marchant all crossing for the Pool A team in a stunning offensive display.

Defending Heineken Champions Cup winners Stade Rochelais maintained their 100% winning record in the TOP 14 with a 23-21 victory at EPCR Challenge Cup holders Lyon.