European Champions Cup: Castres 39-0 Leicester

Defeat by Castres means Leicester are out of Europe

Leicester Tigers suffered their seventh defeat in their past eight matches as they were thrashed by Castres in the European Champions Cup.

Defeat at the Stade Pierre Antoine confirmed the Tigers' exit from Europe, just one win out of five meaning they will finish bottom of Pool Four.

The Tigers rested their England players for the game and saw Castres run in five tries for a bonus point win.

Thomas Combezou and Armand Batlle both scored twice for the French side.

Pool Four is - bar Leicester - a tight affair with one round of games remaining, with Castres third on 12 points, three behind Racing 92, who earlier beat leaders Munster to close the gap on the Irish province to a point.

Benjamin Urdapilleta put Castres ahead after 43 seconds, showing some nifty footwork to kick ahead and re-gather before scoring his side's first try.

The fly-half added two penalties before centre Combezou crossed twice before half-time.

Batlle scored the bonus point-securing fourth try after the break and went over for his second three minutes from time as Leicester - two-time champions and five-time finalists - were nilled.

Teams

Castres: Geoffrey Palis; Kylian Jaminet, Thomas Combezou, Florian Vialelle, Armand Batlle; Benjamin Urdapilleta, Ludovic Radosavljevic ; Antoine Tichit, Marc-Antoine Rallier, Damien Tussac, Alexandre Bias, Thibault Lassalle, Yannick Caballero, Mathieu Babillot (capt), Alex Tulou

Replacements: Dumora for Vialelle (61), Domenech for Radosavljevic (60), Stroe for Tichit (55), Firmin for Rallier (64), Kotze for Tussac (55), Moreaux for Bias (59), Mafi for Caballero (59), Le Bourhis for Tulou (72).

Leicester Tigers: George Worth; Tom Brady, Matt Smith, Charlie Thacker, Adam Thompstone; Joe Ford, Sam Harrison; Greg Bateman (capt), Harry Thacker, Pat Cilliers, Harry Wells, Michael Fitzgerald, Dominic Ryan, William Evans, Tino Mapapalangi

Replacements: Malouf for Smith (55), Simmons for Harrison (60), Rizzo for Bateman (64), Betts for H. Thacker (55), Betts for H. Thacker (55), Polota-Nau for Cilliers (55), Maksymiw for M. Fitzgerald (72), O'Connor for Ryan (55).

Not Used: Tait.