Ulster to face Bordeaux in Champions Cup last 16

Ulster will travel to France to face Bordeaux in their last-16 tie after finishing fourth in Pool 1

Ulster have qualified for the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup on points difference after Bordeaux claimed a 66-12 victory against Sharks.

Richie Murphy's side's bonus-point 52-24 win over Exeter Chiefs on Friday night moved them level with fourth-placed Sharks on five points.

On Sunday, they needed already-qualified Bordeaux to beat Sharks by 29 points to have any chance of progressing on points difference.

Sharks started brightly in France and raced into a 12-point lead before Bordeaux fought back to hold a 19-12 advantage at half-time.

Damian Penaud scored a tournament-record six tries as a blistering second-half display as 47 unanswered points saw Bordeaux power past Sharks.

The heavy defeat for Sharks meant Ulster leapfrogged them into fourth place with a better points difference of -61 compared with Sharks' -87.

The win helped Bordeaux secure top spot in Pool 1 and home advantage in the next round where they will face Ulster in the first weekend in April.

Ulster were beaten 40-19 by Bordeaux when the sides met at the Kingspan Stadium in December.

Leinster, who topped Pool 2, will have home advantage against Harlequins in their next round tie.

Munster will travel to the Stade Marcel-Deflandre to face the 2022 and 2023 champions La Rochelle, who are managed by their former player Ronan O'Gara.

Connact will be at home to Cardiff in the next round of the Challenge Cup.