Following a week of blistering PRO14 Rugby European competition rolled back into action, presenting 12 of the Championship’s 14 sides with another chance to showcase their ability against some of the continent’s best.

As the New Year approaches, the domestic season is firmly in full flow and while some teams have enjoyed more success than others, all of the competing sides will be hoping to return to the PRO14 with momentum gained from their latest bout of European fixtures.

And there were wins, losses and tries galore across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with several of the campaign’s biggest-hitters so-far showcasing their intent to ultimately claim European glory.

Leinster show their class in Northampton

With a 100 per cent record in the PRO14 and in Europe, last year’s beaten Champions Cup finalists Leinster are arguably the team to beat on both fronts.

And despite heading to English Premiership leaders Northampton Saints knowing they were likely to be in for a tough game, a dominant second half showing saw them walk away from Franklin’s Gardens with a bonus-point 43-16 victory.

James Lowe, Rhys Ruddock, Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath and Ed Byrne all got their names on the scoresheet to secure a crushing win, and open up a five-point lead over the Saints in Pool 1.

Ulster pip Quins to maintain unbeaten start

Second only to reigning PRO14 champions Leinster in Conference A, Ulster have enjoyed a strong season so far and a last-gasp penalty over Harlequins strengthened their quest for European success, too.

The sides went into the break level after Alex Dombrandt and Sean Reidy traded first-half tries in Belfast and while Stuart McCloskey put Ulster ahead, two converted Elia Elia tries gave Quins a nine-point lead.

But an Adam McBurney score and a 79th-minute John Cooney kick snatched a 25-24 victory for Dan McFarland’s men, extending their winning Champions Cup run in Pool 3 to three from three.

Munster humble the champions

Another side enjoying success at home and in Europe are Munster, with the Conference B leaders getting the better of defending European champions Saracens to maintain their unbeaten start in Pool 4.

While their opponents were without several England players, the Irish side were the stronger outfit throughout and a converted Peter O’Mahony try and a JJ Hanrahan penalty were enough to seal a 10-3 win.

Following their draw at home to Racing 92 in November, Munster sit one point behind the Frenchmen in the group, but five ahead of Sarries in third.

Warriors battle to the death

Last year’s PRO14 runners-up Glasgow Warriors – who have endured a stop-and-start season so far – came through a frenzied affair at last year’s beaten European Rugby Challenge Cup finalists La Rochelle.

Scores from Callum Gibbins, Niko Matawalu and substitute Kyle Steyn – along with two Adam Hastings penalties – were enough to snatch a 27-24 win in Pool 2.

Elsewhere, despite taking a share of the spoils into the break, 14-man Connacht fell to 26-17 defeat away at Gloucester to leave them with little chance of progression from Pool 5.

Ospreys’ winless start to Pool 4 continued with a 40-19 humbling at home to Racing 92, while Benetton failed to get on the scoresheet as they were downed 28-0 by Lyon in Pool 1.

Challenge Cup action

In the Challenge Cup, Josh Adams notched a brilliant hat-trick on his Cardiff Blues debut as John Mulvihill’s side eased to an eight-try victory over Pau.

Jarrod Evans (2), Ben Thomas, Matthew Morgan and Owen Lane also went over in an emphatic 54-22 win that puts the Blues just three points behind Pool 5 leaders Leicester Tigers.

Edinburgh also enjoyed a strong win over English opposition, with a bonus-point 31-20 triumph over Wasps at Murrayfield in Pool 3, while in Pool 2 Scarlets kept their quarter-final hopes alive with a Leigh Halfpenny-inspired 19-11 victory at Bayonne.

Zebre got their first win of the tournament as they limped past Brive 27-24 in Pool 4, but Dragons were undone 34-28 away at Worcester Warriors.

Cardiff City Stadium will play host to the 2020 Guinness PRO14 Final on June 20 as one of the most exciting days in the club rugby calendar comes to Wales!

General sale tickets are available from http://bit.ly/PRO14Cardiff2020 and prices start at just £13 for concessions and £26 for adults (subject to booking fees), that’s a 15% early bird discount. Family ticket (2 adults / 2 children) prices begin at £64 and fans are encouraged to buy early to get the best value tickets.