Pool 2 leaders Exeter and Pool 3 front-runners Ulster transferred their form in Europe’s elite club tournament into the Gallagher Premiership and Guinness PRO14 respectively by beating Saracens 14-7 and Connacht Rugby 35-3, while Northampton, second in Pool 1, beat Gloucester Rugby 33-26.

Converted tries from Nic White and Jacques Vermeulen saw off the defending European champions, who are third in Pool 4, at Sandy Park on Sunday and lifted Exeter to the top of the Premiership.

On Saturday, a Cobus Reinach double spearheaded Saints’ Premiership win over Gloucester, who are second in Pool 5, and ensured Louis Rees-Zammit’s hat-trick of tries for the visitors was in vain.

On Friday night, Alan O’Connor, Billy Burns, Rob Baloucoune, Rob Herring and Nick Timoney scored tries at Kingspan Stadium as Connacht, third in Pool 5, were overwhelmed.

In other domestic matches between Heineken Champions Cup sides at the weekend, Leinster Rugby, who have already qualified for the last eight from Pool 1, triumphed 13-6 at Pool 4 challengers Munster Rugby, while Bath Rugby, bottom of Pool 3, edged out Pool 2 side Sale Sharks 16-14.

With the final two rounds of the Heineken Champions Cup pool stage less than a fortnight away now, Exeter Chiefs, Northampton Saints and Ulster Rugby all received boosts over the weekend by beating Heineken Champions Cup rivals in domestic competition.