2018/19 pool stage: Castres Olympique 29 Exeter Chiefs 25

Castres were reduced to 14 men in their Round 2 clash with Exeter but battled to an incredible victory at Stade Pierre Fabre as they bounced back from defeat on the opening weekend.

Exeter raced into an early lead as Santiago Cordero and Matt Kvesic crossed inside 15 minutes, but Florian Vialelle responded immediately for Castres before Julian Dumora slotted two penalties and a drop-goal.

The odds were against the TOP 14 side when Maama Vaipulu was sent off on 33 minutes, and although Yohan Le Bourhis’ penalty put them five points clear moments later, Chiefs’ Gareth Steenson dived over to send the teams into the break level at 19-19.

Castres were undeterred by the red card, however, with Steve Mafi scoring a sensational solo try shortly after the restart before Le Bourhis kicked another penalty to reply to one from Steenson.

Exeter could only muster another Steenson penalty over the remainder of the game and Henry Slade’s yellow card late on aided Castres in clinging on for a memorable win.

2018/19 pool stage: Exeter Chiefs 34 Castres Olympique 12

Exeter avenged their Round 2 defeat as they went over for six tries, securing a crucial bonus-point win at Sandy Park.

One win in their first four games saw Chiefs head into the penultimate round needing a big performance to hand themselves a lifeline, and they got off to the ideal start when Jack Nowell danced through to dot down on 2 minutes.

Taylor Paris cruised over in the corner shortly after to get Castres on the board but tries from Joe Simmonds and Jonny Hill put Exeter in control at half time.

Tom O’Flaherty added a fourth score three minutes into the second half, and although Thomas Combezou pulled one back for Castres, the tries continued to flow for Exeter as Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie crossed either side of a red card for the visitors’ Tudor Stroe.

With the pool draw for the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup completed, we’re looking back at the previous European meetings between opposing sides. Next up is a look at the Heineken Champions Cup clashes between Exeter Chiefs and Castres Olympique, who face off in Pool A next season.