Harlequins fell to a second straight loss in the Heineken Cup, with only a last-gasp drop-goal from Nick Evans earning them a losing bonus point against Clermont Auvergne.
Saracens fell short at a packed out Wembley on Friday night as a late Owen Farrell drop-goal missed the mark; handing Toulouse a 17-16 victory and the upper hand in Pool 3 of the competition.
Bookmakers William Hill make Toulon and Jonny Wikinson the favourites to win the Heineken Cup this season and finish as top points-scorer respectively.
European Rugby Cup Chief Executive Derek McGrath remains adamant that a solution to the current dispute over the future of European rugby can still be found.
The 2013-14 Heineken Cup season was launched in Paris earlier this week despite its future as European rugby's premier competition being shrouded in confusion and doubt.
Jonny Wilkinson seals Toulon's Heineken Cup semi-final spot with an impressive kicking display, as the French side fight-back from a half-time deficit, to beat a disappointed Leicester.
Premiership leaders Northampton Saints began their Heineken cup campaign on Sunday with a stunning comeback against Glasgow Warriors at a near full Franklins Gardens.
The future of European rugby looks uncertain this off season as the Celtic unions prepare to block proposed changes by Premiership Rugby and the Ligue Nationale Rugby.
Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty has confirmed that his organisation intend to cut their ties with European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC) unless they agree to an overhaul of the Heineken Cup.
If you spend any time reading online rugby forums, there is a chance that at some point you will have seen a debate regarding whether the Northern Hemisphere season needs restructuring.
Munster ensured that they would have a home quarter-final in the Heineken Cup after they ran out 51-36 winners over Northampton Saints in an epic encounter at Stadium:MK