Montpellier

After declaring his interest in succeeding Stuart Lancaster as England coach, Jake White watched as his Montpellier side were beaten 41-18 by Harlequins in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Rugby league convert Sam Burgess will make his first start in union this weekend.

George North scored four tries as Northampton beat the Ospreys in Pool Five while Glasgow held on to beat Montpellier in Pool Four of the European Champions Cup.

With the cold snap across France waning, the 18th round of the Top 14 sees a full complement of fixtures as the battle for the play-offs and relegation heats up.

Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne and Toulon edged closer towards confirming their play-off status with victories as the 17th round of the Top 14 was affected by the cold snap that saw the France versus Ireland match postponed this weekend.

Clermont Auvergne kept up the pressure on leaders Toulouse as both sides secured away victories in the sixteenth round of the French Top 14.

The French Top 14 returns this weekend after mixed results in European competitions for its sides.

With Phillipe Saint-André having announced his Six Nations squad on Thursday, the 30 men selected will be out to prove themselves worthy of making France's starting XV against Italy in one month's time.

The curtain fell on 2011 with Toulouse extending their lead at the top of the Top 14 table, after Clermont Auvergne were held up at Lyon. Elsewhere there were surprise victories for Bordeaux-Bègles and Biarritz.