Knockout stages.

The European Champions Cup returns this weekend with four huge heavyweight quarter final clashes to look forward to.

Up first we’ve got Scarlets, who have reached the knockout stages for the first time in over a decade, hosting French fliers La Rochelle at Parc Y Scarlets on Friday. Then we’ve got two-time champions Munster hosting three-time winners Toulon at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Then finally we’ve got an double-header on Sunday with last year’s finalists Clermont hosting Racing 92 in an all-French affair, before number one seeds Leinster host current holders Saracens at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

But what happens if we are unable to separate any of the sides after 80 minutes? If the scores are tied at full-time, then 20 minutes (two periods of 10 minutes) of extra-time will be played. If at the end of extra-time the scores are still level, then the winners will be the team that has scored the most tries in the game, including extra-time.

If the teams are level on points and tries at the end of extra-time, then the winners will be determined by a place-kicking competition as follows:

Each team will be asked to nominate THREE goal kickers. The kicker need not be predetermined, but they must come from players on the pitch at the final whistle. No substituted or dismissed player will be permitted to take part. The end at which the competition takes place will be determined by a toss of a coin. The team to kick first will also be determined by the toss of a coin.

Each kicker will have two kicks from designated positions on the 22 and 10 metre lines and after each team has completed their six kicks a winner will be declared. If the teams remain deadlocked, the competition will continue on a sudden-death basis.

Now there you have it. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen this happen, but you just never know.