The United Rugby Championship’s South African contingent are back in action this weekend while the European sides continue their Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup campaigns.
Off the field, there has been some more high-profile contract activity this week and Zebre Parma have a new head coach.
Here are five things to know ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.
SA teams back in URC action
This weekend marks the return of action in the South African Shield, with a pair of derby fixtures to look forward to.
The Emirates Lions host the Cell C Sharks in Johannesburg before the Vodacom Bulls welcome the DHL Stormers to Pretoria, with both matches taking place on Saturday.
These will be the first URC games involving South African sides since early December, although they have warmed up for their return with two rounds of Carling Currie Cup action.
The Lions top the shield after five rounds on 11 points, leading this weekend’s opponents the Sharks by two points, while the Stormers are two points further back and the Bulls are bottom of the pile on five points.
Champions Cup progress up for grabs
Munster and Ulster secured their places in the last 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup last weekend and will be eager to seal a home draw by clinching a top-four finish when they take on Wasps and Clermont Auvergne respectively.
Leinster sit fourth in Pool A and will themselves be keen to guarantee a home draw in the next round as they visit Bath, while Connacht travel to Stade Francais with a five-point cushion over ninth-placed Castres and relegation to the EPCR Challenge Cup.
Glasgow Warriors occupy a top-eight place in Pool A on points difference ahead of their clash with already-qualified La Rochelle but the three Welsh regions involved in the competition will be trying to force their way into the next round.
The Ospreys sit bottom of Pool A, five points behind eighth-placed Glasgow, and visit Sale Sharks this weekend, while Cardiff and the Scarlets are four points off eighth in Pool B and face Toulouse and Bristol Bears respectively.
Places in the Challenge Cup are on offer to those finishing between ninth and eleventh in their pools.
Zebre Parma name new coach
Zebre host Worcester Warriors in the EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday but do so under the leadership of a new head coach.
Having parted company with Michael Bradley earlier this month following a disappointing start to the season, Emiliano Bergamaschi has been tasked with leading the side to the end of the season, with an option to extend the deal.
“Emiliano is an exceptional professional, with a vision in which we all believe,” said Zebre president Michele Dalai of the former one-cap Argentina international prop.
Zebre bolstered their playing ranks this week with the signing off former Bath scrum-half Chris Cook.
New contracts locked in
Following last week’s flood of new contracts, there have been more deals done across the URC this week.
Ospreys lock Adam Beard has signed a new three-year contract with his home region, having also been named Wales' vice-captain for the Guinness Six Nations.
The 26-year-old has played 96 times for the Ospreys, won 29 Wales caps and also represented the British and Irish Lions in the summer.
Edinburgh tied down club captain Grant Gilchrist to a new "long-term deal", and Glasgow wrapped up a "multi-year extension" for Kyle Steyn.
Elsewhere, Benetton have signed utility back Tommy Bell and back row Yaree Fantini until the end of the season, Werner Kruger has returned to the Bulls as a front-row consultant and Kenny Murray has left his role on Glasgow's coaching staff after almost a decade to take up a new position with Scottish Rugby.
Fans back in Scotland and Wales
Following the easing of coronavirus restrictions in Scotland and Wales, matches in those countries will emerge from behind closed doors this weekend.
Glasgow, the Scarlets and Edinburgh will all welcome supporters, having been unable to do so since Christmas.
“I can't wait to have the supporters back,” said Mike Blair ahead of Edinburgh’s clash with Brive. “We've really missed them.
“Our non-23 guys made a good effort against Cardiff to create the same kind of atmosphere, which was great, so hopefully they'll come out in full voice.”