The domestic season is reaching the business end with British & Irish Lions players across Europe looking to take another step towards silverware.
Players from across the home unions made an impact as the United Rugby Championship regular season drew to a close, while in the Premiership, there is still one final round to be played.
Here is how they got on:
Tuipulotu back at last
The most eagerly awaited return of the weekend unquestionably came in Dublin, where Sione Tuipulotu was back in action for the first time since January.
The Scotland and Glasgow Warriors centre suffered a torn pectoral muscle just before the Guinness Men's Six Nations and has not been able to contribute for club or country since.
Such had been his form prior to that injury that Tuipulotu was still duly named by Andy Farrell in his Lions squad at the O2 a fortnight ago.
And after coming through 40 minutes, Tuipulotu looks to be ramping up his match fitness ahead of the Tour.
Fellow Lions Jones and Scott Cummings also featured in the 13-5 defeat to Leinster, with Tuipulotu and Jones reunited in the midfield, and next up will be a URC quarter-final against the Stormers.
For Leinster, there were five Lions starters as Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, James Ryan and Jack Conan started in the pack, with Hugo Keenan at full-back and Ronan Kelleher coming off the bench.
Smith puts on a show for Care farewell
It was an emotional Sunday at the Stoop where Danny Care was making his final appearance for Harlequins before closing the curtain on nearly two decades at the club.
The England international came off the bench in a 24-22 win over Exeter Chiefs, where Lions fly-half Marcus Smith stole the show.
His first-half try showed exactly what makes him so special, stepping multiple Chiefs defenders despite seemingly no space and then racing under the posts as a result.
And he then did his bit from the kicking tee, slotting the penalty that put Quins back in front as they edged out their Devon visitors.
On a day where his half-back partner was rightly celebrated, Smith ensured those celebrations would be off the back of a victory.
Bath and Saints Lions warm up for finals
League action takes a break next weekend as the EPCR finals take centre stage, with Bath taking on Lyon on Friday night in the Challenge Cup before Northampton Saints face Bordeaux-Bègles in the Champions Cup on Saturday.
Both sides were victorious in their final league outings, with Finn Russell and Will Stuart both crucial to Bath’s big win over Leicester Tigers in a battle of the Premiership’s top two.
Stuart even got himself a try as Bath continue to cement their place at the top of the table.
Saints, meanwhile, are out of the play-off race in England, but still showed plenty of resolve to fight back and see off Saracens 28-24.
Their quartet of Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman and Henry Pollock all started the game and will be hoping for more of the same next week in Cardiff.
Best of the rest
It was a big weekend in the race for URC play-off spots, with Tadhg Beirne playing all 80 minutes as Munster overcame Benetton to book their place in the top eight.
And Edinburgh are hitting form at the perfect time with Pierre Schoeman scoring for the second time in as many games since his Lions call-up to see the Scottish side into the quarter-finals as well.
Elsewhere, Bundee Aki helped Connacht to victory away in Parma against Zebre, while Tomos Williams helped Gloucester beat Newcastle Falcons to keep their Premiership play-off hopes alive.
Ellis Genge also came off the bench for Bristol Bears, who were beaten at Sale Sharks but earned a try bonus point that could yet prove important come the end of the season.
