Ulster have qualified for the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup on points difference after Bordeaux claimed a 66-12 victory against Sharks.
Richie Murphy’s side’s bonus-point 52-24 win over Exeter Chiefs on Friday night moved them level with fourth-placed Sharks on five points.
On Sunday, they needed already-qualified Bordeaux to beat Sharks by 29 points to have any chance of progressing on points difference.
Sharks started brightly in France and raced into a 12-point lead before Bordeaux fought back to hold a 19-12 advantage at half-time.
Damian Penaud scored a tournament-record six tries as a blistering second-half display held Bordeaux secure top spot in Pool 1 and home advantage in the next round in April.
The heavy defeat for Sharks meant Ulster leapfrogged them into fourth place with a better points difference of -61 compared with Sharks’ -87.
Ulster will now be away from home for their last-16 tie as the Sharks drop into the Challenge Cup.
