How To Watch The 2024 Investec Champions Cup In The U.S. And Fixtures
How To Watch The 2024 Investec Champions Cup In The U.S. And Fixtures
The 2024 European Champions Cup tournament begins in December 2023 and has a new name and new teams this season. Here's fixtures, pools and more info.
The road to Tottenham HotSpur Stadium begins Dec. 8.
Tottenham will host the 2024 Investec Champions Cup Final, formerly known as the Heineken Champions Cup, as the best professional rugby clubs in Europe compete for the European Rugby Championship.
- Subscribe To FloRugby For To Watch All Investec Champions Cup Matches In 2023-2024
- Investec Champions Cup And EPCR Challenge Cup Fixtures Released
- How To Watch United Rugby Championship Matches in 2023-204 And More Info
- 5 North American Rugby Players To Watch In European Rugby 2023-2024
The top clubs from the United Rugby Championship, Top 14 and the Gallagher Premiership will begin pool play in December 2023 with eyes on reaching the knockout stage in 2024 and playing in the Champions Cup Final at Hotspur Stadium on May 25.
La Rochelle Rugby of the French league Top 14 is the two-time defending champion and both times upset the betting favorite, Leinster Rugby of the URC, to win the championship.
Here’s what to know about the Investec Champions Cup.
The Heineken Champions Cup Is Now The Investec Champions Cup, Which Is Also Known As The European Rugby Champions Cup
Yeah, it can be confusing.
The European Rugby Champion Cup tournament is now called the Investec Champions Cup after the title sponsor was changed this offseason. The tournament was known as the Heineken Cup from 1995-2014, then was known as the Champions Cup from 2014-2018 and now has a new sponsor, Investec.
What Is Investec, the New Rugby Champions Cup Title Sponsor?
The new title sponsor Investec is a bank and wealth management company based in South Africa and Europe.
How To Watch The European Rugby Champions Cup 2024 In The United States
FloRugby and the FloSports app is streaming all the Investec Champions Cup games in the United States. Both platforms are home to match replays, highlights and breaking news.
When Does The 2024 European Rugby Champions Cup Begin?
Pool play matches will begin Dec. 8 across Europe and South Africa.
How Many Pool Rounds Of 2024 Champions Cup Rugby Are There?
There are four rounds of pool play before the Round of 16 begins.
How Do Teams Qualify For The Rugby Champions Cup?
According to the European Professional Club Rugby website here are the qualifications:
- United Rugby Championship (8): The four Shield winners and the next four highest-ranked clubs in the final league table.
- TOP 14 (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- Gallagher Premiership Rugby (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
The United Rugby Championship recently changed its Champions Cup qualifications for next season.
Instead of the four shield winners being automatic qualifiers, the top eight teams in the standings will qualify. This would have changed the field in 2023-2024 as the Hollywoodbets Sharks finished eighth in the URC standings in 2022-2023, but finished third in the South African Shield, meaning the Sharks didn’t qualify.
Instead, Cardiff Rugby qualified for the Champions Cup after winning the Welsh Shield but finishing outside the top eight of the URC last season.
The URC is made of teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy and South Africa. Scotland and Italy form one shield.
When Is The 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup?
The clubs from those leagues that don't qualify for the Champions Cup will play in the EPCR Challenge Cup that also begins on Dec. 8. Two clubs not from the three leagues were invited to the Challenge Cup this season: The Black Lions of Georgia and Toyota Cheetahs from South Africa.
How Many European Professional Rugby Teams Qualified For The Investec Champions Cup 2024?
There are 24 teams that qualified for the Champions Cup in 2024.
Which Top 14 Clubs Qualified For The Rugby Champions Cup 2024?
The Top 14 is a league of French professional rugby teams. Here’s who qualified:
- Stade Rochelais
- Stade Toulousain
- Racing 92
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles
- Lyon, Stade Français Paris
- RC Toulon
- Aviron Bayonnais
Stade Rochelais, or La Rochelle, has won the Champions Cup in back-to-back years, but neither time did they win the Top 14 Championship. Stade Toulousain, or Toulouse, is the reigning Top 14 Champion. They beat La Rochelle in the Top 14 final 29-26 in June.
Toulouse, one of the biggest powerhouse clubs in the world, has won a record five Champions Cup, including in 2021. A Top 14 team has won the last three Champions Cup titles.
All Top 14 league games are streaming live in the United States on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
Which Gallagher Premiership Clubs Qualified For The Rugby Champions Cup
The Gallagher Premiership, or Premiership Rugby, is made of 10 teams. Eight of which qualify for the Champions Cup. Here’s who qualified in 2024:
- Saracens
- Sale Sharks
- Leicester Tigers
- Northampton Saints
- Harlequins
- Exeter Chiefs
- Bath Rugby
- Bristol Bears
Saracens has won three Champions Cup titles, tied with Toulon for third-most since 1995. Saracens is the reigning Gallagher Premiership champions. The Leicester Tigers have won the Gallagher Premiership the most with 11 titles.
Which United Rugby Championship Clubs Qualified For The Rugby Champions Cup
Formerly known as the Celtic League and Pro 14 league, the URC was formed in 2021 and for the first time South African teams were allowed to play for the Champions Cup. The league is the most diverse in that it includes multiple countries among its 16 teams.
Here are the qualifying teams:
- Munster Rugby
- DHL Stormers
- Leinster Rugby
- Ulster Rugby
- Glasgow Warriors
- Vodacom Bulls
- Connacht Rugby
- Cardiff Rugby
Leinster was the betting favorite to win the last two Champions Cup but both times the Dublin-based club lost in the Final to La Rochelle. Leinster has won the second-most Champions Cup with four, but has not won since 2018. Leinster was runner-up in 2019, 2022 and 2023. Munster, the reigning URC champion has won two Champions Cup, but none since 2008.
DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls will attempt to the be the first South African Clubs to win the European Champions Cup.
Investec Champions Cup Rugby Pool 1
Here are the teams in Pool 1.
- Saracens
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles
- Vodacom Bulls
- Bristol Bears
- Connacht Rugby
- Lyon
Investec Champions Cup Rugby Pool 2
Here are the teams in Pool 2.
- Toulouse
- Cardiff Rugby
- Bath Rugby
- Racing 92
- Harlequins
- Ulster Rugby
Investec Champions Cup Rugby Pool 3
Here are the teams in Pool 3.
- Munster Rugby
- Aviron Bayonnais
- Glasgow Warriors
- Exeter Chiefs
- RC Toulon
- Northampton Saints
Investec Champions Cup Rugby Pool 4
Here are the teams in Pool 4.
- La Rochelle
- Stade Français
- Leicester Tigers
- DHL Stormers
- Leinster Rugby
- Sale Sharks
What’s The Toughest Investec Champions Cup Rugby Pool?
It’s hard not to say Pool 4 is the toughest.
It includes the defending champion as well as the back-to-back runner-up. The DHL Stormers won the URC in 2022 and were URC finalists in 2023. Meanwhile, Leicester Tigers is one of the most prominent clubs in the world and led by the highest-paid rugby player in the world, South African Star Fly-half Handré Pollard.
La Rochelle vs. Leinster Rugby in Round 1 of the Champions Cup is on Dec. 10 at Stade Marcel Deflandre.
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures in Round 1
(all times are EST):
Dec. 8
- Glasgow Warriors vs. Northampton Saints, 3 p.m., Scotstoun Stadium
- Connacht Rugby vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, 3 p.m., Sportsground
Dec. 9
- RC Toulon vs. Exeter Chiefs, 8 a.m., Stade Felix Mayol
- Bath Rugby vs. Ulster Rugby, 10:15 a.m., The Rec
- Toulouse vs Cardiff Rugby, 10:15 a.m., Stade Ernest Wallon
- Vodacom Bulls vs. Saracens, 12:30 p.m., Loftus Versfeld
- Munster Rugby vs. Aviron Bayonnais, 12:30 p.m., Thomond Park
- Bristol Bears vs Lyon, 3 p.m., Ashton Gate
Dec. 10
- Sale Sharks vs. Stade Français, 8 a.m., Salford Stadium
- La Rochelle vs. Leinster Rugby, 10: 15 a.m., Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Leicester Tigers vs. DHL Stormers, 10:15 a.m., Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Racing 92 vs. Harlequins, 12:30 p.m., Paris La Defense Arena
All these matches will be streamed on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures in Round 2
(all times are EST):
Dec. 15
- Northampton Saints vs RC Toulon, 3 p.m., cinch Stadium @ Franklin Gardens
- Aviron Bayonnais vs Glasgow Warriors, 3 p.m., Stade Jean Dauger
Dec. 16
- DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, 8 a.m., DHL Stadium
- Saracens vs. Connacht Rugby, 8 a.m., StoneX Stadium
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs Bristol Bears, 10:15 a.m., Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Lyon vs Vodacom Bulls, 12:30 p.m. Matmut Stadium de Gerland
- Leinster Rugby vs Sale Sharks, 12:30 p.m. RDS Arena
- Cardiff Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, 3 p.m. Cardiff Arms Park
- Ulster Rugby vs. Racing 92, 3 p.m., Kingspan Stadium
Dec. 17
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Munster Rugby, 8 a.m., Sandy Park
- Harlequins vs. Toulouse, 10:15 a.m., Twickenham Stoop
- Stade Français vs. Leicester Tigers, 12:30 p.m., Stade Jean Bouin
All these matches will be streamed on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures in Round 3
(all times are EST)
Jan. 12
- Northampton Saints vs. Aviron Bayonnais, 3 p.m. cinch Stadium @ Franklin Gardens
Jan. 13
- Lyon vs. Connacht, 8 a.m., Matmut Stadium de Gerland
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Glasgow Warriors, 8 a.m., Sandy Park
- Bristol Bears vs. Vodacom Bulls, 10:15 a.m. Ashton Gate
- RC Toulon vs Munster Rugby, 10:15 a.m., Stade Felix Mayol
- Leinster Rugby vs. Stade Français, 12:30 p.m. Aviva Stadium
- DHL Stormers vs. Sale Sharks, 12:30 p.m., DHl Stadium
- Cardiff Rugby vs. Harlequins, 3 p.m., Cardiff Arms Park
- Ulster Rugby vs. Toulouse, 3 p.m., Kingspan Stadium
Jan. 14
- Bath Rugby vs. Racing 92, 8 a.m., The Rec
- La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, 10:15 a.m., Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Saracens, 12:30 p.m., Stade Chaban-Delmas
All these matches will be streamed on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 4
(all times are EST)
Jan. 19
- Glasgow Warriors vs. RC Toulon, 3 p.m., Scotstoun Stadium
- Connacht Rugby vs. Bristol Bears, 3 p.m., The Sportsground
Jan. 20
- Harlequins vs. Ulster Rugby, 8 a.m., Twickenham Stoop
- Vodacom Bulls vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, 8 a.m., Loftus Versfeld
- Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, 10:15 a.m., Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Racing 92 vs. Cardiff Rugby, 10:15 a.m., Paris La Defense Arena
- Munster Rugby vs. Northampton Saints, 12:30 p.m., Thomond Park
- Stade Français vs. DHL Stormers, 12:30 p.m., Stade Jean Bouin
- Saracens vs Lyon, 3 p.m., StonX Stadium
Jan. 21
- Sale Sharks vs. La Rochelle, 8 a.m., Salford Stadium
- Toulouse vs. Bath Rugby, 10:15 a.m., Stade Ernest Wallon
- Aviron Bayonnais vs. Exeter Chiefs, 12:30 p.m., Stade Jean Dauger
All these matches will be streamed on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
When Is The Rugby Investec Champions Cup Round of 16?
The Round of 16 will begin on on April 5 and end on April 7.
When Are The Investec Champions Cup Rugby Quarterfinals?
The Champions Cup quarterfinals are April 12-14.
When Are The Rugby Investec Champions Cup Semifinals?
The Investec Champions Cup semifinals are May 3-5.
When Is The Rugby Investec Champions Cup Final?
The final will be at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 25.
What To Know About Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The host of the Champions Cup final moves from Aviva Stadium in Dublin to London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The venue is the third-largest stadium in England and home to Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
How To Watch Rugby Matches In the United States On FloRugby
The Investec Champions Cup will stream all its matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports are also the U.S. home to:
- Investec Champions Cup
- EPCR Challenge Cup
- United Rugby Championship
- Currie Cup
- Top 14
- Super Rugby
- And more.
FloRugby is also home to match archives and match replays.
Join The Rugby Conversation on FloRugby Social
- Follow us on Twitter @florugby.
- Follow us on Instagram @florugby.
- Watch us on YouTube.
- Like us on Facebook.