Investec Champions Cup News: Ranking The Clubs (Yes, Toulouse is No. 1)
Investec Champions Cup News: Ranking The Clubs (Yes, Toulouse is No. 1)
Every team in the Investec Champions Cup competition is among the 50 best in the world according to FloRugby. Here's where they stack up.
The Investec Champions Cup features some of the best professional rugby teams in the world and is one of the premier competitions in the sport.
“I think it’s a level just below test rugby,” said DHL Stormers and Springbok Evan Roos at EPCR Media Day.
Roos isn’t too off.
Almost every member of the Springboks, Ireland Rugby, English Rugby and French Rugby squads will play for professional clubs during the European championship tournament. With the addition of four South Africa rugby clubs three years ago, the strength of the Investec Champions Cup has never been stronger since first being played in 1995-1996.
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And the competition moves quickly.
“Investec Champions Cup is a sprint, so you have to get out of the blocks very, very quickly – only four games (in pool play) and hopefully we can go kick-on from there and go as far as we can,” said Racing 92 star Tristan Tedder.
Leinster vs. La Rochelle, Again, At Champions Cup
Racing 92 is among the top 50 clubs in the recent FloRugby Top 50 list and in fact all of the 24 teams playing in the Champions Cup made our top 50, including No. 2 Leinster and No. 7 La Rochelle, who will play yet again in Champion Cup play.
The two clubs played twice last season, once pool play and once in knockout stages and met in back-to-back seasons in the Champions Cup Final.
“It almost seems fixed at this stage,” Leinster Rugby captain Caelan Doris said at EPCR Media Day. “We’ve played them so many times over the last number of years, but it’s always a good battle. And I think there’s good mutual respect there but a good rivalry and a bit of nickel in the game.”
Here are the full list of FloRugby Top 50 clubs playing in the Investec Champions Cup starting on Dec. 6 and streaming in the United States and Canada on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
Best Rugby Clubs In The World Playing In The Investec Champions Cup
Here are the teams who are ranked in the FloRugby Top 50 Clubs list.
- 1. Toulouse Rugby (Top 14)
- 2. Leinster Rugby (United Rugby Championship)
- 3. Northampton Saints (Premiership)
- 4. Union Bordeaux Begles (Top 14)
- 6. Glasgow Warriors (United Rugby Championship)
- 7. La Rochelle Rugby (Top 14)
- 8. Munster Rugby (United Rugby Championship)
- 10. Bath Rugby (Premiership)
- 11. Vodacom Bulls (United Rugby Championship)
- 13. Saracens (Premiership)
- 14. Harlequins (Premiership)
- 15. DHL Stormers (United Rugby Championship)
- 16. Stade Francais (Top 14)
- 18. Sale Sharks (Premiership)
- 19. Toulon (Top 14)
- 20. Exeter (Premiership)
- 22. Benetton Rugby (United Rugby Championship)
- 23. Racing 92 (Top 14)
- 24. Ulster Rugby (United Rugby Championship)
- 26. Bristol Bears (Premiership)
- 27. Castres Olympique (Top 14)
- 28.Clermont Auvergne (Top 14)
- Leicester Tigers (Premiership)
- Hollywoodbets Sharks
Investec Champions Cup News
Recent Champions Cup headlines:
- Investec Champions Cup News: What's The Toughest Pool And Why It's Pool 3
- 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Season Nears | EPCR Rugby News
- Leinster Rugby Locks In Key Aviva Stadium Dates For Investec Champions Cup
Investec Champions Cup Format
Key points of the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023/24 season
- 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
- sporting jeopardy with each club playing against four different opponents home or away in the pool stage
- Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
- The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends with four pool stage rounds and four knockout stage rounds culminating in the 2025 final which will be staged at Cardiff's Pincipality Stadium on Saturday, 24 May
Investec Champions Cup Weekends
- Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
- Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
- Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
- Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
- Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
- Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
- Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
- 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday 24 May, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Champions Cup Qualifications
Twenty-four clubs have qualified for the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup as follows:
- United Rugby Championship (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- 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.
- If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 Investec Champions Cup will take the place of the eighth-ranked club in its league.
Investec Champions Cup Qualifiers
- TOP 14 – Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Français Paris, RC Toulon, Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont Auvergne
- GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Bristol Bears, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers
- UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Glasgow Warriors, Vodacom Bulls, Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, DHL Stormers, Ulster Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Hollywoodbets Sharks
EPCR Challenge Cup Format
Key points for the 2024/25 EPCR Challenge Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023/24 season
- 18 clubs in three pools of six
- sporting jeopardy with each club playing against four different opponents home or away in the pool stage
- Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the knockout stage
- Eight weekends with four pool stage rounds and four knockout stage rounds culminating in the 2025 final at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday, 23 May
EPCR Challenge Cup Weekends
- Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
- Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
- Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
- Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
- Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
- Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
- Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
- 2025 EPCR Challenge Cup final – Principality Stadium, Cardiff; Friday 23 May
EPCR Challenge Cup Qualifiers
Clubs from the United Rugby Championship, the TOP 14 and the Gallagher Premiership who have not qualified for the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup will compete in the 2024/25 EPCR Challenge Cup.
NB If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup will secure a place in the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup, replacing the eight-ranked club in its league.
EPCR Challenge Cup Qualifiers
- UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Ospreys, Emirates Lions, Edinburgh Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Cardiff Rugby, Scarlets, Dragons RFC, Zebre Parma
- TOP 14 – Section Paloise, USAP, Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Aviron Bayonnais, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, RC Vannes
- GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Gloucester Rugby, Newcastle Falcons
- INVITED – Black Lion, Toyota Cheetahs
When Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?
The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin on Dec. 6 and the four-round pool play action ends on Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13 and the semifinals are May 2-4.
The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup).
What Are The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup Pools?
Here are the pools.
Investec Champions Cup:
- Toulouse (Stade Toulousain)
- Bordeaux-Bègles (Union Bordeaux-Bègles)
- Hollywoodbets Sharks
- Exeter Chiefs
- Leicester Tigers
- Ulster Rugby
Pool 2:
- Leinster Rugby
- Clermont Auvergne (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
- La Rochelle (Stade Rochelais)
- Bristol Bears
- Benetton Rugby
- Bath Rugby
Pool 3:
- Northampton Saints
- Munster Rugby
- Vodacom Bulls
- Stade Français Paris
- Saracens
- Castres Olympique
Pool 4:
- Glasgow Warriors
- Racing 92
- Sale Sharks
- DHL Stormers
- Toulon (RC Toulon)
- Harlequins
EPCR Challenge Cup
Pool 1:
- Cardiff Rugby
- Connacht Rugby
- Toyota Cheetahs
- Perpignan (USAP)
- Lyon Olympique Universitaire (Lyon O.U.)
- Zebre Parma
Pool 2:
- Montpellier Hérault Rugby
- Pau (Section Paloise)
- Newcastle Falcons
- Dragons RFC
- Emirates Lions
- Ospreys
Pool 3:
- RC Vannes
- Black Lion
- Bayonne (Aviron Bayonnais)
- Scarlets
- Edinburgh Rugby
- Gloucester Rugby
How To Watch Rugby Matches In the United States On FloRugby
FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.