Hollywoodbets Sharks In The Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know
Hollywoodbets Sharks In The Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know
Hollywoodbets Sharks kickoff times, pool placement and how to watch them in the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup.
The 30th Investec Champions Cup competition is considered by many to be the best professional rugby tournament in the world and just a level below international test rugby.
The competition features 24 clubs divided into four pools of six clubs. There are four rounds of pool play, and the top 16 clubs advance to the knockout stage with the goal of making it to Cardiff, Wales – which hosted the first Champions Cup Final– and Principality Stadium on May 24.
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One of those teams looking to advance to the EPCR Final is the Hollywoodbets Sharks, who are in Pool 1.
Here are a few things to know about Hollywoodbets Sharks:
Hollywoodbets Sharks Results In United Rugby Championship In 2024-2025 Season
The successful Rugby Championship series for the Springboks bled into the Sharks' URC season.
The incredibly talented international players, including arguably the greatest Springboks player in history, Eben Etzebeth, were late getting back to action for the Sharks, who entered the fall hiatus 3-0-2 overall with 15 points and ninth in the table.
But the Sharks ended the first third of the URC season strong with a blowout win over Munster Rugby and a 28-24 win over the Glasgow Warriors, both of whom are also in the Champions Cup field.
The Sharks may be one of the biggest darkhorses in the Champions Cup this season with Etzebeth, Ox Nche and Siya Kolisi in the lineup.
What Did The Hollywoodbets Sharks Do In The Challenge Cup In 2023-2024?
The Hollywoodbets Sharks qualified for the Champions Cup because they won the Challenge Cup. Otherwise, the Ospreys, who finished eighth in the URC, would have made the Champions Cup. The Sharks struggled last season in the URC with a dreadful 4-0-14 record.
But a Challenge Cup win in the Final over Gloucester, 36-22, gave the club some momentum, as did the late offseason signing of Springboks star and former Shark, Kolisi, who returns after one season playing for Racing 92.
Have The Hollywoodbets Sharks Ever Won The Champions Cup?
The Sharks have played in one Champions Cup competition, in 2023, and reached the quarterfinals.
In Super Rugby, the Sharks were runners-up four times.
They, however, are the only South African rugby club to win any type of EPCR Championship when they won the Challenge Cup last season.
Who Is The Coach Of The Hollywoodbets Sharks?
John Plumtree is the coach of the Sharks.
The New Zealand coach played in his home country from 1985-1988, before moving to Durban and playing from 1988-1997 with the Sharks. He won two Currie Cup medals with the Sharks.
He was the head coach of the Sharks from 2008-2012, and in between tenures, he coached for Ireland, Japan and New Zealand, before returning to the Sharks in 2023.
Where Do The Hollywoodbets Sharks Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?
The Sharks are the lowest-ranked team in the field, according to the FloRugby rankings, at No. 32, which makes sense after a 4-0-14 season in the URC.
Who Are The Highest Ranked FloRugby Players On The Hollywoodbets Sharks Roster?
Here are all the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the FloRugby Top 100 Player Rankings:
- Eben Etzebeth – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa (No. 7)
- Ox Nche – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa (No. 16)
- Siya Kolisi – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa (No. 45)
- Grant Williams – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa (No. 58)
- Aphelele Fassi – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa (No. 76)
Where Do The Hollywoodbets Sharks Play?
The Sharks play at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban, South Africa.
When Does Hollywoodbets Sharks Play In The Investec Championship Cup?
Here is the Sharks Champions Cup schedule:
Sharks Vs. Chiefs Kickoff In Round 1
- Round 1: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Exeter Chiefs , 8 a.m. ET, Dec 7, 2024, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Leicester Tigers Vs. Sharks Kickoff In Round 2
- Round 2: Leicester Tigers vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks , 12:30 p.m. ET, Dec. 14, 2024, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Sharks Vs. Toulouse Kickoff In Round 3
- Round 3: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Stade Toulousain, 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 11, 2025, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
UBB Vs. Sharks Kickoff In Round 4
- Round 4: Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, 8 a.m. ET, Jan. 19, 2025, Stade Chaban-Delmas
How To Watch Hollywoodbets Sharks Play In The Investec Champions Cup?
Every Hollywoodbets Sharks match in the Investec Champions Cup is streaming live in the United States and Canada on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
Investec Champions Cup Format
Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 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 rounds, culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.
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 rounds, culminating in the 2025 final at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday, May 23.
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.
If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup will secure a place in the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup, replacing the eighth-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 Olympic University, 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 (Bordeaux-Bègles Union)
- Hollywoodbets Sharks
- Exeter Chiefs
- Leicester Tigers
- Ulster Rugby
Pool 2:
- Leinster Rugby
- Clermont Auvergne (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
- La Rochelle (Rochelais Stadium)
- Bristol Bears
- Benetton Rugby
- Bath Rugby
Pool 3:
- Northampton Saints
- Munster Rugby
- Vodacom Bulls
- Stade Français Paris
- Saracens
- Castres Olympic
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 Olympic University (Lyon OU)
- Zebra Parma
Pool 2:
- Montpellier Herault Rugby
- Pau (Pau Section)
- Newcastle Falcons
- Dragons RFC
- Emirates Lions
- Ospreys
Pool 3:
- RC Vannes
- Black Lion
- Bayonne (Bayonne Rowing)
- Scarlets
- Edinburgh Rugby
- Gloucester Rugby
How To Watch Rugby Matches In the United States On FloRugby
FloRugby and FloSports also are the US home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.