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 Ulster Rugby, which is in Pool 1. 

Here are a few things to know about Ulster Rugby.

Ulster Rugby Results In United Rugby Championship in 2024-2025 Season

It's been a maddening inconsistent URC season so far for the club from Belfast. 

They entered the November hiatus seventh in the table with a 3-0-3 record. They have a win over defending champion Glasgow Warriors in dramatic fashion and also won an Irish Derby over Connacht and home win against the Ospreys. In fact, Ulster in Belfast has been unbeatable. 

But away from Northern Ireland, Ulster has a pair of lopsided losses coming in South Africa to the Lions and the Bulls. And they blew big lead in Wales to Cardiff Rugby in Round 6. Ulster's last URC match before Champions Cup play is against Leinster in Belfast at 2:35 p.m. ET on Nov. 29.

What Did Ulster Rugby Do In The Champions Cup In 2023-2024?

Ulster failed to advance to the Round of 16 in 2023-2024, going 1-0-3 in Pool B. The lone win was against Racing 92, 31-15 in Round 2. Ulster finished sixth in the URC to qualify for Champions Cup.

After missing the Knockout Stage of the Champions Cup last year, Ulster dropped to the Challenge Cup Knockout stage and was defeated in the quarterfinals by Clermont. 

Has Ulster Rugby Ever Won The Champions Cup?

Ulster won the Champions Cup in in 1999 and has not won it again. They last reached the Champion Cup Final in 2012. 

Who Is The Ulster Rugby Coach?

Richie Murphy, considered one of the best talent developers in the world who coached the Ireland U20 team from 2021-2024 and before that was the Ireland Rugby skills and kicking coach, was hired in 2024. He coached Ulster in the Challenge Cup after Dan McFarland left. 

Murphy is the father of Ben Murphy, who plays for Connacht and Jack Murphy, who is on the Ireland U20 team and in the Ulster Academy. 

Where Does Ulster Rugby Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?

Ulster is No. 24 in the FloRugby team rankings. 

Who Are The Highest Ranked FloRugby Players On The Ulster Rugby Roster?

With the departure of Stephen Kitsoff, who went back to the DHL Stormers, no Ulster players were on the FloRugby list. 

When Does Ulster Rugby Play In The Investec Championship Cup?

Here is Ulster's full Champions Cup schedule.

Toulouse vs. Ulster Kickoff In Round 1 

• Round 1: Stade Toulousain vs. Ulster Rugby, 10:15 am ET, Sun, 8 Dec 2024, Stade Ernest Wallon

Ulster vs. UBB Kickoff In Round 2

• Round 2: Ulster Rugby vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, 10:15 am ET, Sat, 14 Dec 2024, Kingspan Stadium

Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Kickoff In Round 3

• Round 3: Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby, 03:00 pm ET, Sat, 11 Jan 2025, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Ulster vs. Exeter Chiefs Kickoff In Round 4

• Round 4: Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, 3:00 pm ET, Fri, 17 Jan 2025, Kingspan Stadium

How To Watch Ulster Rugby Play In The Investec Champions Cup?

Every Ulster Rugby 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 2024/25 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: 

• Investec Champions Cup
• EPCR Challenge Cup
• Currie Cup
• Top 14
• Super Rugby
• And more

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

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