La Rochelle Rugby In The Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know
La Rochelle Rugby In The Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know
La Rochelle Rugby 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 in Cardiff, Wales – which hosted the first Champions Cup Final– and Principality Stadium on May 24.
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One of the teams looking to advance to the EPCR Final is Stade Rochelais, or La Rochelle Rugby, which is in Pool 2.
Here are a few things to know about La Rochelle Rugby:
La Rochelle Rugby Results In Top 14 in 2024-2025 Season
La Rochelle is fourth in the Top 14 table after eight rounds.
What Did La Rochelle Rugby Do In The Champions Cup In 2023-2024?
An injury-plagued season that never really saw La Rochelle get momentum like the previous two campaigns when the team won the Champions Cup, La Rochelle narrowly escaped the Round of 16 after the DHL Stormers scored in the 79th minute.
A failed conversion propelled La Rochelle to the quarterfinals, where Leinster -- the club it beat two years in row in the Final -- demolished them, 40-13.
It was the second loss to Leinster during the Champions Cup run, as the two played in France in pool play. One of the better, and newer, rivalries in European rugby, the two clubs meet again in Round 3 of pool play in January.
Has La Rochelle Rugby Ever Won The Champions Cup?
La Rochelle won back-to-back Champions Cup titles in 2022 and 2023, beating Leinster both times, and made three straight Champions Cup Finals, losing in 2021 to top 14 rival Toulouse.
The Top 14 has produced every Champions Cup winner since 2021.
Who Is The La Rochelle Rugby Coach?
Making the Leinster vs. La Rochelle rivalry even more intriguing is that former Munster Rugby star Ronan O'Gara has been the La Rochelle coach since 2019.
He played in 240 matches for Munster from 1997-2013 and played in 128 matches for Ireland before becoming a coach. O'Gara coached at Racing 92 and with the Crusaders in Super Rugby before taking the La Rochelle job.
The 47-year-old is considered one of the best coaches in the world and likely would be at the top of Ireland's list if Andy Farrell ever left the national team.
Where Does La Rochelle Rugby Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?
La Rochelle is the No. 7 rugby team in the world in the FloRugby top 50 list.
Who Are The Highest-Ranked FloRugby Players On The La Rochelle Rugby Roster?
- Will Skelton – La Rochelle & Australia (No. 35)
- Gregory Alldritt – La Rochelle & France (No. 38)
- Levani Botia – La Rochelle & Fiji (No. 71)
Where Does La Rochelle Rugby Play?
La Rochelle plays in the Stade Marcel Deflandre in La Rochelle, France.
When Does La Rochelle Rugby Play In The Investec Championship Cup?
Here is the La Rochelle Rugby Champions Cup schedule:
Bath Vs. La Rochelle Kickoff In Round 1
- Round 1: Bath Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, 3 p.m. ET, Dec 6, 2024, The Rec
La Rochelle Vs. Bristol Kickoff In Round 2
- Round 2: Stade Rochelais vs. Bristol Bears, 3 p.m. ET, Dec 14, 2024, Stade Marcel Deflandre
La Rochelle Vs. Leinster Kickoff In Round 3
- Round 3: Stade Rochelais vs. Leinster Rugby, 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 12, 2025, Stade Marcel Deflandre
Benetton Vs. La Rochelle Kickoff In Round 4
- Round 4: Benetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, 12:30 p.m. ET, Jan. 18, 2025, Stadio Monigo
How To Watch La Rochelle Rugby Play In The Investec Champions Cup?
Every La Rochelle 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 2024-2025 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 rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Pincipality 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, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Champions Cup Qualifications
Twenty-four clubs have qualified for the 2024-2025 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 2024-2025 EPCR Challenge Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 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 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, May 23
EPCR Challenge Cup Qualifiers
Clubs from the United Rugby Championship, the TOP 14 and the Gallagher Premiership that have not qualified for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup will compete in the 2024-2025 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 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 Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends on Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. 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.