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 the Northampton Saints , who are in Pool 3. 

Here are a few things to know about Northampton Saints:

Northampton Saints Results In the Gallagher Premiership in 2024-2025 Season

The defending Gallagher Premiership champions are off to a rocky start in the domestic league. The Saints are 3-0-3 through six rounds. 

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

The Saints went 4-0-0 in pool play and advanced to the semifinals of the knockout stage, where they nearly beat Leinster in Dublin. Leinster won 20-17. 

Have The Northampton Saints Ever Won The Champions Cup?

Northampton won the Champions Cup in 2000 and made the Champions Cup Final in 2011. The Saints also have won the EPCR Challenge Cup twice, in 2009 and 2014. 

Who Is The Coach Of The Northampton Saints?

Phil Dowson is the director of rugby for the Saints, while Sam Vesty is the head coach. 

Vesty played for the Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby during his career from 2002-2013. He joined the Saints in 2018 as the attack and backs coach, before becoming the head coach in 2022. 

Where Do The Northampton Saints Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?

The defending Premiership champions are No. 3 on the FloRugby team rankings, behind Toulouse and Leinster. 

Who Are The Highest-Ranked FloRugby Players On The Northampton Saints Roster?

• Tommy Freeman – Northampton Saints & England (No. 40)
• George Furbank – Northampton Saints & England (No. 68)
• Alex Mitchell – Northampton Saints & England (No. 86)

Where Do The Northampton Saints Play?

The Saints play at Cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens, or just Franklin's Gardens. The stadium opened in 1880 in Northampton. 

When Does Northampton Saints Rugby Play In The Investec Championship Cup?

Here is the Northampton Saints Champions Cup schedule:

Northampton Vs. Castres Kickoff In Round 1 

• Round 1: Northampton Saints vs. Castres Olympique , 10:15 a.m. ET, Dec. 7, 2024, Cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens

Bulls Vs. Northampton Kickoff In Round 2

• Round 2:  Vodacom Bulls vs. Northampton Saints  , 8 a.m. ET, Dec. 14, 2024, Loftus Versfeld

Stade Francais Vs. Northampton Kickoff In Round 3

• Round 3:  Stade Francais Paris vs. Northampton Saints  , 12:30 p.m. ET, Jan. 11, 2025, Stade Jean Bouin

Northampton Vs. Munster Kickoff In Round 4 

• Round 4:  Northampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby  , 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 18, 2025, Cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens

How To Watch Northampton Saints Rugby In The Investec Champions Cup

Every Northampton Saints 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 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, 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: 

• 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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