Nov 9, 8:00 PM UTC
Life vs BYU
Nov 23, 11:45 AM UTC
USA vs Spain
Nov 23, 1:30 PM UTC
RC Toulonnais vs Aviron Bayonnais
Nov 23, 3:30 PM UTC
Lyon OU vs ASM-Rugby
Nov 23, 8:05 PM UTC
RC Vannes vs Union Bordeaux
Nov 29, 6:00 PM UTC
Section Paloise vs Lyon OU
Nov 29, 6:00 PM UTC
Union Bordeaux vs MHR
Nov 29, 6:00 PM UTC
Aviron Bayonnais vs Stade Francais
Nov 29, 6:00 PM UTC
ASM Clermont Auvergne vs Castres Olympiq
Nov 29, 7:35 PM UTC
Glasgow Warriors vs Scarlets
Nov 30, 3:00 PM UTC
Sharks vs DHL Stormers
Nov 30, 7:35 PM UTC
Munster vs Lions
Nov 30, 7:35 PM UTC
Zebre Parma vs Ospreys
Dec 6, 8:00 PM UTC
Gloucester Rugby vs Edinburgh
Dec 6, 8:00 PM UTC
Dragons vs MHR
SANZAAR

FloRugby Top 100 Players List: The Investec Champions Cup Update

FloRugby Top 100 Players List: The Investec Champions Cup Update

Updated FloRugby 2024 Top 100 Player Rankings come just as team prepare for the Investec Champions Cup on Dec. 6. Here are the best players on Earth.

Nov 6, 2024 by Joe Harrington
Who's The Top Player In Rugby? They Know

The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup begins on Dec. 6 with Round 1 action as teams look to dethrone defending champions Toulouse, which is seeking its seventh Champions Cup win in 30 seasons. 

The 30th Investec Champions Cup will feature some of the best teams and players in the world. Quite literally. All 24 teams in the Champions Cup field are in the FloRugby top 50 rankings. As for the players, FloRugby debuted its Top 100 players list before the start of the Summer International Rugby season. 

But after a long summer and the start of the professional seasons in Europe, things have changed, players have risen, some have fallen and many will be in action during Champions Cup play. Here is the updated FloRugby Top 100 Players List by Philip Bendon. 

FloRugby Top 100 Players List

This list was originally published in June 2024. Here's a look at the original list with breakdown: 

Here are the updated FloRugby Top 100 Player Rankings:

  1. Antoine Dupont – Toulouse & France
  2. Caelan Doris – Leinster & Ireland
  3. Pieter-Steph Du Toit – Toyota Verblitz & South Africa
  4. Cheslin Kolbe – Tokyo Sungoliath & South Africa
  5. Ardie Savea – Moana Pasifika & New Zealand
  6. Jamison Gibson-Park – Leinster & Ireland
  7. Eben Etzebeth – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa
  8. Damian Penaud – Bordeaux-Begles & France
  9. Dan Sheehan – Leinster & Ireland
  10. Tadhg Beirne – Munster & Ireland
  11. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors & Scotland
  12. RG Snyman – Leinster & South Africa
  13. Maro Itoje – Saracens & England
  14. Hugo Keenan – Leinster & Ireland
  15. Will Jordan – Crusaders & New Zealand
  16. Ox Nche – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa
  17. Juan Cruz Mallia – Toulouse & Argentina
  18. Damian Willemse – DHL Stormers & South Africa
  19. Handre Pollard – Leicester Tigers & South Africa
  20. Finn Russell – Bath Rugby & Scotland
  21. Jordie Barrett – Leinster & New Zealand
  22. Bundee Aki – Connacht & Ireland
  23. Romain Ntamack – Toulouse & France
  24. Sam Underhill – Bath Rugby & England
  25. Andrew Porter – Leinster & Ireland
  26. Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse & Scotland
  27.  Jack Willis – Toulouse & England
  28. Kurt-Lee Arendse – Vodacom Bulls & South Africa
  29. Scott Barrett – Crusaders & New Zealand
  30. Josh van der Flier – Leinster & Ireland
  31. Garry Ringrose – Leinster & Ireland
  32. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – DHL Stormers & South Africa
  33. Tadhg Furlong – Leinster & Ireland
  34. Richie Mo’unga – Toshiba Brave Lupus & New Zealand
  35. Will Skelton – La Rochelle & Australia
  36. James Lowe – Leinster & Ireland
  37. Owen Farrell – Racing 92 & England
  38. Gregory Alldritt – La Rochelle & France
  39. Pablo Matera – Mie Honda Heat & Argentina
  40. Tommy Freeman – Northampton Saints & England
  41. Thomas Ramos – Toulouse & France
  42. Fraser McReight – Queensland Reds & Australia
  43. Julian Montoya – Leicester Tigers & Argentina
  44. James Ryan – Leinster & Ireland
  45. Siya Kolisi – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa
  46. Malcolm Marx – Kubota Spears & South Africa
  47. Ben Earl – Saracens & England
  48. Beauden Barrett – Blues & New Zealand
  49. Cyril Baille – Toulouse & France
  50. Marcus Smith – Harlequins & England
  51.  Jack Crowley – Munster & Ireland
  52. Kwagga Smith – Shizuoka Blue Revs & South Africa
  53. Tom Curry – Sale Sharks & England
  54. Tommaso Menencello – Benetton Rugby & Italy
  55. Ronan Kelleher – Leinster & Ireland
  56. Dewi Lake – Ospreys & Wales
  57. Jack Conan – Leinster & Ireland
  58. Grant Williams – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa
  59. Henry Slade – Exeter Chiefs & England
  60. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby & Scotland
  61. Angus Bell – New South Wales Waratahs & South Africa
  62. Jesse Kriel – Canon Eagles & South Africa
  63. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – Exeter Chiefs & England
  64. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors & Scotland
  65. Mack Hansen – Connacht & Ireland
  66. Ange Capuozzo – Toulouse & Italy
  67. Jac Morgan – Ospreys & Wales
  68. George Furbank – Northampton Saints & England
  69. Peter 0’Mahony – Munster & Ireland
  70. Codie Taylor – Crusaders & New Zealand
  71. Levani Botia – La Rochelle & Fiji
  72. Louis Bielle-Biarrey – Bordeaux-Begles & France
  73. George Martin – Leicester Tigers & England
  74. Michele Lamaro – Benetton & Italy
  75. Robbie Henshaw – Leinster & Ireland
  76. Aphelele Fassi – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa *
  77. Manie Libbok – DHL Stormers & South Africa
  78. Damian McKenzie – Chiefs & New Zealand
  79. Mark Telea – Blues & New Zealand
  80. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors & Scotland
  81. Jamie George – Saracens & England
  82. Joe McCarthy – Leinster & Ireland
  83. Peato Mauvaka – Toulouse & France
  84. Elrigh Louw – Vodacom Bulls & South Africa
  85. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors & Scotland
  86. Alex Mitchell – Northampton Saints & England
  87. Marcos Kremer – Clermont & Argentina
  88. Ellis Genge – Bristol Bears & England
  89. Jamie Osborne – Leinster & Ireland
  90. Faf de Klerk – Yokohama Cannon Eagles & South Africa
  91. Ollie Lawrence – Bath Rugby & England
  92. Julian Marchand – Toulouse & France
  93. Taniel Tupou – New South Wales Waratahs & Australia
  94. Damian de Allende – Saitama Wild Knights & South Africa
  95. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors & Scotland
  96. Caleb Clarke – Blues & New Zealand
  97. Ignacio Brex – Benetton Rugby & Italy
  98. Thibaud Flament – Toulouse & France
  99. Ciaran Frawley – Leinster & Ireland
  100. Charles Ollivon – Toulon & France

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 â€“ Ospreys, Emirates Lions, Edinburgh Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Cardiff Rugby, Scarlets, Dragons RFC, Zebre Parma
  • TOP 14 â€“ Section Paloise, USAP, Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Aviron Bayonnais, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, RC Vannes
  • GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Gloucester Rugby, Newcastle Falcons
  • INVITED â€“ 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. 

Join The Rugby Conversation On FloRugby Social