Vodacom Bulls In the Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know
Vodacom Bulls In the Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know
Vodacom Bulls 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 the teams looking to advance to the EPCR Final is the Vodacom Bulls, who are in Pool 3.
Here are a few things to know about the Vodacom Bulls:
Vodacom Bulls Results In The United Rugby Championship In 2024-2025 Season
The Bulls, early URC season, much like all South Africa Rugby Union clubs, were impacted by the Springboks' Rugby Championship run. Without the Springboks, and coming off the Currie Cup, the Bulls still are the best team among the South African clubs in the URC at 4-0-1 and third on the table.
The Bulls suffered a surprising loss to the Scarlets in Wales but still remain in position to make a strong run back to the URC Grand Final.
What Did The Vodacom Bulls Do In The Champions Cup In 2023-2024?
The Bulls lost to the Northampton Saints 59-22 in the quarterfinals after going 3-0-1 in pool play.
Have The Vodacom Bulls Ever Won The Champions Cup?
This is just the third Champions Cup to allow the South Africa Rugby Union teams in the competition, and the Bulls have not won the Champions Cup.
Before playing in the URC, the club played in Super Rugby, winning the league in 2007, 2009 and 2010.
Who Is The Vodacom Bulls Rugby Coach?
The head coach of the Bulls is Jake White, who is the former Springboks coach who won the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
He is a World Rugby Hall of Fame member, inducted in 2011.
White coached the Springboks from 2004-2007 and coached the Brumbies in Super Rugby, the Hollywoodbets Sharks, MHR in the Top 14 and was coaching in Japan League One from 2017-2020, before he took the Bulls job.
Where Do The Vodacom Bulls Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?
The Bulls rank No. 11 in the FloRugby Top 50 rankings.
Who Are The Highest-Ranked FloRugby Players On The Vodacom Bulls Roster?
- Kurt-Lee Arendse – Vodacom Bulls & South Africa (No. 28)
- Elrigh Louw – Vodacom Bulls & South Africa (No. 84)
Where Do The Vodacom Bulls Play?
The Bulls play in one of the largest stadiums in the field, Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. The stadium opened in 1923 and has been renovated and expanded several times.
When Do The Vodacom Bulls Play In The Investec Championship Cup?
Here is the Vodacom Bulls Champions Cup schedule:
Saracens Vs. Bulls Kickoff In Round 1
- Round 1: Saracens vs. Vodacom Bulls, 12:30 p.m. ET, Dec. 7, 2024, StoneX Stadium
Bulls Vs. Saints Kickoff In Round 2
- Round 2: Vodacom Bulls vs. Northampton Saints, 8 a.m. ET, Dec. 14, 2024, Loftus Versfeld
Castres Vs. Bulls Kickoff In Round 3
- Round 3: Castres Olympique vs. Vodacom Bulls, 3 p.m. ET, Jan. 11, 2025, Stade Pierre-Fabre
Bulls Vs. Stade Francais Kickoff In Round 4
- Round 4: Vodacom Bulls vs. Stade Francais Paris, 8 a.m. ET, Jan. 18, 2025, Loftus Versfeld
How To Watch The Vodacom Bulls Play In The Investec Champions Cup
Every Vodacom Bulls 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:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.