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 Stade Francais, which is in Pool 3. 

Here are a few things to know about Stade Francais:

Stade Francais Results In The Top 14 in 2024-2025 Season

It has been a bad start to the Top 14 season so far for SFP. 

Through nine rounds, Stade Fracais is 3-0-6 and 13th on the table. The club, which has 14 Top 14 championships all-time (none since 2015), is facing the relegation playoffs, if the current standings hold.

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

Despite having the most wins in Top 14 play and finishing second in the table, then losing a close Top 14 semifinal match against UBB, Stade Francais' Champions Cup season was not great. The club went 0-0-4 and failed to advance out of the dreadfully difficult Pool D in 2023-2024. 

Stade Francais was in a pool with Leinster, La Rochelle, Leicester Tigers, DHL Stormers and the Sale Sharks. 

Stade Francais had a point differential of -66. Only Cardiff's -113 was worse last season in pool play. 

Has Stade Francais Ever Won The Champions Cup?

Paris has never won the Champions Cup but has made the Final twice, once in 2001 and again in 2005. 

Who Is The Stade Francais Rugby Coach?

Stade Francais has co-head coaches - Laurent Labit and Karim Ghezel. 

Technically, Labit is the director of rugby, while Ghezel is the head coach. 

Labit was the France national team's backs coach from 2019-2023, before joining Stade Francais with Ghezel, who was also part of the national team's staff. 

The French national team's connection also extends to France's coach, Fabien Galthié, who played for Paris and coached the team from 2004-2008. 

Where Does Stade Francais Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?

Stade Francais ranked No. 16 on the FloRugby Top 50 clubs list. 

Who Are The Highest-Ranked FloRugby Players On The Stade Francais Roster?

No SFP players made the FloRugby Top 100 list. 

Where Does Stade Francais Play?

Stade Francais Paris plays at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris, France. The stadium opened in 1925 and has been home to Stade Francais since 1995. 

When Does Stade Francais Play In The Investec Championship Cup?

Here is the Stade Francais Paris Champions Cup schedule:

Munster Vs. Stade Francais Kickoff In Round 1 

• Round 1: Munster Rugby vs. Stade Francais Paris, 12:30 p.m. ET, Dec. 7, 2024, Thomond Park

Stade Francais Vs. Saracens Kickoff In Round 2

• Round 2: Stade Francais Paris vs. Saracens, 10:15 a.m. ET, Dec. 15, 2024, Stade Jean Bouin

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

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 Stade Francais Paris Play In The Investec Champions Cup

Every Stade Francais 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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