Castres Rugby In the Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know
Castres Rugby In the Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know
Castres 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 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 Castres Olympique, which is in Pool 3.
Here are a few things to know about Castres Olympique:
Castres Rugby Results In The Top 14 in 2024-2025 Season
Castres is 5-0-4 and sitting seventh in the Top 14 through nine rounds. Castres trails Toulouse by seven points.
What Did Castres Rugby Do In The EPCR Challenge Cup In 2023-2024?
Castres didn't qualify for the Champions Cup last season and instead played in the EPCR Challenge Cup.
The team went 2-0-2 and landed the 15th seed in the knockout stage. Once there, Gloucester beat Castres 30-25.
Has Castres Rugby Ever Won The Champions Cup?
Castres has never made a Champions Cup Final. The team has won five Top 14 titles, including the last one in 2018. They also have finished as runners-up in the EPCR Challenge Cup twice - 1997 and 2000.
The 1997 Challenge Cup Final was the first.
Who Is The Castres Rugby Coach?
Belfast native and former Irish Rugby player Jeremy Davidson is the head coach of Castres, but his time could be short. On Nov. 4, Castres president Pierre-Yves Revol said Davidson would not be given an extension following his third year.
Before Castres, Davidson was the coach of Brive from 2018-2022. Before that, he coached UBB from 2017-2018.
Where Does Castres Rugby Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?
Castres is ranked No. 27 in the FloRugby club rankings.
Who Are The Highest-Ranked FloRugby Players On The Castres Rugby Roster?
There are no Castres players in the FloRugby Top 100.
Where Does Castres Rugby Play?
Castres Olympique plays in Stade Pierre-Fabre in Castres, France. The stadium opened in 1907 and is named after the former owner of Castres Rugby, Pierre Fabre, who owned the team from from 1988-2013.
With a 12,300-seat capacity, it is among the smallest stadium in Top 14 play. However, despite that, the stadium is known to be among the toughest places to play in Top 14.
When Does Castres Rugby Play In The Investec Championship Cup?
Here is the Castres Rugby 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
Castres Vs. Munster Kickoff In Round 2
- Round 2: Castres Olympique vs. Munster Rugby, 3 p.m. ET, Dec. 13, 2024, Stade Pierre-Fabre
Castres Vs. Bulls Kickoff In Round 3
- Round 3: Castres Olympique vs. Vodacom Bulls, 3 p.m. ET, Jan. 11, 2025, Stade Pierre-Fabre
Saracens Vs. Castres Kickoff In Round 4
- Round 4: Saracens vs. Castres Olympique, 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 19, 2025, StoneX Stadium
How To Watch Castres Rugby Play In The Investec Champions Cup
Every Castres 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.