DHL Stormers In The Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know
DHL Stormers In The Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know
DHL Stormers 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 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 DHL Stormers, who are in Pool 4.
Here are a few things to know about DHL Stormers:
DHL Stormers Results In The United Rugby Championship In 2024-2025 Season
In their first year playing the United Rugby Championship, the Stormers won the championship. They have been a force to be reckoned with since entering European play.
But not so much this year, so far.
The team from Cape Town missed its Springboks for much of the first segment of the URC season and is 2-0-3, currently 13th on the URC table.
The Stormers suffered some surprising losses, including a blowout loss to Edinburgh (38-7) and a loss to the Welsh club Ospreys. The Stormers also lost in Cape Town to the Warriors.
But they did hand Munster a loss.
What Did The DHL Stormers Do In The Champions Cup In 2023-2024?
The Stormers went 3-0-1 in Pool D play and landed the No. 7 seed. They nearly beat then-defending champion La Rochelle in the closing minutes of the Round of 16 after scoring in the 79th minutes, but failed to convert the game-winning kick, losing 22-21 to La Rochelle.
Have The DHL Stormers Ever Won The Champions Cup?
This is just the third Champions Cup the DHL Stormers played in since moving to the United Rugby Championship. They have not advanced to the Final yet.
Who Is The DHL Stormers Rugby Coach?
John Dobson is the head coach of the Stormers and has been since 2019. He has overseen the club's transition from Super Rugby to the URC and Champions Cup play. Before the Stormers, he coach Western Province.
Where Do DHL Stormers Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?
The Stormers are the No.15-ranked club in the FloRugby rankings.
Where Do The DHL Stormers Play?
The Stormers usually play in DHL Stadium, but they will play their first Champions Cup match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
DHL Stadium, also known as Cape Town Stadium, is one of the top rugby venues in the world and located on Green Point in Cape Town.
DHL Stadium was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the Stormers have called it home since 2021.
Before 2021, the club played in Newlands for 131 years
Who Are The Highest-Ranked FloRugby Players On The DHL Stormers Roster?
- Damian Willemse – DHL Stormers & South Africa (No. 18)
- Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – DHL Stormers & South Africa (No. 32)
- Manie Libbok – DHL Stormers & South Africa (No. 77)
When Do DHL Stormers Play In The Investec Championship Cup?
Here is the DHL Stormers Champions Cup schedule:
DHL Stormers Vs. Toulon Kickoff In Round 1
- Round 1: DHL Stormers vs. RC Toulon , 4:15 a.m. ET, Dec. 7, 2024, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Harlequins Vs. DHL Stormers Kickoff In Round 2
- Round 2: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers , 9 a.m. ET, Dec.14, 2024, Twickenham Stoop
DHL Stormers Vs. Sale Sharks Kickoff In Round 3
- Round 3: DHL Stormers vs. Sale Sharks , 2 a.m. ET, Jan. 11, 2025, DHL Stadium
Racing 92 Vs. DHL Stormers Kickoff In Round 4
- Round 4: Racing 92 vs. DHL Stormers , 9 a.m. ET, Jan. 18, 2025, TBD Location
How To Watch DHL Stormers Play In The Investec Champions Cup?
Every DHL Stormers 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.