5 Champions Cup Rugby Players Who Could Follow Joe Marler Into Retirement
5 Champions Cup Rugby Players Who Could Follow Joe Marler Into Retirement
The recent retirement of English Rugby's Joe Marler from international play puts a spotlight on players who could be entering their final Champions Cup run.
In early November, English Rugby star Joe Marler, the massive prop with the bleached-blonde mohawk, announced his retirement from international play at age 34.
The move ends an international career that yielded 95 caps and three World Cups in a 12-year career. The expectation, according to most reports, is that Marler will play out the rest of his contract with the Harlequins and retire completely next spring.
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The move came after Marler suffered a foot injury during the summer international season, but it also sheds light on the changes the sport may be going through.
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) November 3, 2024
A little more than a year ago, Johnny Sexton retired from Ireland Rugby after having missed Leinster's URC season.
There's an expectation that TJ Perenara played his final match for the All Blacks this past summer, but that is more contract-related than age. Some feel that a wave of Springboks stars may step aside before the next Rugby World Cup.
All this is to say that it's very likely Marler is about to play in his final Investec Champions Cup.
Here are five more players who fans need to watch now, just in case they follow Marler into retirement soon:
Dan Cole, Leicester Tigers
Marler's English Rugby roommate is one of the oldest players in the competition at 37 and openly admits that at this point, he takes it "day to day" and jokes that he now takes it from "morning to afternoon."
Cole, with his Ben Grimm-like appearance, began the Autumn Nations Series with 116 caps for England since 2010 and has played in more than 320 matches for the Leicester Tigers since 2007.
Peter O'Mahony, Munster Rugby
This will be O'Mahony's final time tending to his Munster Rugby pitch.
The avid gardener announced in October that his final contract extension would be his last.
While he didn't rule out playing again, possibly not for the Irish Rugby Union, O'Mahony, 35, hinted strongly that his career is ending.
O'Mohony, who just may become a full-time gardener when he's done playing, has 107 caps for Ireland and has played 189 matches for Munster since 2010.
Conor Murray, Munster Rugby
Another 35-year-old veteran on Munster, who like O'Mahony, has played with Munster since 2010 and made 197 appearances and has 120 caps for Ireland, could be entering is final Champions Cup run.
This past summer, Murray admitted that he considered retiring after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but also told The Sun: “I think as long as you feel good and, most importantly, if you feel valued and you are playing to a level where you can contribute, then keep going. It’s the best job in the world, and as long as it’s enjoyable and you’re motivated, I don’t see a reason to stop.”
Cian Healy, Leinster Rugby
Healy said in May 2024 that he has no desire to retire, but he's in his 18th season and is 37-years-old, so it's fair to wonder if the Ireland Prop will hang it up soon.
Healy has made more than 280 appearances for Leinster since 2007 and has 132 caps for Ireland. He's won four Champions Cups, seven URC Finals, five Six Nations Championships and even a EPCR Challenge Cup.
Ben Youngs, Leicester Tigers
Youngs retired from international play after England's surprise run to the 2023 Rugby World Cup semifinals, but he didn't retire from rugby.
England's most-capped player signed an extension with the Tigers in December 2023 to remain with the club through the end of the 2024-2025 season, which would is his 19th with the Tigers.
Youngs has made more than 320 appearances with the Tigers since 2006 and has 127 English caps, a record.
Will Rugby Fans See Springboks And DHL Stormers Star Steven Kitsoff Play Again?
One of the world's best players when healthy is Steven Kitshoff, 32, of South Africa and the DHL Stormers, but the loosehead prop suffered a scary neck injury during Currie Cup action this past summer.
Kitshoff was making his return to the Stormers after playing for Ulster Rugby the previous season and suffered ligament damage.
The injury has kept him off the Springboks roster, and he's yet to play a URC match for the Stormers.
Kitshoff told reporters this month that: “I don’t have any pain. I only have a fusion [surgery] booked for 20 November, so I’ll definitely see what the specialist says after that.”
Kitshoff said he was very fortunate, but the timeline might not line up with the Stormers Champions Cup schedule this season.
How To Watch The Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Season On FloRugby
Every match of the Investec Champions Cup is streaming 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 Pincipality 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
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FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.