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Rising Premiership Stars To Watch In The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup

Rising Premiership Stars To Watch In The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup

Discover the next generation of rising stars from the Gallagher Premiership clubs that are set to make their marks in the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup.

Dec 5, 2024 by Philip Bendon
Ulster's Jacob Stockdale On Champions Cup

The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup promises to be a proving ground for some of rugby’s most exciting young talents representing Gallagher Premiership clubs. 

As Europe’s premier competition, the tournament pits the best players in the world against each other, providing a platform for emerging stars to make their marks on the global stage. 

This season, a new generation of prodigious talent is set to rise, combining raw potential with the opportunity to test themselves in high-stakes matchups against seasoned international opponents.

From dynamic backrowers to electrifying backs and powerful front-row stars, these young players bring energy, skill and fearlessness to their clubs. 

With each carrying a unique story of perseverance, rapid development and international experience, they are poised to leave an indelible impact on the competition. 

This article spotlights the rising stars to watch - players who could shape the future of European rugby while making a name for themselves this season.

Guy Pepper – Bath Rugby

A rising star in English rugby, Guy Pepper joined Bath Rugby on a three-year contract ahead of the 2024-2025 season after being nominated for Premiership Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Season. 

Born in Eggleston, Teesdale, and educated at Barnard Castle School, he balanced a sport and exercise science degree at Durham University with playing for the Newcastle Falcons, where he debuted in 2022, scoring three tries in his first seven games. 

An England U18 and U20 representative, Pepper was called up to the senior England squad during the 2024 Six Nations. 

Coming from a rugby family, his father, Martin, played for Harlequins, and his brother Max represents Great Britain in rugby sevens, so he certainly has the pedigree to be a top-class professional.

Benjamín Elizalde – Bristol Bears

Argentinian rugby sensation Benjamín Elizalde is making waves at Bristol Bears after an exceptional showing at the 2023 U20 Junior World Championship in South Africa, where he helped Los Pumas U20 secure fifth place. 

At just 19 years old, the versatile 6-foot-2, 93-kilogram fullback can play across the back three and midfield, showcasing his playmaking skills and prolific goal-kicking ability. 

Joining from Deportiva Francesa, Elizalde also has represented Argentina XV. 

Bristol’s Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, praised him as "one of the most exciting young talents in the world game," lauding his attacking flair and adaptability as ideal for the Bears’ style.

Greg Fisilau – Exeter Chiefs

An uber-dynamic back-row talent for Exeter Chiefs, Greg Fisilau is a game-changing force set to shine in the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup. 

Signed in November 2022 following Wasps' administration, the Plymouth-born player of Tongan descent brings power, skill and versatility, honed from his early days at Devonport Services and Wasps Academy. 

Inspired by his father, former Tongan international Keni Fisilau, Greg credits his success to his rigorous training and strong family values. 

With 14 England U20 caps and experience in the Premiership and Championship, Fisilau is primed to become a major influence in European rugby.

Chandler Cunningham-South – Harlequins

Harlequins and England star Chandler Cunningham-South is hailed as one of the world’s most destructive back-row players. 

Comfortable at flanker or No. 8, he joined Harlequins after London Irish's suspension, having emerged as a powerhouse for the Exiles. 

Born in New Zealand, Cunningham-South, and developed through North Harbour, Canterbury and Lincoln University before making his Premiership debut in 2022, his 2022-2023 season featured 19 Premiership appearances, 73 carries, 91 tackles and three tries, alongside a standout Champions Cup campaign. 

His form earned him England U20 caps and, in 2024, a senior England debut in the Six Nations opener against Italy.

Finn Carnduff – Leicester Tigers

A rising star for the Leicester Tigers, Finn Carnduff is an exceptional leader with a commanding presence, reminiscent of England's Rugby World Cup-winning captain, Martin Johnson. 

Joining the Tigers' Senior Academy in 2021-2022, he made his debut at just 18 and signed his first senior contract ahead of the 2024-2025 season. 

Carnduff excelled internationally, captaining England U20 to its first Six Nations title since 2021 and leading the squad in consecutive World Rugby U20 Championships. 

Renowned for his leadership and physicality, Carnduff is poised to become a cornerstone of the Leicester Tigers and English rugby in the years to come.

Henry Pollock – Northampton Saints

Henry Pollock, a dynamic flanker for the Northampton Saints and England U20, is a rising star in English rugby. 

A standout talent from his early days with Buckingham RUFC and Beachborough Prep School, Pollock joined the Saints Academy at 13 and advanced rapidly through the ranks. 

A natural leader, he captained England U18 and guided the Saints Academy to the league final. 

Pollock debuted for the first team in the 2022-2023 Premiership Rugby Cup and earned his first professional contract ahead of the 2023-2024 season. 

With international appearances, including the 2024 U20 World Championship, he represents a bright future for English rugby.

Theo Dan – Saracens

Theo Dan, a dynamic hooker for Saracens and England, has emerged as one of rugby’s brightest talents. 

Known for his dominant carries and all-around work rate, Dan complements his impressive scrum and lineout skills with explosive play in open field. 

Graduating from Saracens' senior academy in 2019, he made his Premiership debut in 2022 and played a key role in their 2022-2023 Gallagher Premiership title. 

An England U18 and U20 graduate, Dan earned a senior call-up for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, excelling as England reached the semifinals. 

He has firmly established himself not only as a cornerstone of England and Saracens’ squads, but as a game-changing impact player.

Asher Opoku-Fordjour – Sale Sharks

Making waves as a formidable tighthead prop, Opoku-Fordjour is a rising star for the Sale Sharks and England Rugby and regarded as one of the best scrummagers in U20 Rugby.

The Sharks dynamo immediately translated this form to the senior stage with a breakthrough 2023-2024 season with standout performances in the Gallagher Premiership and Investec Champions Cup. 

This form earned him a senior contract with the Sharks following his time in the club’s academy system. 

Internationally, Opoku-Fordjour shined in the 2023 U20 Six Nations and World Rugby U20 Championship, helping England clinch the 2024 U20 Six Nations title and a global triumph in South Africa. 

He debuted for England A in a victory over Australia A in late 2024, before making his full England debut against Japan a few weeks later, showcasing his immense potential for club and country.

How To Watch The Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Season In The United States And Canada

Every minute of the Investec Champions Cup is streaming on FloRugby and the FloSports app.

Investec Champions Cup Team Previews

Here everything to know on each team in the Investec Champions Cup:

Pool 1: 


Pool 2:


Pool 3:


Pool 4:


Rugby Player Rankings: Here Are The Best Players In The Investec Champions Cup 

Here are the players how made the FloRugby Top 100 players list playing in the Champions Cup. Overall rank parentheses. 

  • Antoine Dupont – Toulouse & France (1)
  • Caelan Doris – Leinster & Ireland (2)
  • Jamison Gibson-Park – Leinster & Ireland (6)
  • Eben Etzebeth – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa (7)
  • Damian Penaud – Bordeaux-Begles & France (8)
  • Dan Sheehan – Leinster & Ireland (9)
  • Tadhg Beirne – Munster & Ireland (10)
  • Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors & Scotland (11)
  • RG Snyman – Leinster & South Africa (12)
  • Maro Itoje – Saracens & England (13)
  • Hugo Keenan – Leinster & Ireland (14)
  • Ox Nche – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa (16)
  • Juan Cruz Mallia – Toulouse & Argentina (17)
  • Damian Willemse – DHL Stormers & South Africa (18)
  • Handre Pollard – Leicester Tigers & South Africa (19)
  • Finn Russell – Bath Rugby & Scotland (20)
  • Jordie Barrett – Leinster & New Zealand (21)
  • Romain Ntamack – Toulouse & France (23)
  • Sam Underhill – Bath Rugby & England (24)
  • Andrew Porter – Leinster & Ireland (25)
  • Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse & Scotland (26)
  • Jack Willis – Toulouse & England (27)
  • Kurt-Lee Arendse – Vodacom Bulls & South Africa (28)
  • Josh van der Flier – Leinster & Ireland (30)
  • Garry Ringrose – Leinster & Ireland (31)
  • Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – DHL Stormers & South Africa (32)
  • Tadhg Furlong – Leinster & Ireland (33)
  • Will Skelton – La Rochelle & Australia (35)
  • James Lowe – Leinster & Ireland (36)
  • Owen Farrell – Racing 92 & England (37)
  • Gregory Alldritt – La Rochelle & France (38)
  • Tommy Freeman – Northampton Saints & England (40)
  • Thomas Ramos – Toulouse & France (41)
  • Julian Montoya – Leicester Tigers & Argentina (43)
  • James Ryan – Leinster & Ireland (44)
  • Siya Kolisi – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa (45)
  • Ben Earl – Saracens & England (47)
  • Cyril Baille – Toulouse & France (49)
  • Marcus Smith – Harlequins & England (50)
  • Jack Crowley – Munster & Ireland (51)
  • Tom Curry – Sale Sharks & England (53)
  • Tommaso Menencello – Benetton Rugby & Italy (54)
  • Ronan Kelleher – Leinster & Ireland (55)
  • Jack Conan – Leinster & Ireland (57)
  • Grant Williams – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa (58)
  • Henry Slade – Exeter Chiefs & England (59)
  • Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby & Scotland (60)
  • Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – Exeter Chiefs & England (63)
  • Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors & Scotland (64)
  • Ange Capuozzo – Toulouse & Italy (66)
  • George Furbank – Northampton Saints & England (68)
  • Peter O'Mahony – Munster & Ireland (69)
  • Levani Botia – La Rochelle & Fiji (71)
  • Louis Bielle-Biarrey – Bordeaux-Begles & France (72)
  • George Martin – Leicester Tigers & England (73)
  • Michele Lamaro – Benetton & Italy (74)
  • Robbie Henshaw – Leinster & Ireland (75)
  • Aphelele Fassi – Hollywoodbets Sharks & South Africa (76)
  • Manie Libbok – DHL Stormers & South Africa (77)
  • Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors & Scotland (80)
  • Jamie George – Saracens & England (81)
  • Joe McCarthy – Leinster & Ireland (82)
  • Peato Mauvaka – Toulouse & France (83)
  • Elrigh Louw – Vodacom Bulls & South Africa (84)
  • Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors & Scotland (85)
  • Alex Mitchell – Northampton Saints & England (86)
  • Marcos Kremer – Clermont & Argentina (87)
  • Ellis Genge – Bristol Bears & England (88)
  • Jamie Osborne – Leinster & Ireland (89)
  • Ollie Lawrence – Bath Rugby & England (91)
  • Julian Marchand – Toulouse & France (92)
  • Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors & Scotland (95)
  • Caleb Clarke – Blues & New Zealand (96)
  • Ignacio Brex – Benetton Rugby & Italy (97)
  • Thibaud Flament – Toulouse & France (98)
  • Ciaran Frawley – Leinster & Ireland (99)
  • Charles Ollivon – Toulon & France (100)

Investec Champions Cup Club Rankings

Here are the top clubs in the Investec Champions Cup. Overall rank in parentheses. 

  • Toulouse (1)
  • Leinster Rugby (2)
  • Northampton Saints (3)
  • Union Bordeaux Begles (4)
  • Glasgow Warriors (6)
  • La Rochelle (7)
  • Munster Rugby (8)
  • Bath Rugby (10)
  • Vodacom Bulls (11)
  • Saracens (13) 
  • Harlequins (14)
  • DHL Stormers (15)
  • Stade Francais (16)
  • Sale Sharks (18)
  • Toulon (19)
  • Exeter Chiefs (20)
  • Benetton (22)
  • Racing 92 (23)
  • Ulster Rugby (24)
  • Bristol Bears (26)
  • Castres Olympique (27)
  • Clermont Rugby (28)
  • Leicester Tigers (29)
  • Hollywoodbets Sharks (32)

10 Can't Miss Matches In The Investec Champions Cup

Read the full article here, but here 10 matches you don't want to miss on FloRugby: 

Investec Champions Cup Fixture and Rugby Schedule

Here is the complete Investec Champions Cup schedule.

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 1

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025  Round 2

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 3

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 4

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

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 Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on 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). 

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

FloRugby and FloSports also are the US home to: 

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

Join The Rugby Conversation On FloRugby Social