Leinster Rugby broke a 7-7 tie in the second half and never looked back, as the No. 2 team in the world stayed undefeated this season with its first win of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup, a 35-12 win at Bristol in Pool 2 play. 

Leinster is 7-0-0 in the United Rugby Championship, but the Bristol Bears hung in with the Dublin power until the club started digging into its bench in the first 10 minutes of the second half. 

At the 44th minute, Leinster subbed on RG Snyman, Andrew Porter, Caelan Doris, Tom Clarkson and its newest addition, All Blacks star Jordie Barrett. 

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About 11 minutes later, Barrett scored his first try for Leinster at the 55th minute mark during a 35-0 run by Leinster that wasn't snapped until the 73rd minute. 

Sam Prendergast Shines For Leinster Rugby 

Sam Prendergast was instrumental for Leinster, contributing 20 points through two tries and five successful conversions. 

The Irish side broke open a tightly contested first half with clinical execution and strong bench contributions, solidifying their reputation as tournament favorites.

Bristol Bears Had A Brief Lead Vs. Leinster Rugby

The Bears opened the scoring in the 29th minute when Max Lahiff crossed the try line, with Benhard Janse van Rensburg adding the conversion for a 7-0 lead. 

Leinster responded soon after, as Jordan Larmour scored in the 32nd minute, and Prendergast’s conversion tied the match at 7-7 going into halftime.

Leinster Rugby Takes Over In Second Half

The second half belonged to Leinster, with Prendergast scoring tries in the 52nd and 57th minutes. 

Josh van der Flier added another try in the 63rd minute, extending Leinster’s dominance to 35-7. 

A late try from Bristol’s Gabriel Ibitoye in the 72nd minute narrowed the margin, but a missed conversion left the Bears unable to close the gap.

USA Rugby Star Ilona Maher Attends Match

USA Rugby star Ilona Maher, who recently signed a contract with the Bristol Bear's women's team, attended the match Dec. 8. 

What's Next For Leinster Rugby, Bristol Bears?

Leinster will host a talented Clermont squad that also won in Round 1, while Bristol will travel to France to play La Rochelle. 

Bristol Vs. Leinster Rugby Scoring Summary

Leinster Rugby: Tries: Larmour (32’), Prendergast (52’, 57’), Barrett (55’), van der Flier (63’); Conversions: Prendergast (32’, 52’, 57’, 55’, 63’)

Bristol Bears: Tries: Lahiff (29’), Ibitoye (72’); Conversions: Janse van Rensburg (29’)

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 1

• La Rochelle 24, Bath Rugby 20
• ASM Clermont Auvergne 28, Benetton Rugby 0
• Hollywoodbets Sharks 39 Exeter Chiefs 21
• Northampton Saints 38, Castres Olympique 8
• RC Toulon 24, DHL Stormers 14
• Munster Rugby 33,  Stade Francais Paris 7
• Saracens 27, Vodacom Bulls 5
• Glasgow Warriors 38, Sale Sharks 19
• Racing 92 23 Harlequins 12
• Union Bordeaux-Bègles 42, Leicester Tigers 28
• Stade Toulousain 54, Ulster Rugby 21
• Leinster Rugby 35, Bristol Bears 12

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025  Round 2

• Sale Sharks vs. Racing 92, Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3 PM, Salford Community Stadium
• Castres Olympique vs. Munster Rugby, Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• Vodacom Bulls vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
• Ulster Rugby vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 10:15 AM, Kingspan Stadium
• Leinster Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
• Leicester Tigers vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
• Stade Rochelais vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
• Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
• RC Toulon vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
• Benetton Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stadio Monigo
• Stade Francais Paris vs. Saracens, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Jean Bouin
• Exeter Chiefs vs. Stade Toulousain, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 12:30 PM, Sandy Park

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 3

• Glasgow Warriors vs. Racing 92, Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3 PM, Scotstoun Stadium
• DHL Stormers vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 AM, DHL Stadium
• Exeter Chiefs vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy Park
• Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Stade Toulousain, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
• Munster Rugby vs. Saracens, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Thomond Park
• Stade Francais Paris vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stade Jean Bouin
• Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
• Castres Olympique vs. Vodacom Bulls, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• RC Toulon vs. Harlequins, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
• Stade Rochelais vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
• Bristol Bears vs. Benetton Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Ashton Gate
• Bath Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 PM, The Rec

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 4

• Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3 PM, Kingspan Stadium
• Vodacom Bulls vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
• Northampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens
• ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel-Michelin
• Benetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stadio Monigo
• Leinster Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
• Harlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
• Racing 92 vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Paris La Defense Arena
• Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
• Saracens vs. Castres Olympique, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, StoneX Stadium
• Stade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
• Sale Sharks vs. RC Toulon, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 12:30 PM, Salford Community Stadium

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: 

• 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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