Dec 21, TBD
Ulster vs Munster
Dec 21, TBD
DHL Stormers vs Lions
Dec 21, 1:00 PM UTC
Benetton vs Zebre Parma
Dec 21, 1:30 PM UTC
Stade Rochelais vs ASM-Rugby
Dec 21, 3:00 PM UTC
Sharks vs Vodacom Bulls
Dec 21, 3:30 PM UTC
RC Vannes vs Aviron Bayonnais
Dec 21, 3:30 PM UTC
RC Toulonnais vs Section Paloise
Dec 21, 3:30 PM UTC
Stade Francais vs Perpignan
Dec 21, 3:30 PM UTC
MHR vs Racing 92
Dec 21, 5:15 PM UTC
Glasgow Warriors vs Edinburgh
Dec 21, 8:05 PM UTC
Castres Olympique vs Union Bordeaux
Dec 22, 8:05 PM UTC
Lyon OU vs Stade Toulousain
Dec 26, TBD
Leinster vs Connacht
Dec 26, 3:00 PM UTC
Dragons vs Cardiff
Dec 26, 5:15 PM UTC
Ospreys vs Scarlets
2024 Leinster Rugby vs ASM Clermont Auvergne

Investec Champions Cup Round 2 Power Rankings: Toulouse Moves Up

Investec Champions Cup Round 2 Power Rankings: Toulouse Moves Up

After one round, Toulouse and Leinster Rugby already look like they'll be colliding for the Champions Cup Final, but Clermont can change that.

Dec 12, 2024 by Joe Harrington
Investec Champions Cup | Round One Recap

Round 1 of the Investec Champions Cup saw few close matches and some dominant performances from the expected dominant teams. 

Leinster Rugby was in a close match with Bristol until subbing in some of the best players in the world. 

Toulouse flexed its muscles and showed that when Antoine Dupont is added to the lineup, the team becomes the most dominant force in professional club rugby. 

But Round 2 should provide more intense action, with several teams playing with a sense of urgency knowing that dropping to 0-0-2 would make it very hard to reach the knockout stage. 

Any of the matches between two losing teams from Round 1 could serve as an unofficial elimination contest. 

Round 2 also sees some of the best matches of pool play. 

Leinster hosts Clermont in the best match of the weekend and one between the No. 2 team in this weekend's ranking and the No. 3. 

Meanwhile, Glasgow needs to prove, like it did in the URC last summer, that it can win outside Scotland when it takes on Toulon, which just beat the Stormers in South Africa. 

Here are this week's Investec Champions Cup Power rankings:

1. Toulouse Rugby 1-0-0

Toulouse was No. 2 in the rankings last week, but after walloping Ulster Rugby 61-21 and scoring the most points in Round 1 on nine tries, three more than the next-highest club, it’s clear that Toulouse with Antoine Dupont is the best team in the competition, by a smidge. 

2. Leinster Rugby 1-0-0

Leinster and Bristol were tied 7-7 at halftime. 

At the 44’ mark, Leinster subbed in Jordie Barrett, RG Syman, Caelan Doris and Andrew Porter. They outscored Bristol 28-5 in the final 36 minutes, and Barrett scored his first try in European club play. 

That depth is why Leinster can win it all, especially when even more stars come back. 

Toulouse and Leinster feature the most international stars and more FloRugby top 100 players, and it showed in Round 1. 

3. Clermont Rugby 1-0-0

Clermont shut out Benetton and was the only team to do that. It’s incredibly hard to pitch a shutout in rugby. 

Clermont has looked like a threat to win the Cup since September and showed why. Now, Clermont gets a challenge from Leinster in Dublin this week to really gauge its Champions Cup mettle. 

4. UBB Rugby 1-0-0

One of the best matches of Round 1 was Bordeaux and Leicester, as UBB rallied to beat one of the better teams in the Premiership. 

UBB outscored Leicester 28-7 in the second half to regain the lead and win by two scores, also grabbing the bonus point. 

5. Glasgow Warriors 1-0-0

The Warriors looked the part against the Sale Sharks and appear to be the heavy favorite in Pool 4 after the 19-point win. 

6. Toulon 1-0-0

Toulon showed it could win Pool 4, because if the team can win in South Africa against the DHL Stormers, it can win anywhere.

7. La Rochelle 1-0-0

One of the best wins of the weekend came from La Rochelle, which finally looked like the dominant team it has been, but not since winning the 2023 Champions Cup. 

A win over the Premiership table-leading Bath is a great start for the French power. 

8. Munster Rugby 1-0-0

Munster is 2-0-0 since changing coaches in late October. The Southern Province club played a struggling Stade Francais and gave them no quarter. 

Munster dominated SFP 33-7. 

Could Munster finally look like the team that went 14-4 last season in the URC? 

9. Hollywoodbets Sharks 1-0-0

The Sharks looked shaky at home to tart the match against the winless Exeter Chiefs but then reeled off four straight tries to take command of the match.  

10.  Northampton Saints 1-0-0

A big jump by Northampton, which has struggled since winning the Premiership last season and reaching the semifinals of the Champions Cup. The Saints beat Castres 38-8 in Round 1.

11.  Saracens 1-0-0

12. Racing 92 1-0-0

13. Bath Rugby 0-0-1

14. Leicester Tigers 0-0-1

15. Vodacom Bulls 0-0-1

16. Sale Sharks 0-0-1

17. Bristol Bears 0-0-1

18. Harlequins 0-0-1

19. Stade Francais 0-0-1

20. Ulster Rugby 0-0-1

21. DHL Stormers 0-0-1

22. Benetton 0-0-1

23. Castres 0-0-1

24. Exeter Chiefs 0-0-1

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). 

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