Why Should Rugby Fans Support Toulouse? Blair Kinghorn Explains
Blair Kinghorn of Toulouse pitches American rugby fans why Toulouse Rugby, the six-time Investec Champions Cup winners, is the team for them.
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Toulouse Results In Top 14 In 2024-2025 Season
The No.1 team in the world was without the No. 1 player in the world to start its Top 14 championship defense, but when he returned, Antoine Dupont scored three tries in one game.
After 7 rounds of Top 14 action, Toulouse was 5-2 and trailing UBB Rugby, which beat Toulouse head-to-head in the Top 14 Final rematch, by a point. Two weeks later, they were 6-0-3 and leading UBB by a point.
Unlike the URC, the marathon Top 14 season chugs along through November.
What Did Toulouse Do In The Champions Cup In 2023-2024?
Toulouse made history, beating Leinster Rugby in the Champions Cup Final for the team's sixth title.
Leinster was trying to tie Toulouse at five for the most in the competition's history.
Has Toulouse Ever Won The Champions Cup?
Toulouse has won the Champions Cup more than any other club with six titles and is tied with Leinster Rugby for the most Finals appearances at eight.
Toulouse won the first Champions Cup Final in 1996 and has won two this decade in 2021 and 2024.
Toulouse has never won the the Champions Cup in consecutive seasons, as the London Wasps beat Toulouse in the 2004 Final to prevent what would have been the first three-peat. Toulon is the only club to win three Champions Cup Finals in a row.
Who Is The Toulouse Rugby Coach?
Ugo Mola has coached Toulouse since 2015. He took over for Guy Noves, who had been the coach since 1993.
Where Does Toulouse Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?
Toulouse, the six-time Investec Champions Cup winner and defending champion of both the Top 14 and Champions Cup, is the No. 1 team in the FloRugby ranking.
Who Are The Highest-Ranked FloRugby Players On The Toulouse Roster?
Here are all the Toulouse players in the FloRugby Top 100 Player Rankings:
- Antoine Dupont – Toulouse & France (No.1)
- Juan Cruz Mallia – Toulouse & Argentina (No. 17)
- Romain Ntamack – Toulouse & France (No. 23)
- Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse & Scotland (No. 26)
- Jack Willis – Toulouse & England (No. 27)
- Thomas Ramos – Toulouse & France (No. 41)
- Cyril Baille – Toulouse & France (No. 49)
- Ange Capuozzo – Toulouse & Italy (No. 66)
- Peato Mauvaka – Toulouse & France (No. 83)
- Julian Marchand – Toulouse & France (No. 92)
- Thibaud Flament – Toulouse & France (No. 98)
Where Does Toulouse Play?
Stade Toulousain plays at Stade Ernest Wallon in Toulouse.
When Does Toulouse Rugby Play In The Investec Championship Cup?
Here is the Toulouse Champions Cup schedule:
Toulouse Vs. Ulster Kickoff In Round 1
- Round 1: Stade Toulousain vs. Ulster Rugby, 10:15 a.m. ET, Dec. 8, 2024, Stade Ernest Wallon
Exeter Chiefs Vs. Toulouse Kickoff In Round 2
- Round 2: Exeter Chiefs vs. Stade Toulousain, 12:30 p.m. ET, Dec. 15, 2024, Sandy Park
Sharks Vs. Toulouse Kickoff In Round 3
- Round 3: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Stade Toulousain, 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 11, 2025, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Toulouse Vs. Leicester Tigers Kickoff In Round 4
- Round 4: Stade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 19, 2025, Stade Ernest Wallon
How To Watch Toulouse Play In The Investec Champions Cup
Every Toulouse 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 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
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.