Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Pool 1 Preview: Here's What To Know
Philip Bendon breakdown who will will Pool 1 of the Investec Champions Cup, including Toulouse , UBB Rugby, the Hollywoodbets Sharks, Ulster Rugby, Exeter and Leicester Tigers.
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Get To Know Each Investec Champions Cup Pool 1 Club
- Toulouse Rugby In The Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025: Everything To Know
- UBB Rugby In The Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025: Everything To Know
- Ulster Rugby In The Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025: Everything To Know
- Hollywoodbets Sharks In The Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know
- Leicester Tigers In The Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know
- Exeter Chiefs In The Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025: Everything To Know
Toulouse vs. Ulster Kickoff In Round 1
- Round 1: Stade Toulousain vs. Ulster Rugby, 10:15 am ET, Sun, 8 Dec 2024, Stade Ernest Wallon
UBB Vs. Leicester Kickoff In Round 1
- Round 1: Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Leicester Tigers, 08 a.m. ET, Dec. 8, 2024, Stade Chaban-Delmas
Exeter Chiefs Vs. Sharks Kickoff In Round 1
- Round 1: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Exeter Chiefs, 8 a.m. ET, Dec 7, 2024, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Ulster vs. UBB Kickoff In Round 2
- Round 2: Ulster Rugby vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, 10:15 am ET, Sat, 14 Dec 2024, Kingspan Stadium
Leicester Vs. Sharks Kickoff In Round 2
- Round 2: Leicester Tigers vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, 12:30 p.m. ET, Dec. 14, 2024, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
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
Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Kickoff In Round 3
- Round 3: Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby, 03:00 pm ET, Sat, 11 Jan 2025, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
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
Exeter Chiefs Vs. UBB Kickoff In Round 3
- Round 3: Exeter Chiefs vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 11, 2025, Sandy Park
Ulster vs. Exeter Chiefs Kickoff In Round 4
- Round 4: Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, 3:00 pm ET, Fri, 17 Jan 2025, Kingspan Stadium
Toulouse Vs. Leicester Kickoff In Round 4
- Round 4: Stade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 19, 2025, Stade Ernest Wallon
UBB Vs. Sharks Kickoff In Round 4
- Round 4: Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, 8 a.m. ET, Jan. 19, 2025, Stade Chaban-Delmas
Investec Champions Cup Format
Key points of the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023/24 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 stage rounds and four knockout stage rounds culminating in the 2025 final which will be staged at Cardiff's Pincipality Stadium on Saturday, 24 May
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 24 May, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Champions Cup Qualifications
Twenty-four clubs have qualified for the 2024/25 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 2024/25 EPCR Challenge Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023/24 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 stage rounds and four knockout stage rounds culminating in the 2025 final at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday, 23 May
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 23 May
EPCR Challenge Cup Qualifiers
Clubs from the United Rugby Championship, the TOP 14 and the Gallagher Premiership who have not qualified for the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup will compete in the 2024/25 EPCR Challenge Cup.
NB If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup will secure a place in the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup, replacing the eight-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 on Dec. 6 and the four-round pool play action ends on Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13 and 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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