Munster Rugby Star Thaakir Abrahams Takjs Champions Cup Prep
The 30th Investec Champions Cup competition is considered by many to be the best professional rugby tournament in the world and just a level below international test rugby.
The competition features 24 clubs divided into four pools of six clubs. There are four rounds of pool play, and the top 16 clubs advance to the knockout stage with the goal of making it to Cardiff, Wales – which hosted the first Champions Cup Final– and Principality Stadium on May 24.
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One of the teams looking to advance to the EPCR Final is Munster Rugby, which is in Pool 3.
Here are a few things to know about Munster Rugby:
Munster Rugby Results In the United Rugby Championship in 2024-2025 Season
It has been an abject disaster for Munster so far.
A stunning blowout loss to Zebre Parma in Italy, a loss to rival Leinster and back-to-back losses in South Africa have the Red Army at 2-0-4 in URC play, 12th on the table and with as many losses through the first third of the season as the team had all of last season.
Munster will be scrapping the rest of the way to make sure it can qualify for the Champions Cup next season.
All this led to the parting of the ways with coach Graham Rowntree in October. It's unclear if Munster will have a new full-time coach by the time Champions Cup play begins in December, but if not, interim coach Ian Costello will be running the club.
What Did Munster Rugby Do In The Champions Cup In 2023-2024?
Munster went 1-1-2 in pool play and made the knockout stages as the 14th seed. The club lost to the Northampton Saints 24-14 in the Round of 16.
Has Munster Rugby Ever Won The Champions Cup?
Munster has won the Champions Cup twice and made the Final two more times. The club won in 2006 and 2008 and reached the Final in 2000 and 2002.
Who Is The Munster Rugby Coach?
The 2024-2025 season started with Graham Rowntree as the head coach, but the man who led Munster to the 2023 United Rugby Championship title and then the best record in the regular season in 2024, was fired after the difficult start to the 2024-2025 URC season.
Replacing him in the meantime is Ian Costello, who is the interim coach while Munster searches for Rowntree's full-time replacement.
Where Does Munster Rugby Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?
Munster Rugby is No. 8 in the FloRugby Top 50 team rankings.
Who Are The Highest-Ranked FloRugby Players On The Munster Rugby Roster?
- Tadhg Beirne – Munster & Ireland (No. 10)
- Jack Crowley – Munster & Ireland (No. 51)
- Peter 0’Mahony – Munster & Ireland (No. 69)
Where Does Munster Rugby Play?
Munster Rugby plays in Thomond Park in Limerick, Ireland.
When Does Munster Rugby Play In The Investec Championship Cup?
Here is the Munster Rugby Champions Cup schedule:
Munster Vs. Stade Francais Kickoff In Round 1
- Round 1: Munster Rugby vs. Stade Francais Paris, 12:30 p.m. ET, Dec. 7, 2024, Thomond Park
Castres Vs. Munster Kickoff In Round 2
- Round 2: Castres Olympique vs. Munster Rugby, 3 p.m. ET, Dec. 13, 2024, Stade Pierre-Fabre
Munster Vs. Saracens Kickoff In Round 3
- Round 3: Munster Rugby vs. Saracens, 12:30 p.m. ET, Jan. 11, 2025, Thomond Park
Northampton Saints Vs. Munster Kickoff In Round 4
- Round 4: Northampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby, 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 18, 2025, Cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens
How To Watch Munster Rugby Play In The Investec Champions Cup
Every Munster Rugby 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 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
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.