The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup begins Dec. 6, with La Rochelle and Bath Rugby kicking things off at The Recreation Grounds in England. 

The Pool 2 matchup is but the appetizer for the sprint that is Investec Champions Cup play

Every match is streaming on FloRugby in the United States and Canada and thus, we at FloRugby are quite excited about this year's tournament, which we think is the best professional tournament in the world.  

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But who will win it all in May when the tournament returns to where it started three decades ago in Cardiff? The FloRugby staff took a crack at who we believe will win each pool, reach the Final and take home the Cup. 

Joe Harrington's Investec Champions Cup Predictions

• Pool 1: Hollywoodbets Sharks
• Pool 2: Leinster Rugby 
• Pool 3: Saracens Rugby 
• Pool 4: Glasgow Warriors

Finals Matchup: Leinster vs. Toulouse

Champions Cup Final Winner: Leinster

Comments: Toulouse playing in Durban is the difference in Pool 1, and I have the Hollywoodbets Sharks reaching the semifinals of the Investec Champions Cup because I'll ride and die with Eben Etzebeth every day of the week and twice on Sunday... just not against Leinster Rugby in the semifinals. 

Leinster Rugby, with the offseason additions, gets it done in 2025 and does it against Toulouse, Antoine Dupont and all, in grand fashion.  

Briar Napier's Investec Champions Cup Predictions

• Pool 1: Toulouse Rugby
• Pool 2: Leinster Rugby
• Pool 3: Vodacom Bulls
• Pool 4: Glasgow Warriors

Finals Matchup: Glasgow Warriors vs. Leinster Rugby

Champions Cup Final Winner: Leinster Rugby

Comments: I’m a believer in Johann van Graan and Bath Rugby and probably would’ve picked them to win an easier pool. Too bad the pool its in also features a Leinster squad that’s obliterating the URC right now. 

Let’s get ambitious and pin the Glasgow Warriors as the first Scottish side ever to make a Champions Cup Final while we’re at it, too. Leinster’s just too good — and too angry after three straight runner-up finishes — to be denied this time around, though. 

Philip Bendon's Investec Champions Cup Predictions

• Pool 1: Toulouse Rugby
• Pool 2: Leinster Rugby
• Pool 3: Munster Rugby
• Pool 4: Glasgow Warriors 

Finals Matchup: Leinster vs. Toulouse Rugby

Champions Cup Final Winner: Toulouse Rugby

Comments: Despite my better judgement, I must put Munster forward in Pool 3. But is it bad judgment? Check out our Investec Champions Cup Dark Horses. 

R.R. Ellis' Investec Champions Cup Predictions

• Pool 1: Toulouse Rugby
• Pool 2: Leinster Rugby
• Pool 3: Vodacom Bulls
• Pool 4: Harlequins

Finals Matchup: Vodacom Bulls vs. Toulouse

Champions Cup Final Winner: Toulouse Rugby

Comments: Leinster has backups who could be starters almost anywhere in Europe, but I think they falter here. Toulouse wins because its defense is insanely good and, Toulouse has the best player in the world, Antoine Dupont. 

Andy Schamma's Investec Champions Cup Predictions 

• Pool 1: Union Bordeaux
• Pool 2: Leinster Rugby
• Pool 3: Vodacom Bulls
• Pool 4: Glasgow Warriors

Final Matchup: Toulouse vs. Leinster Rugby

Champions Cup Final Winner: Leinster Rugby

Comments: UBB, with a lot of help from Damian Penaud - UBB hasn't lost at home since April's quarterfinal against Harlequins - wins Pool 1. 

Toulouse loses to the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Kings Park but has more success in the postseason. Leinster finally will get its wins this time around.

How To Watch The Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Season On FloRugby

Every match of the Investec Champions Cup is streaming 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: 

• 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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