Investec Champions Cup Final By The Numbers: Premiership Vs. Top 14
Investec Champions Cup Final By The Numbers: Premiership Vs. Top 14
French vs. English rugby clubs face off in the 2025 Champions Cup Final, the first such clash since 2020. Here’s a look at their history in the tournament.
Few sporting rivalries run as deep as the one between England and France, and in the Investec Champions Cup, this fierce competition is front and center.
The two nations have been the dominant forces in European club rugby, accounting for a staggering 22 titles between them.
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In the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Final, this rivalry will be reignited for the first time since the 2019-2010 Final, when the Exeter Chiefs defeated Racing 92 at Ashton Gate in Bristol.
Five seasons removed from that Final, Union Bordeaux-Begles will tackle the Northampton Saints at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Here is a breakdown of the Anglo-French rivalry in the Investec Champions Cup over the years:
Total Titles By England And France
French clubs have set the standard with an impressive 12 Champions Cup titles, led by Toulouse with an unmatched six European crowns (1995-1996, 2002-2003, 2004-2005, 2009-2010, 2020-2021, 2023-2024).
Toulon added three consecutive titles between 2012-2013 and 2014-2015, while La Rochelle’s recent back-to-back wins (2021-2022, 2022-2023) have cemented its status among the elite.
Brive also claimed a title in 1996-1997, rounding out France’s impressive tally.
English clubs, while fewer in numbers, also have left an indelible mark on the competition, with 10 titles.
Saracens leads the English charge with three titles (2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2018-2019), followed by Leicester Tigers with two (2000-2001, 2001-2002). Wasps matched Leicester’s total with wins in 2003-2004 and 2006-2007, while the Northampton Saints (1999-2000), Bath (1997-1998), and Exeter Chiefs (2019-2020) each have lifted the trophy once.
Dominance And Dynasties
In the broader context of Champions Cup history, a few clubs stand out as true titans.
Toulouse remains the most decorated side in the tournament’s history, boasting a record five titles, while Toulon etched its name in the annals of European rugby with a remarkable three-peat from 2013 to 2015.
Leinster, with four titles, is the most successful non-French club, while Saracens has claimed three crowns for England.
However, this year’s final features two clubs with histories that tell a different story.
Union Bordeaux-Bègles (UBB) has reached its first Champions Cup Final, a testament to the team's rapid rise under head coach Yannick Bru.
On the other hand, the Northampton Saints return to the grandest stage in European club rugby for the first time since their heart-wrenching defeat to Leinster in 2011. The Saints, however, know what it takes to win, having claimed their sole title in 2000.
The Most Successful French And English Rugby Clubs
- Toulouse: 6 titles (1996, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2021, 2024) - France
- Leinster: 4 titles (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018) – Ireland
- Saracens: 3 titles (2016, 2017, 2019) - England
- Toulon: 3 titles (2013, 2014, 2015) - France
- Leicester Tigers: 2 titles (2001, 2002) – England
- Munster: 2 titles (2006, 2008) - Ireland
- London Wasps: 2 titles (2004, 2007) – England
- La Rochelle: 2 titles (2022, 2023) - France
- Brive: 1 title (1997) - France
- Bath Rugby: 1 title (1998) – England
- Ulster: 1 title (1999) - Ireland
- Northampton Saints 1 title (2000) – England
- Exeter Chiefs: 1 title (2020) – England
Road To The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Final
The Northampton Saints pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in recent Champions Cup history, toppling Irish giant Leinster 37-34 at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Entering the semifinal as 21-point underdogs, the Saints silenced the doubters with a performance built on clinical execution and fierce defense.
Winger Tommy Freeman led the charge with a first-half hat trick, giving the Saints a 27-15 halftime lead.
Scrumhalf Alex Mitchell and fly-half Fin Smith orchestrated the attack with pace and precision, while 20-year-old sensation Henry Pollock delivered a standout display that included 24 tackles, 58 meters gained and a try of his own.
Despite conceding the majority of territory and possession, Northampton was brutally efficient, exploiting Leinster’s blitz defense with clever tactical kicking and sharp offloads.
The result adds to Leinster’s growing catalogue of knockout heartbreaks and raises questions about the team's direction under current leadership.
If Northampton’s victory was audacious, Bordeaux-Bègles’ 35-18 dismantling of defending champion Toulouse was emphatic.
Playing in front of a raucous home crowd at Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux dominated from the outset, driven by the dynamic halfback duo of Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert.
Former Wallaby Pete Samu struck early with a coast-to-coast try in the sixth minute, and despite a brief Toulouse comeback that saw the visitors lead 11-10, Bordeaux never looked back.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey added two tries — bringing his tournament total to seven — while Lucu slotted a 55-meter penalty, and Jalibert controlled proceedings with calm authority.
The Bordeaux pack matched, and then outlasted, its Toulouse counterpart, forcing turnovers and winning crucial breakdowns, despite the second-half loss of star winger Damian Penaud to injury.
A powerful try from Pierre Bochaton in the 63rd minute restored a two-score lead, and Ben Tameifuna's late effort sealed Bordeaux's first spot in a Champions Cup final.
Where Is The Investec Champions Cup Final 2025?
The Principality Stadium in Cardiff, which is the spiritual home of Welsh rugby, will host the final.
This season will be the eighth time Cardiff has held the final and the sixth since the Principality Stadium was renovated in the year 2000.
It marks a return to the venue for the Northampton Saints, who suffered heartbreak there in 2011 after Leinster staged a dramatic comeback led by Johnny Sexton.
For Bordeaux-Bègles, the final marks uncharted territory.
This will be UBB's maiden appearance in a Champions Cup decider and the first final since the 2019-2020 season without La Rochelle, Toulouse or Leinster involved.
When Is The Investec Champions Cup Final 2025?
Fans can mark their calendars for a marquee weekend of European rugby.
The EPCR Challenge Cup final between Bath and Lyon takes place on Friday, May 23, followed by the Investec Champions Cup final on Saturday, May 24.
Where Can You Watch the Investec Champions Cup Final 2025?
FloRugby is the official streaming partner for EPCR competitions in North America and U.S. Territories.
Fans can catch both finals live, as well as ongoing coverage of the Top 14, United Rugby Championship, and Super Rugby Pacific throughout the season.
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