The 2025-2026 Investec Champions Cup kicks off with three marquee Round 1 clashes spanning three countries. 

In Pretoria, South Africa’s Vodacom Bulls host reigning European champion Union Bordeaux-Bègles; in England, Bath Rugby welcomes Irish powerhouse Munster Rugby; and in France, Section Paloise (Pau) faces England’s Northampton Saints. 

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These opening-weekend matchups feature decorated clubs and compelling storylines – from a title-holder’s long-distance title defense to a meeting of past champions – underlining why Round 1 matters in Europe’s premier club rugby competition. 

Bordeaux-Bègles enters as defending champion after clinching a maiden Champions Cup title last season, while Bath lifted major trophies earlier this year, raising stakes and expectations.

Round 1 is crucial, as clubs vie for an early edge in a condensed pool stage. 

Only four pool matches are played, so an opening win can prove decisive in the race to reach the knockout rounds. 

Twenty-four elite teams – eight each from England’s Gallagher PREM, France’s Top 14 and the multi-nation United Rugby Championship – are divided into four pools of six. 

The top four teams in each pool will advance to the last 16, so every point in these initial fixtures could shape the road to Bilbao, where the Champions Cup final is set for May 23 at San Mamés Stadium.

Beyond immediate pool points, Round 1 offers teams a chance to set a tone: whether it’s a favorite asserting dominance ,or an underdog seizing momentum in a tournament boasting 10 former European champions among its ranks.

Each game preview below includes kickoff time (Eastern Time), venue and pool number for reference. T

he stage is set across two days – Saturday and Sunday – and venues from Loftus Versfeld to The Rec to Stade du Hameau. 

Here’s a closer look at the three must-watch Round 1 matchups:

Vodacom Bulls vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, In Round 1 Of The Investec Champions Cup

The Bulls begin their Champions Cup campaign on home turf against the team that lifted the trophy last season. 

Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria hosts this cross-hemisphere showdown, as the South African side looks to make a statement against Bordeaux-Bègles, the reigning European champion. 

Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone has stressed the club’s intent to “put up a big performance” in Europe after failing to reach the Round of 16 last season, a shortfall attributed to prioritizing domestic goals.

Under new coach Johan Ackermann, the Bulls are treating the Champions Cup with renewed focus.

Ackermann indicated he will field his strongest available lineup in the opener, noting “we’ll be as strong as we can for those games, especially the first one [against Bordeaux].” 

For Bordeaux-Bègles, this long trip to the Highveld marks the start of the team's title defense on foreign soil. 

The French club wrote history in May by securing its first Champions Cup crown, and features star performers, such as wing Damian Penaud, who set a tournament try-scoring record last season. 

A victory here would reinforce Bordeaux’s status as a team to beat, while the Bulls hope home advantage and high altitude can fuel an upset of the champions.

• Match Time: Saturday, Dec. 6, 10:15 a.m. ET
• Location: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South Africa
• Pool: 4

Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, In Round 1 Of The Investec Champions Cup

A resurgent Bath side faces a European stalwart, as English and Irish champions collide by the River Avon. 

Bath returns to the Champions Cup brimming with confidence after a landmark 2024-2025 season in which the squad ended a 29-year domestic title drought by winning the Gallagher PREM. 

That league triumph at Twickenham completed a remarkable treble for Bath, which also lifted the PREM Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup last season. 

Now back among Europe’s elite, Bath will test itself against Munster – a province with a rich European pedigree. 

Munster is a two-time Champions Cup winner (in 2006 and 2008) and a perennial contender that reached the quarterfinals of last season’s tournament before falling to the eventual champion. 

Adding intrigue, Bath’s South African head coach Johann van Graan knows Munster well, having coached the Irish side from 2017 to 2022. 

On the field, Bath will look to star fly-half Finn Russell to spark its attack, while Munster brings its trademark physicality and big-game experience to The Rec – a tight ground where Bath’s home supporters will expect a fierce contest. 

Both clubs see this opener as pivotal in Pool 2, with Bath aiming to announce its return to top-tier in Europe, and Munster determined to begin another title quest on the right foot.

• Match Time: Saturday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m. ET
• Location: The Recreation Ground (“The Rec”), Bath, England
• Pool: 2

Pau (Section Paloise) vs. Northampton Saints, In Round 1 Of The Investec Champions Cup

The Saints travel to southwestern France to face Section Paloise – better known as Pau – in a matchup of contrasting European histories. 

It will be the first meeting between Northampton and Pau, setting the scene for an intriguing clash at Stade du Hameau. 

The Northampton Saints enter as last season’s Champions Cup runners-up, their campaign having ended in heartbreak with a 28-20 loss to Bordeaux-Bègles in the 2025 final. 

That defeat has only sharpened Saints’ resolve to go one step further this year. 

The English club also lifted the Gallagher PREM title in 2024 (and were semifinalists in 2025), underscoring their recent top-form domestically. 

Standing in their way in Round 1 is Pau, a Top 14 side making a return to Europe’s top tier after securing a top-eight league finish last season. 

Pau carries the banner for a smaller French club with a proud tradition. Pau reached the Champions Cup semifinals in 1998 and won the EPCR Challenge Cup in 2000. 

Playing at home, Pau will aim to channel the energy of its supporters and the element of surprise to upset the favored Saints. 

Northampton, however, brings superior depth and big-match experience, featuring seasoned internationals in its ranks and the confidence that comes with being a former European champion. 

If the Saints can impose their fast-paced, attacking style early, they’ll fancy their chances of a valuable away win. 

But a focused Pau outfit on home soil is a challenge not to be underestimated, making this a fascinating Anglo-French tie to round out the weekend.

• Match Time: Sunday, Dec. 7, 8 a.m. ET
• Location: Stade du Hameau, Pau, France
• Pool: 4

Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026 Fixtures

Here's a look at each round:

Investec Champions Cup Round 1 

Friday, Dec. 5

• 3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community Stadium
• 3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean Dauger

Saturday, Dec. 6

• 8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX Stadium
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus Versfeld
• 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD
• 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y Scarlets
• 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The Rec

Sunday, Dec. 7

• 8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Kingsholm

Dec. 7–9 (TBD)

• Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBD

Investec Champions Cup Round 2 

Friday, Dec. 12

• 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Saturday, Dec. 13

• 8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-Michelin
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
• 3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun Stadium

Sunday, Dec. 14

• 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop
• 8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton Gate

Investec Champions Cup Round 3 

Friday, Jan. 9

• 3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• 3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBD

Saturday, Jan. 10

• 8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium
• 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets
• 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Sunday, Jan. 11

• 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop
• 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Round 4 

Friday, Jan. 16

• 3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau
• 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The Rec

Saturday, Jan. 17

• 8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger
• 10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
• 3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, Kingsholm

Sunday, Jan. 18

• 8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
• 10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Fixtures By Pool

Here's a breakdown of the schedule by pool:

Investec Champions Cup Pool 1

Round 1

• Friday, Dec. 5 – 3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community Stadium
• Saturday, Dec. 6 – 8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX Stadium
• Sunday, Dec. 7 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon

Round 2

• Saturday, Dec. 13 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
• Saturday, Dec. 13 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-Michelin
• Saturday, Dec. 13 – 3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun Stadium

Round 3 

• Saturday, Jan. 10 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin
• Saturday, Jan. 10 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium
• Sunday, Jan. 11 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX Stadium

Round 4 

• Saturday, Jan. 17 – 8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
• Saturday, Jan. 17 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
• Sunday, Jan. 18 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Pool 2

Round 1 

• Saturday, Dec. 6 – 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The Rec
• Sunday, Dec. 7 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Kingsholm
• Dec. 7–9 (TBD): Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBD

Round 2 

• Saturday, Dec. 13 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
• Sunday, Dec. 14 – 8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• Sunday, Dec. 14 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol

Round 3

• Friday, Jan. 9 – 3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• Friday, Jan. 9 – 3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBD
• Sunday, Jan. 11 – 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol

Round 4 

• Friday, Jan. 16 – 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The Rec
• Saturday, Jan. 17 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
• Saturday, Jan. 17 – 3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, Kingsholm

Investec Champions Cup Pool 3

Round 1 

• Friday, Dec. 5 – 3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean Dauger
• Saturday, Dec. 6 – 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre
• Saturday, Dec. 6 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD

Round 2 

• Friday, Dec. 12 – 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
• Saturday, Dec. 13 – 8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
• Sunday, Dec. 14 – 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop

Round 3 

• Saturday, Jan. 10 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD
• Saturday, Jan. 10 – 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
• Sunday, Jan. 11 – 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop

Round 4

• Saturday, Jan. 17 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger
• Saturday, Jan. 17 – 10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
• Sunday, Jan. 18 – 10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre

Investec Champions Cup Pool 4

Round 1 

• Saturday, Dec. 6 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus Versfeld
• Saturday, Dec. 6 – 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y Scarlets
• Sunday, Dec. 7 – 8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau

Round 2

• Saturday, Dec. 13 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas
• Sunday, Dec. 14 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
• Sunday, Dec. 14 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton Gate

Round 3 

• Saturday, Jan. 10 – 8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld
• Saturday, Jan. 10 – 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets
• Sunday, Jan. 11 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas

Round 4

• Friday, Jan. 16 – 3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau
• Sunday, Jan. 18 – 8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate
• Sunday, Jan. 18 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

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