2025 Aviron Bayonnais vs DHL Stormers

Investec Champions Cup Countdown: Why Bayonne Rugby Can Win It All In 2026

Investec Champions Cup Countdown: Why Bayonne Rugby Can Win It All In 2026

The Investec Champions Cup is 21 days away, and FloRugby is making a case as to why each team can win it all. That includes Bayonne and Jean-Dauger Stadium.

Nov 14, 2025 by Joe Harrington
Rugby Today: England Rise, NZ & Ireland Fall

The 2025-2026 Investec Champions Cup begins Dec. 5 , and we're just 21 days away from the Sale Sharks hosting the Glasgow Warriors at 3 p.m. ET at CorpAcq Stadium.

The Investec Champions Cup will determine the best team in Europe (and South Africa), as every contender aims to take the title from defending champion Union Bordeaux-Bègles of the Top 14.

But like in the film "The Highlander," there can only be one winner. 

Every club will enter the competition believing it can lift the trophy on May 23, 2026, at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.

And that includes Aviron Bayonnais, or Bayonne, of the Top 14. 

Here are three reasons why Bayonne can win the 2025-2026 Investec Champions Cup:

There's A Restaurant In Jean-Dauger Stadium, Where Bayonne Plays

Does this help Bayonne win the Investec Champions Cup? Not unless the DHL Stormers and Leinster Rugby over-indulge on the Basque countryside cuisine that includes the seasonal pate, duck foie gras and a dessert dish that includes vanilla cream, Guanaja chocolate and ... wait for it ... cabbage. It's called "Le chou, crème vanille et sauce chocolat guanaja."

The meals must be working, because Bayonne hasn't lost at home all season, including thumpings of Toulouse and Clermont. 

Bayonne Rugby Is One Of The Best Teams In The Top 14

Bayonne has been one of the best teams in the Top 14 with a 6-0-3 record as of Nov. 4. 

Bayonne has scored some big wins already against Clermont, Toulouse and Toulon. 

Bayonne Is From France. That Makes The Squad A Contender, Right?

A theme in this series will be the dominance of the Top 14. Why? Because the French Top 14 has won every Champions Cup since 2021. 

Five straight years of Top 14 champions. That's a mediocre student's entire college experience. 

Four of those titles were won by two clubs. Then Bordeaux won it for the first time last year. 

Bayonne has never won the Champions Cup, just like UBB a year ago.  

Bayonne Investec Champions Cup Pool Play Fixtures

Here's the Bayonne Champions Cup schedule:

Investec Champions Cup Round 1 – Friday, Dec. 5

  • 3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean Dauger

Investec Champions Cup Round 2 – Sunday, Dec. 14

  • 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop

Investec Champions Cup Round 3 – Saturday, Jan. 10

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

Investec Champions Cup Round 4 – Saturday, Jan. 17

  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger

How To Watch Bayonne In The Investec Champions Cup 2025–2026

Every Bayonne match in the Investec Champions Cup streams live in the United States and territories on FloRugby and the FloSports app.

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

The URC will stream all its matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to: 

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

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