Investec Champions Cup Countdown: Why The Leicester Tigers Can Win It All
Investec Champions Cup Countdown: Why The Leicester Tigers Can Win It All
The Investec Champions Cup is 17 days away, and FloRugby is making a case as to why each team can win it all. That includes Oliie Chessum and Leicester.

The 2025-2026 Investec Champions Cup begins Dec. 5, and we're just 17 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.
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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.
That includes the Leicester Tigers of Gallagher PREM Rugby.
Here are three reasons why Leicester Tigers can win the 2025-2026 Investec Champions Cup:
Ollie Chessum Is Really Good
Ollie Chessum is ranked No. 77 on the FloRugby Top 100 players list.
The 25-year-old lock has earned more than 25 caps for England already and played for the British & Irish Lions this summer.
He joined Leicester in 2020. He was named the Leicester captain before this year.
Here's what Philip Bendon of FloRugby wrote:
"A physical, athletic lock capable of covering blindside flanker, Chessum helped the Tigers win the 2022 Premiership, playing a vital role in their dramatic final victory.
"His dynamic ball-carrying and line-out work earned comparisons to Courtney Lawes, and in 2022, he debuted for England, becoming a regular fixture under Steve Borthwick."
The Leicester Tigers Have Won It Before
The Tigers are one of the few clubs that has won multiple Champions Cup trophies. And they won then back-to-back.
The Tigers won it in 2001 and 2002, and they reached the final in 1997, 2007 and 2009. Only Saracens has been more successful in the Champions Cup than the Tigers.
Leicester won the Gallagher PREM Rugby title in 2022.
Leicester Has Knocked On The ICC Door. Maybe It's Time To Knock It Down?
The last time Leicester failed to reach the knockout rounds of the Champions Cup was in 2021 when the Tigers played in the Challenge Cup and reached the final.
That stat feels like cheating a bit.
The last time they played in the Champions Cup and didn't reach the knockout stage was 2019. They've reached the semifinals and two quarterfinals since then, but they haven't gotten out of the Round of 16 the last two seasons.
Only once, that 2021 season, have the Tigers not qualified for the Champions Cup.
This year is a tough stretch for Leicester.
The Tigers face La Rochelle in France and the Stormers in Cape Town, but they do get Leinster and Bayonne at home. It's one of the toughest roads to the Knockout stage a club has.
Leicester Tigers Investec Champions Cup Pool Play Fixtures
Here's the Leicester Tigers Champions Cup schedule:
Investec Champions Cup Round 1 – Saturday, Dec. 6
- 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre
Investec Champions Cup Round 2 – Friday, Dec. 12
- 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
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: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
How To Watch Leicester Tigers In The Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026
Every Leicester Tigers match in the Investec Champions Cup streams live in the United States and its 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.