Investec Champions Cup Countdown: Why Munster Rugby Can Win It All In 2026
Investec Champions Cup Countdown: Why Munster Rugby Can Win It All In 2026
The Investec Champions Cup is 13 days away, and FloRugby is making a case as to why each team can win it all. That includes Munster Rugby and its fans.

The 2025-2026 Investec Champions Cup begins Dec. 5, and we're just 13 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 24, 2025, at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.
And that includes Munster Rugby of the United Rugby Championship. Here are three reasons why Munster Rugby can win the 2025–2026 Investec Champions Cup.
Philip Bendon Told Me Munster Rugby Would Win The Investec Champions Cup
Philip Bendon is one of the best rugby analysts in the world. For my money — and FloSports’ — he’s the very best, bar none.
I trust Philip’s opinion on this sport more than anyone else’s, so when the lifelong Munster superfan tells me Munster Rugby will win every match by 50 points this year, and beat every team so badly that the EPCR will just invite them straight to the Champions Cup Final every year moving forward — I believe him.
OK, Mr. Bendon didn’t exactly say that, but Philip is a Munster Rugby fan — and he’s one of millions.
Few clubs in the world have a fan base as large or as passionate as the Munster Army from Cork, Ireland.
They travel in numbers and will make road matches against Bath and Toulon feel very much like they’re being played in the southern province of Ireland.
Munster Rugby Is The Best Team In The URC — So Far
As of Nov. 11, Munster and the DHL Stormers — who play each other on Nov. 29 in the FloRugby Athlete’s Lounge Match, which will stream for free on FloRugby and FloRugby’s social channels — are tied as the top teams in the United Rugby Championship.
Munster beat Leinster Rugby in Dublin and has yet to lose a match, sitting at 5-0-0 so far.
This time last year, Munster was reeling, having just fired its coach, lost to Leinster and was teetering on not even qualifying for this year’s Champions Cup. But, the squad turned things around nicely and reached the Round of 16.
A lot has changed in 12 months.
Now, under new head coach Clayton McMillan, things are rolling again for Munster.
Tadhg Beirne Is One Of The Best Players In The World
Ranked just outside the top 10 on FloRugby’s Top 100 Players list, Tadhg Beirne came in at No. 11.
His is a story of resilience: Beirne was once released by Munster’s biggest rival, Leinster, and had to rebuild his career in Wales with Scarlets. There, he developed into one of the best players in what was then called the Pro12 and was named Players’ Player of the Year.
He eventually made his way back to Ireland and now captains Munster.
One of the best locks in the world, Philip Bendon wrote of Beirne:
“Since debuting for Ireland in 2018, he has been a relentless force — disruptive at the breakdown, fearless in the tackle and intelligent in open play.”
Munster Rugby Investec Champions Cup Pool Play Fixtures
Here's the Munster Rugby Champions Cup schedule:
Investec Champions Cup Round 1 – Friday, Dec. 5
- 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The Rec
Investec Champions Cup Round 2 – Saturday, Dec. 13
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Investec Champions Cup Round 3 – Sunday, Jan. 11
- 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
Investec Champions Cup Round 4 – Saturday, Jan. 17
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
How To Watch Munster Rugby In The Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026
Every Munster Rugby 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.