2025 Section Paloise vs Northampton Saints

Investec Champions Cup Countdown: Why The Northampton Saints Can Win It All

Investec Champions Cup Countdown: Why The Northampton Saints Can Win It All

The Investec Champions Cup is nine days away, and FloRugby is making a case for why each team can win it all. That includes the Northampton Saints.

Nov 25, 2025 by Joe Harrington
Meet Alex Mitchell Of The Northampton Saints

The 2025-2026 Investec Champions Cup begins Dec. 5, and we're just nine 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 Northampton Saints of Gallagher PREM Rugby. 

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

Tommy Freeman May Be The Best English Player Right Now

Northampton Saints star Tommy Freeman was ranked No. 50 on the FloRugby Top 100 Players list back in the summer, but his Gallagher PREM Rugby season may be showing that he is, in fact, the best English rugby player in the world right now.

Against Saracens, Freeman scored 20 points with four tries and four tackles. He’s third in the PREM with five tries, has 383 meters gained and ranks third in line breaks with 13.


The 24-year-old star missed the match against the All Blacks in the Autumn Nations after being one of England’s best players against Australia earlier in the competition.

Freeman’s career is a TV movie. 

He battles epilepsy. He was released by Leicester at 16 for being too small, but later helped the Saints win the Gallagher PREM Rugby title in 2024 and scored six — SIX — tries against Leinster in one of the biggest upsets in Champions Cup history last spring.

Here’s what Philip Bendon said of Tommy Freeman:

“Versatile across fullback, wing and center, Freeman is a proven match-winner on both domestic and international stages.”

The Saints Made The Investec Champions Cup Final Last Year

Sports history is littered with comeback stories like the one the Northampton Saints can write this year. 

The Kansas City Royals lost the World Series in 2014, then won it all in 2015. The North Carolina Tar Heels lost the men’s college basketball national championship game on Kris Jenkins’ near-half-court shot — and won it all in 2017.

In 2004, Toulouse lost to the London Wasps in the Champions Cup Final, then came back and won the 2005 Champions Cup.

The Saints can be the next team to do it. 

After a down Gallagher PREM Rugby season, where they finished eighth on the table, the Saints are No. 1 in the standings with a 4-1-0 record and are the only PREM team without a loss.

Henry Pollock Is The Future Of English Rugby

One of the brightest young stars in rugby is Northampton Saints’ 20-year-old standout Henry Pollock. He already has debuted for England and was the youngest player ever selected to the British & Irish Lions.


Pollock was the PREM Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Season last year and was ranked No. 100 on the FloRugby Top 100 Players list.

Here’s what Philip Bendon said of Henry Pollock:

“A standout from the Saints academy, Pollock’s meteoric rise has been fueled by fearless tackling, explosive carrying and a nose for the try line few backrowers can match.”

Bonus: Four Saints Are Ranked on the FloRugby Top 100 Players List

Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith also made the list!

  • Tommy Freeman (No. 50)
  • Alex Mitchell (No. 66)
  • Fin Smith (No. 91)
  • Henry Pollock (No. 100)

Northampton Saints Investec Champions Cup Pool Play Fixtures

Here's the Northampton Saints Champions Cup schedule:

Investec Champions Cup Round 1 – Sunday, Dec. 7

  • 8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau

Investec Champions Cup Round 2 – Sunday, Dec. 14

  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens

Investec Champions Cup Round 3 – Sunday, Jan. 11

  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas

Investec Champions Cup Round 4 – Sunday, Jan. 18

  • 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens

How To Watch Northampton Saints In The Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026

Every Northampton Saints 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. 

Join The Rugby Conversation On FloRugby Social