FloRugby's Professional Club Power Rankings: Dec. 3, 2025

The FloRugby Professional Club Rankings ahead of Round 1 of the Investec Champions Cup reveals the Stormers on top, Bath leading England and major shifts.

Dec 3, 2025 by Philip Bendon

FloRugby's Professional Club Power Rankings: Dec. 3, 2025

Round 1 of the Investec Champions Cup arrives with the continental landscape finely balanced and the domestic form lines sharpening into something far more predictable.

Across the URC, the Premiership and the Top 14, the evidence is clear.

Two clubs enter Europe carrying genuine separation from their leagues. The DHL Stormers in the URC, and Bath Rugby in the Premiership.

Bath has been the standard setter in England for weeks, sitting first in the Premiership and reinforcing its credentials with a hard-earned comeback victory at Saracens.

Bath's work, with and without the ball, remains among the most complete in the competition.

The addition of Henry Arundell has elevated Bath's backfield threat, while Finn Russell continues to drive one of the sharpest-attacking structures in the league.

Bath is fourth in our rankings on 1,632.12 points, the highest-placed Premiership club and one of the sides most capable of shaping this European campaign.

The Stormers still hold the overall No. 1 position after their defining takedown of Munster in Limerick.

Down 21-6 at the interval, they surged home with 21 unanswered points. Their tempo, decision making and collective resilience showed why they remain unbeaten in the URC and why their model leading 1,715.67 points is no accident.

Their win pushes them two points clear in the league and keeps them marginally ahead of Pau and Toulouse in our cross competition standings.

The French contenders remain tightly packed.

Pau has emerged as this season’s disruptor, stringing together consistent Top 14 performances. Toulouse remains the perennial force, the return of Antoine Dupont only strengthening the team's grip on matches. Clermont’s resurgence also has reshaped the French picture.

Across the URC’s chasing pack, Cardiff’s rise to second in the table is mirrored by their climb to sixth in our rankings. Ulster and Leinster both produced strong second-half surges last weekend, while the Lions, Scarlets and Connacht all delivered results that jolt the middle tier.

In the Premiership, Exeter’s soaring confidence, Bristol’s steady form and Leicester’s growing edge keep the English challenge deep.

With 40 clubs feeding into our cross-competition model and the first round of Champions Cup fixtures finally arriving, this is where the noise fades and the hierarchy clarifies.

Bath stands at the front of England’s charge. The Stormers remain the benchmark. Europe now decides who is for real.

FloRugby Power Rankings Formula Explained

FloRugby’s Professional Club Rugby Rankings are built on a dynamic rating model that evaluates performance across the major European and South African competitions. The system is designed to compare clubs that never meet in domestic play by placing every match on a common numerical scale.

Each team begins the season with a base rating informed by recent results and squad quality indicators. Every match has a projected outcome generated by comparing the ratings of both clubs and adjusting for location and competition strength. The rating gain or loss after each match is determined by how the actual result compares with that projection.

Teams outperforming expectations rise. Teams falling short drop. The model recognizes close contests, decisive wins and matches where underdogs exceed their predicted performance. It also recognizes sustained form. A club that strings together consistent results across strong opposition will climb more quickly than a team feasting on weaker schedules.

The system does not reveal precise weightings or proprietary calculations, but the guiding idea is simple. A team’s rating reflects the probability it would beat an average opponent on a neutral field at this point in time. Ratings move every week. Form matters. Context matters. The scoreboard matters. The result is a unified ranking that captures the evolving balance of power across Europe and South Africa.

FloRugby Power Ranking Dec. 3, 2025

DHL Stormers 1715.67
Toulouse 1672.62
Pau 1661.83
Bath 1632.12
Munster 1627.16
Cardiff Rugby 1611.98
Northampton Saints 1589.58
ASM Clermont Auvergne 1587.71
Exeter Chiefs 1585.17
Ulster 1583.44
Leicester Tigers 1577.69
Bristol Bears 1576.01
Toulon 1575.71
Castres 1560.74
Stade Francais 1554.16
Bayonne 1553.61
Racing 92 1552.99
Leinster 1547.4
Glasgow Warriors 1540.79
Emirates Lions 1537.06
Montpellier 1536.58
Vodacom Bulls 1498.81
Bordeaux Bègles 1518.08
Saracens 1510.83
Edinburgh 1487.06
Connacht 1474.36
La Rochelle 1472.1
Lyon 1449.84
Sale Sharks 1437.09
Benetton 1430.51
Harlequins 1430.09
Ospreys 1414.23
Scarlets 1411.62
Hollywoodbets Sharks 1409.13
Gloucester Rugby 1401.68
Zebre 1389.03
Dragons 1346.76
Newcastle Red Bulls 1309.74
Montauban 1285.32
Perpignan 1208.72

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

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