When Antoine Dupont went down with an injury in the 2025 Six Nations, France needed a new scrum-half, and luckily Les Bleus knew who to turn to in order to finish off the championship run.

Nolann Le Garrec replaced Dupont in the lineup, and France didn’t miss a beat in the Six Nations. That’s because Le Garrec is one of a growing number of star young players emerging in the game of rugby.

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Le Garrec is perhaps the best young scrum-half in the world at just 23 years old. The La Rochelle star is joined by a few other emerging players who will compete in this year’s Investec Champions Cup. While the heavy favorites to win the tournament are powered by veterans like Dupont and Thomas Ramos for Toulouse, and Andrew Porter and Caelan Doris for Leinster Rugby, some clubs are powered by the young guns.

That includes Section Paloise, or Pau, of the Top 14, who — despite having one of the most experienced international players in the world, Argentina captain Julián Montoya — are led by Fabien Brau-Boirie (19), Théo Attissogbé (21) and Emilien Gailleton (22).

But who are the best young players in the 2025–2026 Investec Champions Cup field? Here are the five best under-25 players in the ICC.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu | DHL Stormers 

A 23-year-old fly-half/utility back, Feinberg-Mngomezulu is known for his dynamic, all-action playing style and versatility (he’s often compared to Stormers teammate Damian Willemse). He captained the Junior Springboks in 2022 and made his Stormers debut that year.

He was outstanding in the URC — winning the 2023–24 South African Player of the Year award. A Springbok in the making, Feinberg-Mngomezulu earned a call-up in 2025 and famously scored 37 points (including a hat trick of tries) in a Test victory, setting a Springbok record.

Nolann Le Garrec — La Rochelle

Le Garrec is a 22-year-old French scrum-half regarded as one of the most exciting young playmakers in France. A goal-kicking No. 9 with a fast, attacking style reminiscent of Antoine Dupont, he broke into the France team in 2022 and has more than 10 caps so far — notably scoring tries in the 2024 Six Nations when entrusted as a starter.

After 80+ appearances with Racing 92, Le Garrec secured a high-profile transfer to La Rochelle for 2025–26, where he is set to replace veteran Tawera Kerr-Barlow. He brings quick service, game management and reliable kicking to his new club. Injury-free and on a steep rise, Le Garrec looks poised to be France’s scrum-half of the future.

Brian Gleeson | Munster Rugby

Gleeson is a powerful young back-row forward (No. 8) hailed as “one of European rugby’s most exciting prospects,” according to Philip Bendon of FloRugby. At just 21, his playing style is defined by dynamic ball-carrying, physical defense and notable versatility.

He was a star for Ireland U20 — playing a pivotal role in their 2023 U20 Six Nations Grand Slam and helping them reach the World Championship final, earning two Player of the Match awards. Fast-tracked into Munster’s senior squad in 2023, Gleeson made his URC debut against the Sharks and his Champions Cup debut shortly thereafter.

He has adapted seamlessly, using the experience from his Thurles RFC/Garryowen roots and Rockwell College grounding. Injury has spared him thus far; he’s focused on developing into one of the world’s top No. 8s, with Munster expecting him to be a key figure for years to come.

Henry Pollock | Northampton Saints

A 20-year-old flanker, Pollock has had a meteoric rise. He captained England U20 to a World Championship title in 2024 and was named the U20 Six Nations Player of the Championship for his outstanding all-around performances.

An explosive openside, Pollock combines physicality at the breakdown with flair in open play — evidenced by his remarkable 2024–25 season where he scored 10 tries in 22 appearances for Northampton and swept the club’s Young Player and Breakthrough Player of the Season awards.

He also earned the Premiership’s national Breakthrough Player of the Season accolade in 2025. His senior England debut came in March 2025, and he made an immediate impact by coming off the bench to score two tries against Wales in the Six Nations.

Pollock’s red-hot form even led to a surprise selection for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour — at age 20, the squad’s youngest member. The dynamic openside is lauded for his work rate and try-scoring knack.

Louis Bielle-Biarrey | Union Bordeaux-Bègles

Bielle-Biarrey, 21, is an electrifying French winger who has quickly become one of the world’s most dangerous finishers.

He burst onto the scene during the 2023 Rugby World Cup (as France’s youngest player) and truly shone in the 2025 Six Nations, where he scored a record eight tries — the most ever in a Six Nations season — and earned the Player of the Championship honor while helping France secure the title.

A rapid and elusive runner with keen attacking instincts, Bielle-Biarrey has an astounding strike rate of 15 tries in his first 17 Test caps for France. He can also cover fullback, showcasing strong all-around skills, but it’s on the wing where his pace and agility have made the greatest impact.

The Bordeaux-Bègles flyer continues his red-hot form at club level in the Top 14 and is touted as a cornerstone of France’s backline for years to come. Bielle-Biarrey was a finalist for World Rugby Player of the Year in 2025.

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Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby will stream on both FloRugby's YouTube and Facebook for free. The entire competition will stream on FloRugby. 

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
• 12:30 p.m. ET Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, Hive Stadium

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: 

• Gallagher PREM Rugby
• Investec Champions Cup
• EPCR Challenge Cup
• Currie Cup
• Top 14
• Super Rugby
• And more

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

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