Leinster Rugby-Leicester Tops Champions Cup Pool 3 Round 2 | ICC Preview
Leinster Rugby-Leicester Tops Champions Cup Pool 3 Round 2 | ICC Preview
Champions Cup Pool 3 heats up, as Leinster visits Leicester, La Rochelle travel to the Stormers and Harlequins battles Bayonne after a chaotic Round 1.
Here we go again.
Leinster Rugby and La Rochelle both picked up bonus points in Round 1 of Pool 3 play in the Investec Champions Cup, and everyone else in the pool is chasing the clubs that met in the final of the Champions Cup in 2022 and 2023.
But both should have it much more difficult in Round 2 — a month before they meet at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Jan. 10 at 12:30 p.m.
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Leinster travels to London to play the Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road at 3 p.m. ET, while La Rochelle makes the trip to South Africa to face the DHL Stormers at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on the Eastern Cape.
For many rugby fans, an early Christmas gift would be both Leinster and La Rochelle winning, so they could get a late Christmas gift of these two clubs being a combined 4-0-0 entering their showdown. But it won’t be easy.
Here’s a look at the Pool 3 Round 2 slate:
Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, 3 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12
Leicester Tigers fans weren’t happy with the selected team that faced La Rochelle, as the Tigers didn’t take their top squad to France. But this week should be different.
Leicester is expected to roll out the stars who didn’t play in the 39-20 loss to La Rochelle. Ollie Chessum, for starters, is expected to play. Leicester losing this match would put the team in quite a jam.
Bayonne travels to London for a match in Round 3, but for Leicester to make the Round of 16, a loss in Round 2 could mean needing to win in Cape Town at DHL Stadium in Round 4.
For Leinster, the rugby world probably is a little spoiled after having seen this club roll through Champions Cup pool stages — and frankly knockout stages — over the years.
The squad's bonus-point blowout win over Harlequins, 45-28, still left some Leinster fans wanting more. Perhaps it’s just the rare 3-0-3 record this club has in the URC carrying over. And, yes, Leinster didn’t play perfectly, but a bonus-point win still was a bonus-point win.
Leinster could wrap up a spot in the Round of 16 with another bonus-point victory.
This is the lone match of Round 2 on Friday.
DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, 8 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 13
The fact that the Stormers played a long stretch of Round 1 against Bayonne — in France and without their star Springboks — with just 13 men on the field is testament to their standing as one of the best clubs in the competition.
They ranked No. 1 in the world at FloRugby entering the week and did something the two other South African clubs didn’t do: win. And they did something few have done in the SA Champions Cup era: win in France.
Now, they head back to summer in South Africa, to Gqeberha on the Eastern Cape. Their Springboks stars are expected to be back for this match, and they’ll need them. The Stormers won in Round 1, but they were one of only two teams to won without securing a bonus point.
La Rochelle did. The French side has beaten the Stormers before in South Africa.
The last time the clubs met was in the Champions Cup Round of 16 in 2024, and La Rochelle hung on for a 22-21 win after Suleiman Hartzenberg scored a try in the 79th minute — but Manie Libbok missed the game-tying conversion.
La Rochelle dominated the second team of Leicester in Round 1, and that bonus-point win puts La Rochelle in position to at least make the Round of 16. A win in South Africa against the best team the Stormers could put on the field would make them true Champions Cup Final contenders despite the up-and-down Top 14 season they’re having.
Harlequins vs. Bayonne, 8 a.m. ET, Sunday, Dec. 14
The only pool playing on all three days of Round 2 is Pool 3, and this match could be equal to a Round of 16 elimination game.
Harlequins had Leinster Rugby fans thinking the worst for much of their Round 1 match in Dublin, before Leinster pulled away for the bonus-point win.
The Quins entered the competition knowing they needed to stay clean at home with trips to Leinster and La Rochelle to come. They also probably are banking on the Stormers feeling secure in their points race in Round 3 and not sending the A-team to Twickenham Stoop in January.
This match, however, always was going to be the decider on whether they could make the Round of 16 or are fighting for the EPCR Challenge Cup. With Marcus Smith expected to play, the Quins could be in a good spot to pick up the win.
Bayonne’s loss in Round 1 may not have been as sizable as Leicester’s, or even Munster’s loss to Bath, but make no mistake — it was one of the most devastating. The Stormers had a red card and a second-half yellow card and still hung on for a 26-17 win.
Bayonne led 17-16 at the 73-minute mark, then two yellow cards of their own allowed the Stormers to win by nine. But it was the missed opportunities in the first 20 minutes with a man advantage that will haunt Bayonne.
And, of course, this was at home — where Top 14 teams should have a strong advantage.
But none of that will matter if Bayonne can go on the road and beat a Quins team that is 2-0-4 in Gallagher play.
2025 ICC Table Standings Round 2
Pool 1
1. Toulouse (Stade Toulousain)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 37 | Pts: 8 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
2. Saracens (Saracens)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 37 | Pts: 7 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
3. Glasgow Warriors (Glasgow Warriors)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 5 | Pts: 4 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
4. Sale Sharks (Sale Sharks)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –5 | Pts: 3 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 1 | Rank: 1
5. Hollywoodbets Sharks (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –37 | Pts: 3 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
6. Clermont Auvergne (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –37 | Pts: 2 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
Pool 2
1. Bath Rugby (Bath Rugby)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 26 | Pts: 6 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
2. Gloucester Rugby (Gloucester Rugby)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 20 | Pts: 4 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
3. Edinburgh Rugby (Edinburgh Rugby)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 13 | Pts: 4 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
4. Toulon (RC Toulon)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –13 | Pts: 2 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
5. Castres Olympique (Castres Olympique)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –20 | Pts: 2 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
6. Munster Rugby (Munster Rugby)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –26 | Pts: 2 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
Pool 3
1. La Rochelle (Stade Rochelais)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 19 | Pts: 6 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
2. Leinster Rugby (Leinster Rugby)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 17 | Pts: 7 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
3. DHL Stormers (DHL Stormers)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 9 | Pts: 2 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 4
4. Harlequins (Harlequins)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –17 | Pts: 4 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 1
5. Bayonne (Aviron Bayonnais)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –9 | Pts: 3 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
6. Leicester Tigers (Leicester Tigers)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –19 | Pts: 2 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
Pool 4
1. Bordeaux-Begles (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 13 | Pts: 7 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
2. Northampton Saints (Northampton Saints)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 8 | Pts: 5 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
3. Bristol Bears (Bristol Bears)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 1 | Pts: 3 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 4
4. Scarlets (Scarlets)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –1 | Pts: 1 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 1 | Rank: 1
5. Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Bulls)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –13 | Pts: 5 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 1
6. Pau (Section Paloise)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –8 | Pts: 3 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
Investec Champions Cup Round 1 Scores
Friday Scores:
- DHL Stormers 23, Bayonne 17 | FINAL
- Sale Sharks 21, Glasgow Warriors 26 | FINAL
Saturday Scores
- Saracens 47, Clermont 10 | FINAL
- Bordeaux 46, Vodacom Bulls 33 | FINAL
- La Rochelle 39, Leicester Tigers 20 | FINAL
- Leinster Rugby 45, Harlequins 28 | FINAL
- Bristol Bears 17, Scarlets 16 | FINAL
- Bath Rugby 40, Munster Rugby 14 | FINAL
Sunday Scores:
- Northampton Saints 35, Pau 27 | FINAL
- Toulouse 56, Hollywoodbets Sharks 19 | FINAL
- Gloucester Rugby 34, Castres 14 | FINAL
- Edinburgh Rugby 33, Toulon | Final
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
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