Top 5 European Rugby Matches To Watch: Challenge & Champions Cup Round 3
Top 5 European Rugby Matches To Watch: Challenge & Champions Cup Round 3
European rugby heats up with five must-watch Champions Cup and Challenge Cup matches, featuring Leinster, Toulouse, Bordeaux and more.
One week into the new year, and it’s only the tip of the rugby iceberg.
The first 2026 weekend of Top 14, PREM and URC action delivered immediate drama—and there’s no pause button.
Clubs now shift straight into European competition, where the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Round 3 will begin revealing true contenders.
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Perpignan opened the year with a statement, earning its second Top 14 win by stunning No. 1 Toulouse.
Northampton steamrolled Harlequins 66-21 for the Saints' most dominant PREM performance yet.
Ulster added another chapter to its interprovincial rivalry, edging Munster once again.
Now, the spotlight turns to Europe, where the fiercest competition awaits, and the season’s front-runners start to emerge.
Here are five must-watch matches this week:
Stade Français vs. Exeter Chiefs
Jan. 10 at 8 a.m. ET — Challenge Cup
Stade Français arrives in strong form after a convincing 33-15 Top 14 win over Castres and a perfect start to the Challenge Cup campaign. Dominant victories over Cardiff and the Cheetahs have put the Parisians firmly in control of their pool.
Exeter, meanwhile, is searching for momentum after a narrow PREM loss to Bath, but the Chiefs have shown flashes in Europe, hammering the Cheetahs before battling Racing 92 to a 31-31 draw.
This matchup pits Stade Français’ consistency against an Exeter side capable of swinging wildly week to week.
Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks
Jan. 10 at 12:30 p.m. ET — Champions Cup
It’s a literal battle of the Sharks, though the trajectories couldn’t be more different.
Sale comes in off a tight PREM defeat to Bristol but rebounded in Europe with a decisive win over Clermont after falling to Glasgow in Round 1.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks are reeling, having dropped a one-point URC match to the Lions and suffering heavy Champions Cup losses to Connacht and Toulouse.
For Sale, this is a chance to solidify its knockout push; for Hollywoodbets, it’s about survival.
Leinster vs. La Rochelle
Jan. 10 at 12:30 p.m. ET — Champions Cup
One of Europe’s premier rivalries renews with both sides carrying confidence—and history.
Leinster is unbeaten in its last five matches and opened their Champions Cup with wins over Harlequins and Leicester.
La Rochelle arrives fresh off a staggering 66-0 Top 14 demolition of Toulon, but split its European results, beating Leicester, before falling hard to the Stormers.
Leinster has won the last three meetings, including a 16-14 thriller in January 2025, but La Rochelle knows how to flip the script.
Union Bordeaux Bègles vs. Northampton Saints
Jan. 11 at 10:15 a.m. ET — Champions Cup
This matchup features two of the hottest attacking sides in Europe right now.
Bordeaux crushed Racing 92 last week and has been ruthless in Champions Cup play, piling up points against the Bulls and Scarlets.
Northampton is equally dangerous, riding a five-match win streak highlighted by a 66-21 rout of Harlequins and dominant European wins.
Bordeaux has won the last two meetings, including a 28-20 victory in May 2025, giving this clash extra edge.
Saracens vs. Toulouse
Jan. 11 at 12:30 p.m. ET — Champions Cup
Two European heavyweights meet at a critical moment for both clubs.
Toulouse was stunned by Perpignan in Top 14 play and split its Champions Cup results, overpowering the Sharks, before slipping against Glasgow.
Saracens also comes off a domestic loss and has mirrored Toulouse’s European inconsistency with one emphatic win and one narrow defeat.
With little margin for error in the pool, this game could define the knockout picture for both sides.
How To Watch Investec Champions Cup Round 3 Matches
All Investec Champions Cup matches stream live on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
Investec Champions Cup Round 3 Fixtures
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 Fixtures
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
How To Watch Investec Champions Cup Round 3 Matches
All EPCR Challenge Cup matches stream live on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
EPCR Challenge Cup Round 3 Fixtures
Sat, Jan. 10, 2026
- 7 a.m. ET: Stade Français Paris vs. Exeter Chiefs, Stade Jean Bouin
- 7 a.m. ET: US Montauban vs. Black Lion, Stade Sapiac
- 7 a.m. ET: Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Perpignan, Kingston Park
- 9:15 a.m. ET: Lions vs. Lyon O.U., Ellis Park
- 9:15 a.m. ET: Cardiff Rugby vs. Racing 92, Cardiff Arms Park
- 11:30 a.m. ET: Benetton Rugby vs. Dragons RFC, Stadio Monigo
Sun, Jan. 11, 2026
- 7 a.m. ET: Montpellier Hérault Rugby vs. Connacht Rugby, Septeo Stadium
- 7 a.m. ET: Zebre Parma vs. Ospreys, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
- 9:15 a.m. ET: Toyota Cheetahs vs. Ulster Rugby, NRCA Stadium
EPCR Challenge Cup Round 4 Fixtures
Fri, Jan. 16, 2026
- 2 p.m. ET: Dragons RFC vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Rodney Parade
Sat, Jan. 17, 2026
- 7 a.m. ET: Ulster Rugby vs. Stade Français Paris, Affidea Stadium
- 7 a.m. ET: Black Lion vs. Zebre Parma, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium
- 11:30 a.m. ET: Perpignan vs. Lions, Stade Aimé Giral
- 2 p.m. ET: Connacht Rugby vs. US Montauban, Dexcom Stadium
- 2 p.m. ET: Ospreys vs. Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Dunraven Brewery Field
Sun, Jan. 18, 2026
- 7 a.m. ET: Exeter Chiefs vs. Cardiff Rugby, Sandy Park
- 7 a.m. ET: Lyon O.U. vs. Benetton Rugby, Matmut Stadium de Gerland
- 11:30 a.m. ET: Racing 92 vs. Toyota Cheetahs, Paris La Défense Arena
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.