Pool 2 of the Investec Champions Cup reaches a defining moment, as Castres and Bath Rugby meet in France with the tightest standings in the competition. 

Bath enters Round 3 atop the pool with six points, but every other club sits just one point back, making this the only pool where all four teams opened the tournament with identical 1-0-1 records through the first two rounds. With margins already razor-thin, this fixture carries direct implications for qualification.

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Bath arrives in France navigating a demanding stretch of fixtures across competitions. 

The Gallagher PREM Rugby contender is coming off a 33-26 win over Exeter in Round 9 of the domestic season, though that victory followed a heavy 41-21 home loss to the Northampton Saints two weeks earlier. 

In Champions Cup play, Bath split its December matches, opening with a dominant 40-14 win over Munster, before falling 45-34 at Toulon in Round 2. 

This marks Bath’s second consecutive road match in France, with pool play concluding in Round 4 against Edinburgh Rugby.

Castres enters under pressure amid an uneven season. 

The Top 14 side sits 10th domestically at 7-0-7 and has lost three of its last five matches, most recently falling 33-15 to Stade Français in Paris. However, Castres has shown its ability to respond, rebounding from a 34-14 Champions Cup loss to Gloucester in Round 1 by blanking Edinburgh 33-0 in Round 2. 

Returning to Stade Pierre Fabre, Castres looks to harness that momentum and reignite a campaign that has yet to fully stabilize.

Castres vs. Bath Rugby Kickoff Time, Lineups

Castres hosts Bath Rugby at 3 p.m. ET on Jan. 9 at Stade Pierre Fabre in Castres, France, as Pool 2 play continues in the Investec Champions Cup.

How To Watch Castres vs. Bath Rugby

Castres vs. Bath Rugby streams live on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States, with full Investec Champions Cup coverage available throughout the tournament.

Castres Lineup vs. Bath Rugby

Starting XV

1. Quentin Walcker
2. Teddy Durand
3. Will Collier
4. Guillaume Ducat
5. Florent Vanverberghe
6. Baptiste Delaporte
7. Baptiste Cope
8. Tyler Ardron
9. Jeremy Fernandez
10. Pierre Popelin
11. Nathanael Hulleu
12. Jack Goodhue
13. Vuate Karawalevu
14. Christian Ambadiang
15. Theo Chabouni

Replacements

• 16. Loris Zarantonello
• 17. Atunaisa Sokobale
• 18. Nicolas Corato
• 19. Tom Staniforth
• 20. Simon Meka
• 21. Gauthier Doubrere
• 22. Enzo Herve
• 23. Geoffrey Palis

Bath Rugby Lineup vs. Castres

Starting XV

1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Vilikesa Sela
4. Quinn Roux
5. Ross Molony
6. Ted Hill
7. Miles Reid
8. Alfie Barbeary
9. Ben Spencer
10. Finn Russell
11. Will Muir
12. Cameron Redpath
13. Max Ojomoh
14. Henry Arundell
15. Santiago Carreras

Replacements

• 16. Kepu Tuipulotu
• 17. Francois van Wyk
• 18. Thomas du Toit
• 19. Josh Bayliss
• 20. Guy Pepper
• 21. Tom Carr-Smith
• 22. Will Butt
• 23. Joe Cokanasiga

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A FloRugby annual subscription includes live coverage of PREM Rugby, the Top 14, URC, the EPCR Challenge Cup and the Investec Champions Cup, streaming on FloRugby and the FloSports app.

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 Pool 2 Fixtures

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

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: 

• 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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