One of the most anticipated matchups of Round 4 arrives at Ashton Gate, as the Bristol Bears host Bordeaux in a Pool 4 clash with major implications for playoff seeding. 

Both teams have already secured spots in the Round of 16, but Sunday’s result could determine not only the top seed in the pool, but potentially the No. 1 seed across the entire Investec Champions Cup field. 

With form, momentum and history colliding, this fixture carries weight well beyond qualification.

• More Information On How To Stream The Investec Champions Cup
• Investec Champions Cup Round 2 Highlights: Best Tries Of The Weekend
• Check Out More Investec Champions Cup News

Bristol enters riding one of the hottest streaks in European rugby. 

The Bears are on a seven-match winning run across competitions, highlighted by victories over the Northampton Saints, Pau, Harlequins, the Sale Sharks and the Vodacom Bulls. That Bulls win came in Pretoria in a 61-49 shootout, one of the highest-scoring matches in recent competition history. 

Sitting one point behind Bordeaux in Pool 4, Bristol also trails Bordeaux and Glasgow by a single point in the race for the top overall seed, making a home win potentially transformative.

Bordeaux arrives as the defending Champions Cup winner and the leader among all 24 teams in the competition. 

The French side reinforced that status in Round 3 by defeating the Northampton Saints 50-28, handing the Gallagher PREM Rugby leaders their first Champions Cup loss in a rematch of last season’s final. 

Bordeaux has won four of its last five matches, with the lone defeat coming on the road in Top 14 play at Clermont. Bordeaux also has won the last two meetings with Bristol, both by 36-17 margins, adding another layer of intrigue to a pivotal European showdown.

Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux Kickoff Time, Lineups

The Bristol Bears host Bordeaux at 8 a.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 18, at Ashton Gate in Bristol, England, in Round 4 of Pool 4 of the Investec Champions Cup.

How To Watch Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux

The Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux streams live on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States, with full Investec Champions Cup coverage available throughout the competition.

Bristol Bears Lineup vs. Bordeaux

Starting XV

1. Ellis Genge
2. Gabriel Oghre
3. George Kloska
4. Pedro Rubiolo
5. Joe Batley
6. Santiago Grondona
7. Fitz Harding
8. Viliame Mata
9. Harry Randall
10. Tom Jordan
11. Kalaveti Ravouvou
12. James Williams
13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg
14. Noah Heward
15. Louis Rees-Zammit

Replacements

• 16. Harry Thacker
• 17. Max Lahiff
• 18. Jimmy Halliwell
• 19. Joe Owen
• 20. Benjamin Grondona
• 21. Kieran Marmion
• 22. Sam Worsley
• 23. Matias Moroni

Bordeaux Lineup vs. Bristol Bears

Starting XV

1. Jefferson Poirot
2. Maxime Lamothe
3. Carlu Sadie
4. Boris Palu
5. Adam Coleman
6. Jean-Luc du Preez
7. Cameron Woki
8. Temo Matiu
9. Martin Page-Relo
10. Matthieu Jalibert
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
12. Yoram Moefana
13. Nicolas Depoortere
14. Damian Penaud
15. Romain Buros

Replacements

• 16. Connor Sa
• 17. Ugo Boniface
• 18. Ben Tameifuna
• 19. Cyril Cazeaux
• 20. Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer
• 21. Joey Carbery
• 22. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
• 23. Salesi Rayasi

Subscribe To Watch Rugby All Year Long With A FloRugby Annual Subscription

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 4: Pool 1 Preview

Here’s what to know about Investec Champions Cup Round 4 Pool 1, including fixtures, kickoff times and key matches, as the Glasgow Warriors look to remain unbeaten.

Read: Investec Champions Cup Round 4: Pool 1 Preview

Investec Champions Cup Round 4: Pool 2 Preview

Here’s what to know about Investec Champions Cup Round 4 Pool 2, with tight standings, key fixtures and knockout implications across the pool.

Read: Investec Champions Cup Round 4: Pool 2 Preview

Investec Champions Cup Pool 3 Round 4 Preview: All Eyes On Cape Town

Only two spots in the Round of 16 remain in Champions Cup Pool 3, as the Stormers, Leicester and La Rochelle battle in Round 4. Here’s how each team advances.

Read: Investec Champions Cup Pool 3 Round 4 Preview: All Eyes On Cape Town

Investec Champions Cup Pool 4 Round 4 Preview: A 16th Seed Thunderdome

Pool 4 enters its final week with top seeds and one Round of 16 spot at stake. Here’s how UBB, Bristol, Northampton, Pau, Bulls and Scarlets advance.

Read: Investec Champions Cup Pool 4 Round 4 Preview: A 16th Seed Thunderdome

FloRugby's Game Of The Week Brings Gloucester And Toulon Together Again

FloRugby’s Game of the Week sees Gloucester Rugby host Toulon in a high-stakes Investec Champions Cup clash that reignites a rivalry last played in 2005.

Read: FloRugby's Game Of The Week Brings Gloucester And Toulon Together Again

Champions Cup Pool 1 Match To Watch: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens

Champions Cup Pool 1 Match To Watch: The Glasgow Warriors host Saracens in a winner-take-all Investec Champions Cup showdown with top seed on the line.

Read: Champions Cup Pool 1 Match To Watch: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens

Champions Cup Pool 3 Match To Watch: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers

Champions Cup Pool 3 Match To Watch: The Stormers host the Leicester Tigers in a high-stakes Investec Champions Cup clash with knockout hopes on the line.

Read: Champions Cup Pool 3 Match To Watch: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers

Champions Cup Pool 4 Match To Watch: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Begles

Champions Cup Pool 4 Match To Watch: The Bristol Bears host Bordeaux in a high-stakes Investec Champions Cup clash with top seeding on the line.

Read: Champions Cup Pool 4 Match To Watch: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Begles

FloRugby's Professional Club Power Rankings: Jan. 14, 2026

FloRugby's Professional Club Power Rankings for Jan. 14, 2026, breaks down Champions Cup shocks, big wins for Bath and Quins and the latest global rankings.

Read: FloRugby's Professional Club Power Rankings: Jan. 14, 2026

Investec Champions Cup Round 4 Fixtures

Friday, Jan. 16

• 3 p.m. ET – Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls (Pool 4)
• 3 p.m. ET – Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby (Pool 2)

Saturday, Jan. 17

• 8 a.m. ET – Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne (Pool 1)
• 10:15 a.m. ET – Bayonne vs. Leinster (Pool 3)
• 10:15 a.m. ET – Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers (Pool 3)
• 12:30 p.m. ET – Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks (Pool 1)
• 12:30 p.m. ET – Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique (Pool 2)
• 3 p.m. ET – Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon (Pool 2)

Sunday, Jan. 18

• 8 a.m. ET – Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles (Pool 4)
• 10:15 a.m. ET – Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets (Pool 4)
• 10:15 a.m. ET – La Rochelle vs. Harlequins (Pool 3)
• 12:30 p.m. ET – Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens (Pool 1)

Watch FloRugby's Round 4 Podcast Preview

European Union Rugby Lives On FloSports And FloRugby

Rugby fans can stream every match from the Top 14, Gallagher Premiership and United Rugby Championship on FloRugby, along with the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, making the platform the U.S. home for the world’s biggest club competitions and the game’s top players.

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

Professional club rugby in Europe all streams on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to: 

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

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

Join The Rugby Conversation On FloRugby Social

• Follow us on Twitter @florugby
• Follow us on Instagram @florugby
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook