From Yokohama To Toulouse, Here Are 5 MUST-Watch Rugby Matches This Week
From Yokohama To Toulouse, Here Are 5 MUST-Watch Rugby Matches This Week
The domestic leagues are back for the next two weeks, before European rugby is turned sideways from the Six Nations. Meanwhile, a showdown looms in Japan.
The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup playoffs are set, and teams know where they’ll play once April arrives. But domestically, the year is far from finished.
The second half of the United Rugby Championship, Top 14 and Gallagher PREM Rugby seasons begin this weekend. While some squads certainly will see rotation with the Six Nations starting on Feb. 5, some clubs — like Edinburgh Rugby — will have a near-full allotment of national stars available.
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And the matches certainly will count in the points and table races across all three leagues.
Meanwhile, in the Far East, Japan Rugby League One begins Round 6, and some clubs already are at major crossroads.
The Canon Eagles, led by Springbok Jesse Kriel, were hoping to bounce back after an eighth-place finish and a 6-0-12 record in 2025, but that hasn’t been the case. Instead, they are off to a 2-0-5 start with just two match points.
Meanwhile, the Kobe Steelers are 4-0-1 and trying to keep pace with the table-topping Kubota Spears and Saitama Wild Knights.
The big showdown, though, happens in France.
That’s when Pau — coming off a Champions Cup slate that left a lot to be desired but still sitting second in the Top 14 standings — travels to Toulouse. The legendary club, perhaps the best rugby club in world history, showed off against the Sale Sharks at home, dominating the PREM side and sealing its Champions Cup place.
But now, it’s time for domestic play.
Here are five matches streaming on FloRugby that fans can’t miss this weekend:
Edinburgh Rugby vs. Vodacom Bulls, 2:45 p.m. ET, Friday, Jan. 23
If the Bulls thought they’d be playing a rotated Edinburgh squad without many Scottish internationals, think again.
Champions Cup-bound Edinburgh sits 10th on the URC table but has played only eight matches in the competition because of Storm Amy in Round 2.
The Bulls are in a similar position.
Both clubs have 3-0-5 records, but Edinburgh has a one-point advantage in match points, and both are chasing the Ospreys and Benetton for the eighth spot.
Canon Eagles vs. Kobelco Kobe Steelers, 12:30 a.m. ET, Saturday, Jan. 24
Japan Rugby League One action.
Faf de Klerk remains out for the Eagles, which may help explain their 2-0-5 start, but Jesse Kriel is available. They’ll face the Steelers and Ardie Savea. The No. 1 player in the world at FloRugby has two tries in five matches, both coming against Toyota Verblitz on Dec. 27.
Savea also has made news recently, as he reportedly considers staying in Japan long-term — or even making a move to Leinster Rugby. That rumor may have prompted changes within the New Zealand national setup.
This match will stream with Japanese commentary only.
Harlequins vs. Leicester Tigers, 10:05 a.m. ET, Saturday, Jan. 24
The team of the Champions Cup was Harlequins.
Few envisioned a club hovering around the eighth spot in the PREM table all season winning enough pool matches to host a match in the Round of 16 — but here we are. The Quins finished second in their pool.
But this isn’t the Champions Cup, and the Quins hold just a one-point lead on Gloucester for the eighth spot in the Gallagher PREM table. They sit 23 points out of the playoff picture, meaning every one of their remaining nine matches will matter.
The Tigers can thank the Quins in person for helping them reach the Champions Cup playoffs. When Harlequins beat La Rochelle in Round 4 in France, it pushed Leicester — which finished 1-0-3 — into the field as the No. 16 seed.
But the Tigers have more pressing concerns now than worrying about a trip to face UBB in April. They are two points behind Bristol in the PREM playoff race.
Sale Sharks vs. Northampton Saints, 12:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Jan. 24
The Sale Sharks also made the Champions Cup playoffs and, like Harlequins, sit well behind in the Gallagher PREM race — 14 points out of the playoff picture. They could pick up a massive home win against table-leading Northampton.
Both clubs could see roster drain over the next two rounds due to the Six Nations, which may help Sale pull off an upset.
Toulouse vs. Pau, 3 p.m. ET Saturday, Jan. 24
Toulouse looked like the favorite to win the European Championship after demolishing the Sale Sharks at home in Round 4 of the Champions Cup. At home, Toulouse has arguably been the best club team in the world.
Meanwhile, Pau sits second in the Top 14 table but lost both home matches in Champions Cup play.
Toulouse, however, may not look like the same side fans just saw in Europe, with large portions of its national-team contingent unavailable. That opens the door for Pau, which has internationals of its own — though not nearly as many as Toulouse.
Just one point separates these two clubs, both sitting at 10-0-4 in league play.
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.