Seven ASM Clermont players are preparing for their first taste of Champions Cup rugby, while a familiar face is returning to Leinster.
ASM Clermont Auvergne welcomes four-time European champion Leinster Rugby to Stade Marcel-Michelin on Saturday, Oct. 17, for the opening round of the 2026-27 Investec Champions Cup. The French hosts are dealing with several injuries, while Leinster is chasing a fifth European crown in head coach Leo Cullen's final season.
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Clermont has named seven players who could make their Champions Cup debuts, including Nohem Ez Zahouany, who earns his first senior start at tighthead prop. Harry Plummer captains the hosts at fly-half, with Baptiste Jauneau alongside him at scrum-half.
Leinster arrives following a 29-5 URC victory over Cardiff, with Dan Sheehan captaining a side featuring Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan. Joey Carbery is named among the replacements and could make his first Leinster appearance since returning to the province after an ACL injury.
Here are the confirmed lineups, kickoff details and how to watch Saturday's Champions Cup matchup.
Clermont vs. Leinster Kickoff Time
Date: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
Kickoff: 10:15 a.m. ET
Venue: Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand, France
Competition: Investec Champions Cup, Round 1
Pool: 1
How To Watch Clermont vs. Leinster
ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Leinster Rugby will stream live on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States.
Kickoff is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 17. Fans can watch live or on demand with a FloRugby subscription.
ASM Clermont Auvergne Starting Lineup vs. Leinster
Giorgi Akhaladze
Barnabe Massa
Nohem Ez Zahouany
Thibaud Lanen
Darcy Swain
Killian Tixeront
Anthime Hemery
Kevin Noah
Baptiste Jauneau
Harry Plummer (c)
Joris Jurand
Léon Darricarrere
AJ Lam
Bautista Delguy
Justin Bouraux
Clermont Replacements
Peniami Narisia
Sacha Lotrian
Matheo Frisach
Leo Michaux Vargas
Antoine Chalus-Cercy
Louis Vermeulen
Baptiste Germain
Mathys Belaubre
Leinster Rugby Starting Lineup vs. Clermont
Andrew Porter
Dan Sheehan (c)
Tadhg Furlong
Joe McCarthy
James Ryan
Ryan Baird
Josh van der Flier
Jack Conan
Fintan Gunne
Sam Prendergast
Jimmy O'Brien
Robbie Henshaw
Garry Ringrose
Tommy O'Brien
Hugo Keenan
Leinster Replacements
Ronan Kelleher
Alex Usanov
Tom Clarkson
Conor O'Tighearnaigh
Scott Penny
Oliver Coffey
Joey Carbery
Jamie Osborne
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