Investec Champions Cup Countdown: Why Munster Rugby Can Win It All In 2026

The 2025-2026 Investec Champions Cup begins Dec. 5, and we’re just 13 days away from the Sale Sharks hosting the Glasgow Warriors at 3 p.m. ET at CorpAcq Stadium.

The Investec Champions Cup will determine the best team in Europe (and South Africa), as every contender aims to take the title from defending champion Union Bordeaux-Bègles of the Top 14.

But like in the film “The Highlander,” there can only be one winner. 

Every club will enter the competition believing it can lift the trophy on May 24, 2025, at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.

And that includes Munster Rugby of the United Rugby Championship. Here are three reasons why Munster Rugby can win the 2025–2026 Investec Champions Cup.

Philip Bendon Told Me Munster Rugby Would Win The Investec Champions Cup

Philip Bendon is one of the best rugby analysts in the world. For my money — and FloSports’ — he’s the very best, bar none.

I trust Philip’s opinion on this sport more than anyone else’s, so when the lifelong Munster superfan tells me Munster Rugby will win every match by 50 points this year, and beat every team so badly that the EPCR will just invite them straight to the Champions Cup Final every year moving forward — I believe him.

OK, Mr. Bendon didn’t exactly say that, but Philip is a Munster Rugby fan — and he’s one of millions. 

Few clubs in the world have a fan base as large or as passionate as the Munster Army from Cork, Ireland. 

They travel in numbers and will make road matches against Bath and Toulon feel very much like they’re being played in the southern province of Ireland.

Munster Rugby Is The Best Team In The URC — So Far

As of Nov. 11, Munster and the DHL Stormers — who play each other on Nov. 29 in the FloRugby Athlete’s Lounge Match, which will stream for free on FloRugby and FloRugby’s social channels — are tied as the top teams in the United Rugby Championship.

Munster beat Leinster Rugby in Dublin and has yet to lose a match, sitting at 5-0-0 so far.

This time last year, Munster was reeling, having just fired its coach, lost to Leinster and was teetering on not even qualifying for this year’s Champions Cup. But, the squad turned things around nicely and reached the Round of 16. 

A lot has changed in 12 months. 

Now, under new head coach Clayton McMillan, things are rolling again for Munster.

Tadhg Beirne Is One Of The Best Players In The World

Ranked just outside the top 10 on FloRugby’s Top 100 Players list, Tadhg Beirne came in at No. 11. 

His is a story of resilience: Beirne was once released by Munster’s biggest rival, Leinster, and had to rebuild his career in Wales with Scarlets. There, he developed into one of the best players in what was then called the Pro12 and was named Players’ Player of the Year.

He eventually made his way back to Ireland and now captains Munster.

One of the best locks in the world, Philip Bendon wrote of Beirne:

“Since debuting for Ireland in 2018, he has been a relentless force — disruptive at the breakdown, fearless in the tackle and intelligent in open play.”

Munster Rugby Investec Champions Cup Pool Play Fixtures

Here’s the Munster Rugby Champions Cup schedule:

Investec Champions Cup Round 1 – Friday, Dec. 5

3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The Rec

Investec Champions Cup Round 2 – Saturday, Dec. 13

12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Investec Champions Cup Round 3 – Sunday, Jan. 11

8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol

Investec Champions Cup Round 4 – Saturday, Jan. 17

12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond ParkHow To Watch Munster Rugby In The Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026

Every Munster Rugby match in the Investec Champions Cup streams live in the United States and territories on FloRugby and the FloSports app.

Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026 Fixtures

Here’s a look at each round:

Investec Champions Cup Round 1 Friday, Dec. 53 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community Stadium3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean DaugerSaturday, Dec. 68 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX Stadium10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus Versfeld12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y Scarlets3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The RecSunday, Dec. 78 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, KingsholmDec. 7-9 (TBD)Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBDInvestec Champions Cup Round 2 Friday, Dec. 123 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford RoadSaturday, Dec. 138 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings Park10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-Michelin12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun StadiumSunday, Dec. 148 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton GateInvestec Champions Cup Round 3 Friday, Jan. 93 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBDSaturday, Jan. 108 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford RoadSunday, Jan. 118 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX StadiumInvestec Champions Cup Round 4 Friday, Jan. 163 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The RecSaturday, Jan. 178 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, KingsholmSunday, Jan. 188 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun StadiumInvestec Champions Cup Fixtures By Pool

Here’s a breakdown of the schedule by pool:

Investec Champions Cup Pool 1Round 1Friday, Dec. 5 – 3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community StadiumSaturday, Dec. 6 – 8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX StadiumSunday, Dec. 7 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest WallonRound 2Saturday, Dec. 13 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings ParkSaturday, Dec. 13 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-MichelinSaturday, Dec. 13 – 3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun StadiumRound 3 Saturday, Jan. 10 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-MichelinSaturday, Jan. 10 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community StadiumSunday, Jan. 11 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX StadiumRound 4 Saturday, Jan. 17 – 8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings ParkSaturday, Jan. 17 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest WallonSunday, Jan. 18 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun StadiumInvestec Champions Cup Pool 2Round 1 Saturday, Dec. 6 – 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The RecSunday, Dec. 7 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, KingsholmDec. 7–9 (TBD): Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBDRound 2 Saturday, Dec. 13 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí ChaoimhSunday, Dec. 14 – 8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-FabreSunday, Dec. 14 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix MayolRound 3Friday, Jan. 9 – 3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-FabreFriday, Jan. 9 – 3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBDSunday, Jan. 11 – 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix MayolRound 4 Friday, Jan. 16 – 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The RecSaturday, Jan. 17 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond ParkSaturday, Jan. 17 – 3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, KingsholmInvestec Champions Cup Pool 3Round 1 Friday, Dec. 5 – 3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean DaugerSaturday, Dec. 6 – 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel DeflandreSaturday, Dec. 6 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBDRound 2 Friday, Dec. 12 – 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford RoadSaturday, Dec. 13 – 8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay StadiumSunday, Dec. 14 – 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham StoopRound 3 Saturday, Jan. 10 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBDSaturday, Jan. 10 – 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford RoadSunday, Jan. 11 – 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham StoopRound 4Saturday, Jan. 17 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean DaugerSaturday, Jan. 17 – 10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL StadiumSunday, Jan. 18 – 10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel DeflandreInvestec Champions Cup Pool 4Round 1 Saturday, Dec. 6 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus VersfeldSaturday, Dec. 6 – 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y ScarletsSunday, Dec. 7 – 8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du HameauRound 2Saturday, Dec. 13 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-DelmasSunday, Dec. 14 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s GardensSunday, Dec. 14 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton GateRound 3 Saturday, Jan. 10 – 8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus VersfeldSaturday, Jan. 10 – 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y ScarletsSunday, Jan. 11 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-DelmasRound 4Friday, Jan. 16 – 3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du HameauSunday, Jan. 18 – 8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton GateSunday, Jan. 18 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s GardensHow 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. 

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