{"id":244890,"date":"2025-10-27T21:03:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T21:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/244890\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T21:03:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T21:03:07","slug":"investec-champions-cup-2025-2026-fixtures-heres-the-pool-of-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/244890\/","title":{"rendered":"Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026 Fixtures: Here’s The Pool Of Death"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are 24 teams divided into four pools in the Investec Champions Cup<\/a>, and every team \u2014 yes, even you, Scarlets \u2014 should enter the competition believing it can win it all.\u00a0<\/p>\n

These are the 24 best teams in Europe (and Africa).<\/p>\n

But the pool-play component certainly makes it more challenging for some teams to win it all, or even make the knockout stage.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how it works: There are six teams in each pool. Teams that hail from the same domestic league don\u2019t play each other in the four rounds of pool play \u2014 not the case in the EPCR Challenge Cup, by the way. The top four teams in each pool advance to the Round of 16, because, you know, math.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So, there probably will be a team that finishes fourth that isn\u2019t as good as a team that finishes fifth in another pool.<\/p>\n

But, if a team finishes fifth, its European trophy dreams aren\u2019t completely dashed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The four teams that just miss the knockout stages of the Champions Cup will head to the Challenge Cup knockout Round of 16.<\/p>\n

So, which Champions Cup pool is the toughest to make the knockout stage this year? Well, here\u2019s our take:<\/p>\n

The Champions Cup Pool Of Death Is Pool 4<\/p>\n

Not Pool 1 you say? Nope.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 2025 Champions Cup finalists are in this pool, including the defending champion, Union Bordeaux-B\u00e8gles.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Northampton, the runner-up, is at the top of the PREM Rugby table.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Vodacom Bulls were in the URC Grand Final and, as we love to say about the Bulls in the FloSports Slack channels, \u201care always good.\u201d<\/p>\n

But what has put this pool over the top is Pau, or Section Paloise, which is the top team in France and has wins over Bayonne and Toulouse.<\/p>\n

Then, Louis Rees-Zammit returned to rugby after trying his hand at being a Kansas City Chief in the NFL and signed with the Bristol Bears, yet another club in this pool.<\/p>\n

And, to be frank, the last-but-not-least team in this pool is the Scarlets \u2014 the only Welsh team in the competition \u2014 which means Bristol and Pau have to come to Wales for those matches.<\/p>\n

Pool 4 vs. Pool 1 Of The Investec Champions Cup<\/p>\n

Both are incredibly difficult pools.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pool 1 features the Glasgow Warriors and Hollywoodbets Sharks of the URC; Toulouse and Clermont of the Top 14; and Saracens and Sale Sharks of PREM Rugby.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While a good team is not going to make the playoffs out of this group, Pool 4 has two teams at the top of the table in their pool and have five teams that expect to be in the Final, let a lone the playoffs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pool 4, though, features at least five of the six clubs who can get on a run and win it all.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026 Fixtures<\/p>\n

Here’s a look at each round:<\/p>\n

Investec Champions Cup Round 1\u00a0Friday, 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-B\u00e8gles, 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\u20139 (TBD)Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBDInvestec Champions Cup Round 2\u00a0Friday, 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-B\u00e8gles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu P\u00e1irc U\u00ed 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 F\u00e9lix Mayol10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin\u2019s Gardens12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton GateInvestec Champions Cup Round 3\u00a0Friday, 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 F\u00e9lix Mayol10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-B\u00e8gles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX StadiumInvestec Champions Cup Round 4\u00a0Friday, 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-B\u00e8gles, Ashton Gate10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

Here’s a breakdown of the schedule by pool:<\/p>\n

Investec Champions Cup\u00a0Pool 1Round 1Friday, Dec. 5 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community StadiumSaturday, Dec. 6 \u2013 8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX StadiumSunday, Dec. 7 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest WallonRound 2Saturday, Dec. 13 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings ParkSaturday, Dec. 13 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-MichelinSaturday, Dec. 13 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun StadiumRound 3\u00a0Saturday, Jan. 10 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-MichelinSaturday, Jan. 10 \u2013 12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community StadiumSunday, Jan. 11 \u2013 12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX StadiumRound 4\u00a0Saturday, Jan. 17 \u2013 8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings ParkSaturday, Jan. 17 \u2013 12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest WallonSunday, Jan. 18 \u2013 12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun StadiumInvestec Champions Cup\u00a0Pool 2Round 1\u00a0Saturday, Dec. 6 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The RecSunday, Dec. 7 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, KingsholmDec. 7\u20139 (TBD): Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBDRound 2\u00a0Saturday, Dec. 13 \u2013 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu P\u00e1irc U\u00ed ChaoimhSunday, Dec. 14 \u2013 8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-FabreSunday, Dec. 14 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade F\u00e9lix MayolRound 3Friday, Jan. 9 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-FabreFriday, Jan. 9 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBDSunday, Jan. 11 \u2013 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade F\u00e9lix MayolRound 4\u00a0Friday, Jan. 16 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The RecSaturday, Jan. 17 \u2013 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond ParkSaturday, Jan. 17 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, KingsholmInvestec Champions Cup\u00a0Pool 3Round 1\u00a0Friday, Dec. 5 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean DaugerSaturday, Dec. 6 \u2013 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel DeflandreSaturday, Dec. 6 \u2013 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBDRound 2\u00a0Friday, Dec. 12 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford RoadSaturday, Dec. 13 \u2013 8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay StadiumSunday, Dec. 14 \u2013 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham StoopRound 3\u00a0Saturday, Jan. 10 \u2013 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBDSaturday, Jan. 10 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford RoadSunday, Jan. 11 \u2013 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop<\/p>\n

Round 4<\/p>\n

Saturday, Jan. 17 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean DaugerSaturday, Jan. 17 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL StadiumSunday, Jan. 18 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel DeflandreInvestec Champions Cup\u00a0Pool 4Round 1\u00a0Saturday, Dec. 6 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-B\u00e8gles, Loftus VersfeldSaturday, Dec. 6 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y ScarletsSunday, Dec. 7 \u2013 8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du HameauRound 2Saturday, Dec. 13 \u2013 12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-B\u00e8gles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-DelmasSunday, Dec. 14 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin\u2019s GardensSunday, Dec. 14 \u2013 12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton GateRound 3\u00a0Saturday, Jan. 10 \u2013 8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus VersfeldSaturday, Jan. 10 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y ScarletsSunday, Jan. 11 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-B\u00e8gles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-DelmasRound 4Friday, Jan. 16 \u2013 3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du HameauSunday, Jan. 18 \u2013 8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-B\u00e8gles, Ashton GateSunday, Jan. 18 \u2013 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin\u2019s GardensHow To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby<\/p>\n

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:\u00a0<\/p>\n

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Join The Rugby Conversation On FloRugby Social<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There are 24 teams divided into four pools in the Investec Champions Cup, and every team \u2014 yes,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":244891,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,760,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-244890","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-rugby","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-rugby","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=244890"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244890\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/244891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=244890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=244890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}