Bristol Bears host Pau in Round Two of the 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup pool stagesThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreBristol Bears Tom Jordan and Kieran Marmion celebrate after beating Scarlets (Photo: INPHO/Mike Jones)

Bristol Bears are looking to make it back-to-back wins in the Champions Cup this weekend as in-form side Section Paloise, better known as Pau to English speakers, come to Ashton Gate on Sunday in the second weekend of pool stage games in the 2025/26 competition.

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said: “It is a huge game for the club and I know a lot of our supporters want us to be in the finals come April, this is the game that we’re going to need everybody.

“If we all win our home games that’s going to put us in a great place as far as [finishing in the] top four in that pool of six. That’s the challenge and that’s what we’ve got to work for and we can only focus on getting our performance right. If we do that, there could be some really good rewards.”

Here are all the ways you can follow all the action from the opening pool stage game…

When is the game?

Bristol Bears vs Pau is being played on Sunday, December 14 at Ashton Gate Stadium.

What time is kick-off?

The kick-off time is at 5.30pm UK time.

Is the game on TV or being streamed?

Yes. But another competition means another subscription service is required. All this season’s Investec Champions Cup games will be shown live on Premier Sports which can either be streamed online or watched on Virgin TV, Amazon Prime or Sky Sports packages.

This weekend’s game is being shown on Premier Sports 2, with coverage starting at 5.15pm.

Subscription costs from £11.99 a month. Sign up here.

Highlights will also be available on the Investec Champions Cup YouTube channel shortly after the game and in our live blog and on social media channels.

How else can I follow the game?

If you are not going to be inside the stadium, and even if you are, BristolLive will be live blogging the match bringing you all the build-up, team news, live play-by-play match updates, reaction, stats, analysis, interviews and highlights from inside the ground.

Will there be live radio commentary of the match?

BBC Radio Bristol will also be providing live commentary of the game.

What’s the team news?

Bristol Bears: 15. Louis Rees-Zammit, 14. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12. James Williams, 11. Aidan Boshoff, 10. Tom Jordan, 9. Kieran Marmion, 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. Lovejoy Chawatama, 4. Pedro Rubiolo, 5. Joe Batley, 6. Joe Owen, 7. Benjamin Grondona, 8. Fitz Harding (c)

Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Santiago Grondona, 20. Luka Ivanishvili, 21. Sam Wolstenholme, 22. Sam Worsley, 23. Josh Carrington

Section Paloise: 15. Aymeric Luc, 14. Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, 13. Fabien Brau-Boirie, 12. Quentin Valentino, 11. Clement Laporte, 10. Clément Mondinat, 9. Dan Robson, 1. Daniel Bibi Biziwu, 2. Lucas Rey (c), 3. Siate Tokolahi, 4. Thomas Jolmes, 5. Mickael Capelli, 6. Joel Kpoku, 7. Clément Paul, 8. Carwyn Tuipulotu

Replacements: 16. Youri Delhommel, 17. Hugo Parrou, 18. Jon Zabala Arrieta, 19. Remi Picquette, 20. Loic Credoz, 21. Thomas Souverbie, 22. Nathan Decron, 23. Thomas Carol

Who are the officials?

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ire)

Assistant Referees: Robbie Jenkinson (Ire) and Padraic Reidy (Ire)

TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)C

Citing Commissioner: Tim Lowry (Ire)