Champions Cup rugby returns Friday - here's all you need to know

How it works, who's back, and where to watch the Investec Champions Cup

The Investec Champions Cup & European Rugby Challenge Cup Launch. Pictured is (L-R) Racing 92’s Tristan Tedder, Toulon's Lewis Ludlam, Castres Olympique’s Tyler Ardron, Toulouse’s Blair Kinghorn, ASM Clermont Auvergne’s Rob Simmons, Stade Français' Francisco Gómez Kodela, La Rochelle’s UJ Seuteni and Union Bordeaux Bègles’ Joey Carbery. Pic:  ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

The 2024/25 campaign will be the 30th season of the European Champions Cup. In a repeat of last year's format, each club will play four matches in the pool stage against four different teams, two home, two away. 

The top four teams in each pool will advance to the Round of 16. 

The clubs ranked fifth in each pool will qualify for the Round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

Investec Champions Cup 2024/25

Pool 1

Toulouse

Bordeaux-Bègles 

Hollywoodbets Sharks

Exeter Chiefs 

Leicester Tigers 

Ulster  

Pool 2

Leinster

Clermont Auvergne 

La Rochelle 

Bristol Bears 

Benetton 

Bath 

Pool 3

Northampton Saints 

Munster

Vodacom Bulls

Saracens

Stade Français

Castres Olympique 

Pool 4

Glasgow Warriors 

Racing 92 

Sale Sharks 

DHL Stormers 

Toulon 

Harlequins

Opening fixtures and where to watch

All games will be available on Premier Sports Ireland, terrestrial coverage where stated

FRIDAY

Bath v La Rochelle, Recreation Ground, 8pm  
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRL)

SATURDAY

Clermont Auvergne v Benetton, Stade Marcel-Michelin, 1pm  
Referee: Christophe Ridley (ENG)

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Exeter Chiefs, Kings Park, 1pm  
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (FRA)

Northampton Saints v Castres Olympique, Franklin’s Gardens, 3:15pm
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SCO)

DHL Stormers v Toulon, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 3:15pm
Referee: Karl Dickson (ENG)

Munster v. Stade Français, Thomond Park, 5:30pm (RTE)
Referee: Luke Pearce (ENG)

Saracens v Vodacom Bulls, StoneX Stadium, 5:30pm
Referee: Craig Evans (WAL)

Glasgow Warriors v Sale Sharks, Scotstoun, 8pm
Referee: Andrea Piardi (ITA)

Racing 92 v Harlequins, Stade Dominique Duvauchelle, 8pm
Referee: Chris Busby (IRL) 

SUNDAY

Bordeaux-Bègles v Leicester Tigers, Stade Chaban-Delmas, 1pm
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GEO)

Toulouse v Ulster, Stade Ernest Wallon, 3:15pm
Referee: Adam Leal (ENG)

Bristol Bears v Leinster, Ashton Gate, 5:30pm
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FRA)

Holders and return visitors

Stade Toulousain's Antoine Dupont lifts the cup in celebration with his team Pic: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

- Champions Cup holders Toulouse get their campaign for an unprecedented seventh title underwaywhen they play Ulster at Stade Ernest Wallon on Saturday.

- After winning last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Hollywoodbets Sharks will be making their first appearance in the tournament against last year’s quarter-finalists Exeter Chiefs.

- Clermont Auvergne are back in EPCR’s elite competition, where they have finished runners-up three times. They’ll meet Benetton this weekend, who also return to the Champions Cup for the first time since 2020.

Did you know? 

- Of the players registered for the 2024/25 tournament, Leinster Rugby’s Cian Healy has made the most appearances to date and tops the all-time list with 112.

- Going into the tournament’s 30th season, of the registered players, Racing 92’s Owen Farrell is the leading points scorer with 874 (Saracens), second on the all-time list. RC Toulon’s Dan Biggar is seventh on the list with 634, (Ospreys, Northampton Saints) three places ahead of Harlequins’ Leigh Halfpenny with 523, (Cardiff Blues, RC Toulon, Scarlets).

- Of the players who will be in action this season, Leinster’s James Lowe is the leading Champions Cup try scorer with 27. Stade Toulousain’s Antoine Dupont and Teddy Thomas of Stade Rochelais are joint second ranked in the competition, with 23 each