The 2024-25 Investec European Rugby Champions Cup will kick off on 6 December as Tub host La Rochelle on the Rec.
The season is scheduled to run till 24 Might 2025. The defending champions, France’s Toulouse, will look to defend their crown towards the very best groups from their High 14, England’s Premiership and the United Rugby Championship (URC) that includes golf equipment from South Africa, Eire, Scotland and Italy.
Beforehand the Heineken Cup, it’s successfully the top-tier European rugby event – just like soccer’s UEFA Champions League. Nevertheless, groups from South Africa have additionally participated for the reason that 2022-23 season.
Season dates: 6 December 2024 – 24 Might 2025
That includes: The highest golf equipment from England (Premiership), France (High 14), Eire, Italy, Scotland, South Africa (all URC)
Variety of groups: 24 – See right here for all groups
Format: Pool stage & knockout – 4 swimming pools of 6 groups every; high 4 advance to spherical of 16
Fixtures/scores and Tables
Most of the high worldwide gamers from around the globe might be in motion. We have picked out seven for followers to observe.
Siya Kolisi (Sharks/South Africa – Flanker)
Springbok captain Kolisi rejoined the Sharks from France’s Racing 92 in September. Aged 33, his time as one of many world’s finest gamers could also be restricted, however he’s actually not missing any of the trademark depth and management that make him such a pleasure to observe.
Kolisi’s management by instance was evident within the Springboks’ run to the 2024 Rugby Championship title. Towards the All Blacks, he performed by a nasal fracture and scored the primary attempt of the sport within the 18-12 win in Cape City.
Maro Itoje (Saracens/England – Lock)
On the time of writing, Itoje shouldn’t be within the biggest type of his life. In a way, that’s all of the extra cause to concentrate to one of many biggest locks of his era as he captains the Saracens.
After a tough 2024 with England, Saracens captain Itoje might be out to show that he’s nonetheless one of many most important males to be counted on forward of the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers/South Africa – Flyhalf)
Feinberg-Mngomezulu has change into a brand new fan favorite for the Springboks, drawing cheers from Cape City crowds akin to Kolisi, who additionally spent his adolescence on the Stormers.
The seemingly long-term successor to Handrè Pollard at flyhalf for the Springboks, Feinberg-Mngomezulu bought his worldwide profession off to a powerful begin. Nevertheless, he irked Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus by enjoying by a knee damage towards the All Blacks which he didn’t report back to his workforce.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu seems to be again to full well being now and might be trying to cement his grip on South Africa’s no.10 jersey with a powerful exhibiting within the Champions Cup.
Antoine Dupont (Toulouse/France – Scrumhalf)
Toulouse received the 2024 Champions Cup with a 31-22 win over Leinster after additional time. Captaining the French membership was their nationwide workforce’s star participant and arguably the most popular prospect in world rugby at current, mercurial scrumhalf Antoine Dupont.
Dupont was very good in final season’s ultimate and might be desperate to get his fingers on extra silverware. France have received three of the final 4 U20 World Championships however their dominance at that stage has but to translate to world rugby at senior stage. At each membership and worldwide stage, Dupont is the participant they’ll depend on to guide the revolution.
Caelan Doris (Leinster/Eire – Eighth man)
Eire captain Doris made the World Rugby Males’s 15s Dream Crew of the Yr for the second yr in a row on the latest World Rugby Awards.
He has received Pro14 titles in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 and Six Nations championships in 2023 and 2024. Nevertheless, he has but to win a Champions Cup or World Cup – two trophies which might validate his standing as one of many biggest eighth males of all time.
Leinster have recruited effectively with the likes of RG Snyman (lock, South Africa), Jordie Barrett (centre/fullback, New Zealand) and Rabah Slimani (prop, France) becoming a member of for this season. On the time of writing, they’ve an ideal six wins from six within the URC. They are going to be trying to convert that type right into a Champions Cup win.
Leinster’s final Champions Cup trophy was in 2017-18 and Doris might be one of many key gamers main the cost to deliver it again dwelling. With the British & Irish Lions captaincy up for grabs, he might be trying to declare his stake.
Julián Montoya (Leicester/Argentina – Hooker)
Argentina are rising as a real power in world rugby. On the latest Rugby Championship, they solely narrowly missed out on second place to the All Blacks.
Hooker Montoya has been one of many key gamers behind their success. Aged 31, he nonetheless seemingly has lots to present. The Leicester Tigers have benefitted massively from his presence since signing him in 2021. Having been instrumental of their 2021-22 Premiership title domestically, Montoya might be out to deliver dwelling European honours.
Jordie Barrett (Leinster/New Zealand – Centre/Fullback)
One of the explosive and thrilling gamers in world rugby, Barrett is the youngest of three brothers who’ve outlined a era in All Blacks rugby – the others being Beauden and Scott Barrett.
At worldwide stage, the World Cup has been elusive, though there have been a number of Rugby Championship triumphs even after the golden period of Riche McCaw and Dan Carter got here to an finish.
Significantly after dropping the Rugby Championship to the Springboks in 2024, Barrett may have an insatiable starvation for extra silverware. The Champions Cup marketing campaign with among the best groups within the event gives the proper alternative.
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