Find out how reigning champions Union Bordeaux Bègles, four-time winners Leinster or finalists Northampton Saints are looking one month out from the Investec Champions Cup. The countdown is well and truly on. Just one month remains until club rugby’s greatest competition returns for its 31st season.
Pool action gets underway on Friday, 5 December, and we’re bringing you a comprehensive club-by-club preview of the 24 sides involved.
ASM Clermont Auvergne
It’s been a mixed bag of results this season for the Clermontois with five wins from nine. But as four of those have come in their past five, including commanding wins against RC Toulon and Castres Olympique, the three-time finalists will be confident a month out.
First game: Saracens (A), Saturday 5 December 13:00 GMT
Recent form: W, W, L, W, W
Aviron Bayonnais
Last season saw Aviron Bayonnais qualify for the club’s first-ever TOP 14 end-of-season knockouts, and they’ve backed that up this term. Fourth with six wins from nine, the Basque side have transformed home ground Stade Jean Dauger into a real fortress in recent times - unbeaten since June 2024. Real ones to watch in this year’s competition.
First game: DHL Stormers (H), Friday 5 December 20:00
Recent form: W, L, W, L, W
Bath Rugby
Last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup winners have impressed in the Gallagher PREM’s opening weeks. It was just a last-gasp defeat to Leicester Tigers that tainted a would-be perfect start as the West Country side look strong going into their pool.
First game: Munster Rugby, (H), Saturday 6 December, 20:00
Recent form: W, W, W, L, W
Bristol Bears
New signings Tom Jordan and Louis Rees-Zammit inspired a fast start for Bristol this term. Even with some key players such as Gabriel Ibitoye out injured, the Bears have managed some promising performances and sit sixth in the English top flight one month from their date with Scarlets.
First game: Scarlets (A), Saturday 5 December, 20:00
Recent form: W, L, W, W, L
Castres Olympique
Castres have come up agonisingly short against some of the league’s best performers so far (Section Paloise, UBB and RC Toulon), so performances will be encouraging the French side going into this year’s tournament. The Castrais’ entertaining French flair makes them ones to follow.
First game: Gloucester Rugby (A), Sunday 7 December, 15:15
Recent form: W, W, W, L, L
DHL Stormers
The Stormers haven’t been messing around this season in the URC to go five from five. The Cape Town club have nilled fellow Investec Champions Cup sides Leinster and Scarlets this term and sit pretty at the top of the URC.
First game: Aviron Bayonnais (A), Friday 5 December, 20:00
Recent form: W, W, W, W, W
Edinburgh Rugby
While Edinburgh may sit 11th in the URC with a month to go, performances have been promising. Two one-point losses and an emphatic 43-0 win over Benetton Rugby mean the Scots are going in the right direction with just four weeks to go.
First game: RC Toulon (H), Sunday 7 December, 17:30
Recent form: L, L, W, L
Glasgow Warriors
The Scots have lost just once this term, turning a few heads in the process with emphatic results against the Vodacom Bulls and Dragons RFC. Currently third in the URC, the next step up for Glasgow is the Investec Champions Cup in a month.
First game: Sale Sharks (A), Friday 5 December 20:00
Recent form: W, L, W, W, W
Gloucester Rugby
A few notable summer departures have meant it’s been a tough start to the PREM this term for plucky Gloucester, with five losses from their opening five. Their three bonus points are what separates them from the bottom, but they’ll be hoping new club captain Tomos Williams can inspire a resurgence in the Investec Champions Cup.
First game: Castres Olympique (H), Sunday 7 December, 15:15
Recent form: L, L, L, L, L
Harlequins
Last season saw ‘Quins finish the PREM seventh, and it’s been a similar story so far this year. Currently eighth, the London side has offered brilliance at times - beating rivals Saracens a few weeks back - but have struggled for repeatable form one month from go-time.
First game: Leinster Rugby (A), Saturday 6 December, 17:30
Recent form: L, L, W, L, W
Hollywoodbets Sharks
It’s been a tough start for the Durban side as some key names have been on South Africa duty in recent months. One win and a draw from their opening five mean that the Sharks will be looking to the Investec Champions Cup as a way to reinvigorate their opening months of the season.
First game: Stade Toulousain (A), Sunday 7 December, 15:15
Recent form: L, D, L, L, W
Leicester Tigers
Using the disappointment of last year’s PREM final loss as motivation, Tigers have had some impressive wins this time out. They overcame treble winners Bath at the death before beating Sale Sharks by one point showing they have nerve when it matters most.
First game: Stade Rochelais (A), Saturday 6 December, 17:30
Recent form: L, W, L, W, W
Leinster Rugby
Three losses from their opening four, including an inter-pro derby defeat, wouldn't have been the start Leinster were hoping for this year. But performances from the four-time champions have started to warm up in recent weeks and they can, of course, never be taken lightly.
First game: Harlequins (H), Saturday 6 December, 17:30
Recent form: L, L, W, L, W
Munster Rugby
The two-time Champions Cup winners have excelled so far this year in the URC after five wins from five. Notable wins in both inter-pro derbies against Leinster and Connacht will have forged a strong sense of camaraderie in camp too; ones to watch in a month.
First game: Bath Rugby (A), Saturday 6 December, 20:00
Recent form: W, W, W, W, W
Northampton Saints
Last year’s finalists have gone from strength to strength this year. Unbeaten in their opening five, inspiring performances from Tommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell, and new signing Anthony Belleau mean Saints are purring nicely one month out.
First game: Section Paloise (A), Sunday 7 December, 13:00
Recent form: D, W, W, W, W
RC Toulon
The three-time champions have gone somewhat under the radar this season in the TOP 14. Some of their star men, such as Gaël Dréan and experienced Ma'a Nonu, have helped the Toulon side to some statement performances so far, but a few losses mean Pierre Mignoni’s men sit in seventh.
First game: Edinburgh Rugby (A), Sunday 7 December, 17:30
Last five games: W, L, W, L, W
Sale Sharks
It’s been a tricky start for Sale this term after taking on some of the PREM's big fish. Currently seventh in the league, the Manchester side boasts several international names, so underestimate them at your peril.
First game: Glasgow Warriors (H), Friday 5 December 20:00
Recent form: W, L, W, L, L
Saracens
They’ve been making waves on and off the pitch so far this season in the Premier League. Having emphatically seen off Bristol and Sale, the three-time champions have sent a strong message to the crowd four weeks out.
First game: ASM Clermont Auvergne (H), Saturday 6 December, 13:00
Recent form: W, W, L, W, L
Scarlets
An impressive run to end last season saw Scarlets into the URC play-offs and Investec Champions Cup qualification, but they’ve not been able to replicate that form so far this year. Currently bottom with four losses from four, the Welsh side will be looking to this season’s Investec Champions Cup as a way to revitalise their end-of-year.
First game: Bristol Bears (H), Saturday 6 December, 20:00
Recent form: L, L, L, L
Section Paloise
Back in the Investec Champions Cup for the first time in 25 years, Section Paloise have backed up their impressive season from last year. Currently second, the Palois have had statement wins against Stade Français Paris, Stade Toulousain and Aviron Bayonnais as they look forward to welcoming last year’s finalists.
First game: Northampton Saints (H), Sunday 7 December, 13:00
Recent form: L, W, W, L, W
Stade Rochelais
After a turbulent start to the TOP 14 this year, Ronan O’Gara’s side are finding some enviable form. They’ve won their last three on the bounce to make it five wins from eight as the two-time champions sit sixth in the French top flight a month out.
First game: Leicester Tigers (H), Saturday 6 December, 17:30
Recent form: L, L, W, W, W
Stade Toulousain
The seven-time champions are sitting pretty in the TOP 14’s first place with a month to go, but things haven’t been as pretty as they would’ve liked this term. Three away defeats against Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Aviron Bayonnais and Section Paloise mean there are potential weaknesses there, but emphatic home wins against UBB and RC Toulon have shown they can certainly pull it out the bag against some of the sport’s biggest sides.
First game: Hollywoodbets Sharks (H), Sunday 7 December, 15:15
Recent form: L, W, L, W, W
Union Bordeaux Bègles
Injuries plagued the Bordeaux side’s start to the season, with some results making that clear. But an enviable squad depth, the drip-fed return from injuries of some injured stars and a recent upturn in results mean the reigning champions will be confident heading into their title defence.
First game: Vodacom Bulls (A), Saturday 6 December, 15:15
Recent form: W, L, W, W, W
Vodacom Bulls
Last year’s URC finalists got off to the perfect start winning their first two, but results have turned in their last three. Losses against Ulster, Connacht and Glasgow mean the Bulls sit sixth in the table one month out from hosting the reigning champs.
First game: Union Bordeaux Bègles (H), Saturday 6 December, 15:15
Recent form: W, W, L, L, L