With the opening of Investec Champions Cup fixtures just days away, we will take a look at all the games in the first round and how all teams are faring before they head into club rugby’s most extraordinary competition.
Whether it be the Gallagher Premiership Rugby, the United Rugby Championship or France’s TOP 14, all sides were back in domestic action this weekend following the Autumn Nations Series as they finalised their preparations for battle in the Investec Champions Cup.
Bath Rugby v Stade Rochelais Friday 6 December, 22:00 (SA Time)
Bringing the curtain up on what promises to be yet another extraordinary season of Investec Champions Cup action is Bath Rugby playing host to Stade Rochelais.
After a seventh consecutive win at home to Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership on Saturday, table-toppers Bath head into the Investec Champions Cup looking to continue their stellar form and start strong in the competition, ultimately looking to propel themselves further than last season’s Round of 16 appearance.
As for French side Stade Rochelais, the tournament’s back-to-back champions in 2022 and 2023 make the short hop across the Channel following a surprise 14-23 defeat against RC Vannes in TOP14 last weekend. They will be hoping to go further than last season’s quarter-final result.
Bath form guide (last five games all competitions): W, W, W, W, W
Stade Rochelais form guide (last five games all competitions): W, L, W, L, L
ASM Clermont Auvergne v Benetton Rugby - Saturday 7 December, 15:00 (SA Time), Stade Marcel-Michelin
It’s a match-up between two sides that were locking horns in last year’s EPCR Challenge Cup, with both of them making the step up this season.
Getting to the semi-final of the Challenge Cup last year, and buoyed by recent form including a 54-10 win over Castres Olympique on Saturday, ASM Clermont Auvergne will be full of confidence heading into Saturday’s clash.
Having also reached last year’s Challenge Cup semi-final, Italian side Benetton Rugby will be making the trip to France confident they can get that valuable first win. A loss against Edinburgh Rugby at the weekend will serve as motivation for the Italians.
ASM Clermont Auvergne form guide (last five games all competitions): W, L, W, W, W
Benetton Rugby form guide (last five games all competitions): L, W, W, L, L
Hollywoodbets Sharks v Exeter Chiefs - Saturday 7 December, 15:00 (SA Time), Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Last season’s Challenge Cup winners Hollywoodbets Sharks will have a point to prove in this year’s Investec Champions Cup. But coming up against last year’s quarter-finalists Exeter Chiefs, who lost to eventual champions Stade Toulousain, will not be an easy task.
The South African side comes into this one off the back of four wins from their last five, including a 21-15 win over the DHL Stormers on Saturday, meaning they will be full of confidence that they’ll be able to start their Investec Champions Cup campaign in the best way possible.
As for the Chiefs, currently sat winless in 10th place in the Premiership, they will be heading to South Africa looking to this year’s Investec Champions Cup as a way of starting afresh.
Hollywoodbets Sharks form guide ((last five games all competitions): W, L, W, W, W
Exeter Chiefs form guide (last five games all competitions): L, W, W, W, L
Northampton Saints v Castres Olympique - Saturday 7 December, 17:15 (SA Time), cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
Semi-finalists last time out, Northampton Saints won’t be in the mood for messing around and will be looking to get a first win on the board for this year’s edition. It won’t be an easy task however, with Castres Olympique, who reached the Round of 16 of the Challenge Cup last year, keen to prove to the Investec Champions Cup crowds what they’re capable of.
Despite three wins in a row not long ago and as reigning Premiership champions, a loss at home to Gloucester Rugby on Saturday means that the Saints will be going into the Investec Champions Cup more motivated than ever.
As for the French, they have known similar successes in recent games, with three wins out of their last five. Having finished second best at the weekend, their trip across the Channel will be a good chance to right last Saturday’s wrongs.
Northampton Saints form guide (last five games all competitions): L, W, W, W, L
Castres Olympique form guide (last five games all competitions): W, L, W, W, L
DHL Stormers v RC Toulon - Saturday 7 December, 17:15 (SA Time), Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
It’s a blockbuster pool stage tie pitting last year’s Round of 16 side DHL Stormers against three-time winners of the tournament, RC Toulon.
The South Africans go into this one with some up-and-down form, having lost three out of their last five games. Most recently they travelled to fellow Investec Champions Cup contingent Hollywoodbets Sharks, eventually falling to a 21-15 loss.
Currently fourth in France’s TOP14, Toulon will be looking to continue their good form and start this year’s campaign on a high to take them to a fourth title. And coming into this one off the back of three straight wins, the Toulonnais will be confident of their chances.
DHL Stormers form guide (last five games all competitions): W, L, W, L, L
RC Toulon form guide (last five games all competitions): L, L, W, W, W
Munster Rugby v Stade Français Paris - Saturday 7 December, 19:30 (SA Time), Thomond Park
Flying the flag for two great rugby nations, the 2008 winners, Munster Rugby, host TOP 14 outfit Stade Français Paris.
Despite having recent up-and-down form, league results mean nothing in club rugby’s most extraordinary competition, and Munster will be looking to right any wrongs they have had in previous weeks. A 17-10 win over Emirates Lions on Saturday is just the form the doctor ordered for the Irish outfit.
It’s a similar picture for the French side, who, after falling against Aviron Bayonnais on Sunday, have two wins from their last five. The Parisians will be eyeing up the trip to Munster as a way to propel their season forward.
Munster Rugby form guide (last five games all competitions): W, L, L, L, W
Stade Français Paris form guide (last five games all competitions): L, W, L, W, L
Saracens v Vodacom Bulls - Saturday 7 December, 19:30 (SA Time), StoneX Stadium
Three-time winners of the tournament Saracens host South Africa’s Vodacom Bulls for what promises to be a tasty affair.
Fourth in the Premiership and with two wins from their last three, Saracens will be looking to improve on last year’s Round of 16 appearance, with the opening tie being on home turf to start their campaign strongly.
The Bulls will not be put down easily though. Currently third in the URC with four wins from their last five and more motivated than ever to improve on last year’s quarter-final run, the South Africans will be eyeing up the four points in London.
Saracens form guide (last five games all competitions): L, L, W, W, L
Vodacom Bulls form guide (last five games all competitions): W, W, L, W, W
Glasgow Warriors v Sale Sharks - Saturday 7 December, 22:00 (SA Time), Scotstoun Stadium
Sitting pretty in second place in the URC as reigning champions, Glasgow Warriors will be coming into this one full of confidence. Added to their impressive recent form, seeing them claim four wins out of their last five, the Scottish side will be settling for nothing other than victory in their Investec Champions Cup opener.
As for Sale Sharks, the Mancunians will be looking to hit the ground running in club rugby’s best competition after they have started the season with mixed form. With a 39-25 win at the weekend against Leicester Tigers, the Sharks will certainly pose a threat in Scotland.
Glasgow Warriors form guide (last five games all competitions): W, W, L, W, W
Sale Sharks form guide (last five games all competitions): L, W, W, L, W
Racing 92 v Harlequins - Saturday 7 December, 20:00 (SA Time), Stade Dominique Duvauchelle
Racing 92 and Harlequins, both victims to eventual winners Stade Toulousain in last year’s edition in the quarter and semi-finals respectively, will be looking for a step or two further in this year’s campaign.
The French side will be without a face the English fans will be all too familiar with after Owen Farrell underwent surgery earlier this month. This will not affect what Racing 92 is capable of though, with a strong side nonetheless.
As for the visitors, coming into this one on strong form, with three wins out of their last five, and world-class talent such as Marcus Smith in their ranks, they will surely pose a threat in the French capital.
Racing 92 form guide (last five games all competitions): L, W, W, L, L
Harlequins form guide (last five games all competitions): W, W, W, L, L
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Leicester Tigers - Sunday 8 December, 15:00 (SA Time), Stade Chaban-Delmas
As is the way with this competition, two of the sport’s greats go head-to-head from the very first matchday. TOP 14’s second-placed side is hosting two-time Champions Cup winners Leicester Tigers.
Despite suffering a couple of losses to their name in recent games, UBB still sit right on TOP 14 leaders Stade Toulousain’s tail, motivated by Saturday’s 9-6 win against Montpellier and the target of reaching the latter stages of the competition this time out.
As for the English outfit Tigers sit third in the Premiership and will be aiming to carry on some positive form they have had in recent games with the ultimate aim of kicking on towards the finals of this prestigious competition.
Union Bordeaux-Bègles form guide (last five games all competitions): L, W, L, W, W
Leicester Tigers form guide (last five games all competitions): W, L, L, W, L
Stade Toulousain v Ulster Rugby - Sunday 8 December, 17:15 (SA Time), Stade Ernest-Wallon
Record six-time winners and defending champions Stade Toulousain are pitted against Irish giants Ulster for what promises to be a mouthwatering opening tie in Pool 1.
With big names such as Antoine Dupont, Thomas Ramos and Romain Ntamack now back from international duty and injury respectively, and a hard-fought 17-21 win over Racing 92 at the weekend, Stade Toulousain should be firing on all cylinders for the opener.
As for the visitors, their representatives who were involved in the Ireland squad for the final Autumn Nations Series game have made their return in time for the Investec Champions Cup. A defeat in the interpro derby against Leinster Rugby at the weekend will serve as even more motivation to get the job done in Toulouse on Sunday.
Stade Toulousain form guide (last five games all competitions): W, W, L, W, W
Ulster Rugby form guide (last five games all competitions): L, W, W, L, L
Bristol Bears v Leinster Rugby - Sunday 8 December, 19:30 (SA Time), Ashton Gate
It’s clash of the titans time in Bristol as our four-time winners and runners-up in the last three editions of the tournament, Leinster Rugby, visit a Bears side who are flying in the Premiership table this term.
Having won four out of their last five, including an impressive victory over Harlequins on Friday, the Bears will be eyeing up an opening weekend win to help them on the way out of the group.
As for the visitors, sitting pretty at the top of the URC with a perfect record to date, including a 20-27 interpro victory against Ulster at the weekend, only a win will do for Leinster as they continue on their quest for a fifth crown. Key players such as Irish captain Caelan Doris and Cian Healy, having become Ireland’s most-capped player to add to his record of Champions Cup and Leinster appearances, have returned to the side following their outings with the national side throughout the Autumn Nations Series.
Bristol Bears form guide (last five games all competitions): W, W, L, W, W
Leinster Rugby form guide (last five games all competitions): W, W, W, W, W