The closest thing professional club rugby has to a Kumite is the Investec Champions Cup, and the battle for European dominance begins Dec. 5.

At least that’s the case for now.

The Club Rugby World Cup in 2028, which will stream on FloRugby, will feature eight teams from the Champions Cup, six from Super Rugby Pacific and likely two teams from Japan Rugby League One.

• Subscribe To FloRugby To Watch Every Match Of The Investec Champions Cup
• Bordeaux Begles, Penaud Defeat Northampton To Win First Champions Cup Final
• Check Out More Investec Champions Cup News
• United Rugby Championship Schedule: Here's Every URC Fixture

It’ll be an event rugby fans have never seen before and could answer the question FloRugby tries to every week with the Club Rankings: Who is the best club team in the world?

But even that competition likely won’t have quite the grueling nature of 48 pool matches and a 16-team playoff culminating with a Grand Final.

For now, the closest thing rugby has to a professional club world cup is the Champions Cup — especially after South African clubs joined to form what is now the United Rugby Championship.

At the end of the day, it’s the matches and the level of play that make the Champions Cup the top competition in the world, and of those 48 pool-play matches, there are, as the kids say, some real bangers.

Of the 48 matches over the two weeks in December and two weeks in January, here are our favorite fixtures:

Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, Round 1, Pool 2 | 3 p.m. ET, Dec. 6

How can you not be romantic about the Champions Cup?

Bath Rugby — the EPCR Challenge Cup, Gallagher PREM Rugby and PREM Cup winners a year ago — against the men of Munster? 

The only thing Bath needs to complete its 18-month Infinity Gauntlet of titles is a Champions Cup. 

The Leicester Tigers’ loss in Round 4 of the Gallagher PREM season aside, they have looked like the best team in PREM Rugby this season.

And Munster has looked like the best team in the United Rugby Championship through four rounds.

When the Champions Cup started more than 30 years ago, this is the type of matchup they envisioned.

Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Round 1, Pool 4 | 8 a.m. ET, Dec. 7

The winds are changing fast in France this Top 14 season, so there’s no telling if Section Paloise, or Pau, will still be at the top of the table come November, let alone December. 

But a matchup of the current table toppers in the Top 14 and Gallagher PREM playing Round 1 on the first Sunday of the competition is, well, an early Christmas gift.

Both clubs look like they could win it all.

Others from Round 1:

• Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks: Antoine Dupont return? Please. Could happen. Imagine the star power in this match if it does… oh my.
•  Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux: This should be one of the five games… if UBB weren’t eighth on the Top 14 table, it would be.
•  Edinburgh vs. Toulon: Edinburgh has been playing lights out of late, and Toulon has a championship history.

Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse Rugby, Round 2, Pool 1 | 3 p.m. ET, Dec. 13

These clubs have not played often. 

The Warriors, the 2024 URC champions, last beat Toulouse in 2009 in the Champions Cup. 

They last met in 2014, a 12-9 Toulouse win. 

While a home match in Round 1 on Dec. 5 may seem like a more obvious return game for Dupont — the No. 2 player in the world who is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered against Ireland in the Six Nations — this match in Scotland is one where he could seriously be needed. 

The Warriors are as tough of an out as there is in rugby, especially in Scotland, where they hardly ever lose. Plus, Blair Kinghorn, arguably the third - and maybe even second-best Scottish player in the world - plays for Toulouse.

Others from Round 2:

• Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby: Leinster Rugby seemingly plays the same clubs every year in the Champions Cup. Leinster has met the Leicester four times since 2022. Keep reading, Leinster fans.
• Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens: The South African captains vs. the English captains. I love it.
• Bristol Bears vs. Pau: Louis Rees-Zammit will be needed to beat the best team in France so far.
• Toulon vs. Bath Rugby: One of the best home grounds in rugby hosts the PREM Rugby leaders. 

Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, Round 3, Pool 3 | 12:30 p.m. ET, Jan. 10

How on Earth do we get this matchup again? 

Leinster has played La Rochelle every year in the Champions Cup since 2020. This will be the seventh La Rochelle-Leinster match in the champions cup in that span. Seven! 

La Rochelle has been, without a doubt, the most disappointing team in the Top 14 this season. 

Shoot, I picked them to win the Top 14! But here they are sitting with a 3-0-3 record and 11th on the Top 14 table. 

However, if there’s one team that can pull off a 2025 Northampton Saints — being bad domestically, but making the Champions Cup Final — it would be Ronan O’Gara’s team.

Others from Round 3:

• Clermont vs. Glasgow Warriors: Clermont at home is like the French version of the Warriors at home. 
• Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne: These two teams could be solidly on top of their domestic tables by January. 
• Bordeaux vs. Northampton Saints: A rematch of the Champions Cup Final probably should be one of the five matches. Here’s to UBB working out its issues by January.

Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Round 4, Pool 4 | 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 17

There undoubtedly will be a lot of can’t-miss matches in Round 4 as teams fight to make the knockout rounds. 

But as we’ve learned over the years, sometimes this round isn’t very dramatic because we already know who’s in. 

Still, this matchup will be can’t-miss because Bayonne already has beaten Bordeaux and Toulouse this season and is a legit Champions Cup contender. 

Could a team beat UBB, Toulouse and Leinster all in the same season? 

For Leinster, a struggling URC season won’t matter if the squad takes care of business in the Champions Cup.

Others from Round 4:

• Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls: The Bulls are always good. Will they care about the Champions Cup is the big question. They’ll need to beat Pau.
• Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont: Please, just once, Sharks, take the Champions Cup seriously.
• DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers: The Stormers say they will take the Champions Cup seriously. … Notice a trend?

Here’s A Side Not On The Investec Champions Cup Matches

If the South African clubs decide the Champions Cup is truly important to them, this competition becomes so much more interesting. 

Last year, I had high hopes for all three South African clubs, but it was clear they were more focused on the URC. 

And, news flash: none of them won the URC — but the Bulls got close. 

The clubs are even more tied to the URC now, and what better way to help the URC than have a URC team win the Champions Cup?

Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026 Fixtures

Here's a look at each round:

Investec Champions Cup Round 1 

Friday, Dec. 5

• 3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community Stadium
• 3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean Dauger

Saturday, Dec. 6

• 8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX Stadium
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus Versfeld
• 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD
• 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y Scarlets
• 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The Rec

Sunday, Dec. 7

• 8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Kingsholm

Dec. 7–9 (TBD)

• Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBD

Investec Champions Cup Round 2 

Friday, Dec. 12

• 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Saturday, Dec. 13

• 8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-Michelin
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
• 3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun Stadium

Sunday, Dec. 14

• 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop
• 8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton Gate

Investec Champions Cup Round 3 

Friday, Jan. 9

• 3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• 3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBD

Saturday, Jan. 10

• 8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium
• 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets
• 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Sunday, Jan. 11

• 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop
• 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Round 4 

Friday, Jan. 16

• 3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau
• 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The Rec

Saturday, Jan. 17

• 8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger
• 10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
• 3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, Kingsholm

Sunday, Jan. 18

• 8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate
• 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
• 10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Fixtures By Pool

Here's a breakdown of the schedule by pool:

Investec Champions Cup Pool 1

Round 1

• Friday, Dec. 5 – 3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community Stadium
• Saturday, Dec. 6 – 8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX Stadium
• Sunday, Dec. 7 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon

Round 2

• Saturday, Dec. 13 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
• Saturday, Dec. 13 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-Michelin
• Saturday, Dec. 13 – 3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun Stadium

Round 3 

• Saturday, Jan. 10 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin
• Saturday, Jan. 10 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium
• Sunday, Jan. 11 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX Stadium

Round 4 

• Saturday, Jan. 17 – 8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
• Saturday, Jan. 17 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
• Sunday, Jan. 18 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Pool 2

Round 1 

• Saturday, Dec. 6 – 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The Rec
• Sunday, Dec. 7 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Kingsholm
• Dec. 7–9 (TBD): Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBD

Round 2 

• Saturday, Dec. 13 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
• Sunday, Dec. 14 – 8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• Sunday, Dec. 14 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol

Round 3

• Friday, Jan. 9 – 3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• Friday, Jan. 9 – 3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBD
• Sunday, Jan. 11 – 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol

Round 4 

• Friday, Jan. 16 – 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The Rec
• Saturday, Jan. 17 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
• Saturday, Jan. 17 – 3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, Kingsholm

Investec Champions Cup Pool 3

Round 1 

• Friday, Dec. 5 – 3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean Dauger
• Saturday, Dec. 6 – 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre
• Saturday, Dec. 6 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD

Round 2 

• Friday, Dec. 12 – 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
• Saturday, Dec. 13 – 8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
• Sunday, Dec. 14 – 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop

Round 3 

• Saturday, Jan. 10 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD
• Saturday, Jan. 10 – 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
• Sunday, Jan. 11 – 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop

Round 4

• Saturday, Jan. 17 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger
• Saturday, Jan. 17 – 10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
• Sunday, Jan. 18 – 10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre

Investec Champions Cup Pool 4

Round 1 

• Saturday, Dec. 6 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus Versfeld
• Saturday, Dec. 6 – 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y Scarlets
• Sunday, Dec. 7 – 8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau

Round 2

• Saturday, Dec. 13 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas
• Sunday, Dec. 14 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
• Sunday, Dec. 14 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton Gate

Round 3 

• Saturday, Jan. 10 – 8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld
• Saturday, Jan. 10 – 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets
• Sunday, Jan. 11 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas

Round 4

• Friday, Jan. 16 – 3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau
• Sunday, Jan. 18 – 8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate
• Sunday, Jan. 18 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

The URC will stream all its matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to: 

• Investec Champions Cup
• EPCR Challenge Cup
• Currie Cup
• Top 14
• Super Rugby
• And more

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

Join The Rugby Conversation On FloRugby Social

• Follow us on Twitter @florugby
• Follow us on Instagram @florugby
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook