2025 Leinster Rugby vs Harlequin F.C.

Investec Champions Cup Countdown: Why Harlequin FC Can Win It All In 2026

Investec Champions Cup Countdown: Why Harlequin FC Can Win It All In 2026

The Investec Champions Cup is 23 days away, and FloRugby is making a case for why each team can win it all. That includes Marcus Smith and Harlequins.

Nov 12, 2025 by Joe Harrington
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The 2025-2026 Investec Champions Cup begins Dec. 5, and we're just 23 days away from the Sale Sharks hosting the Glasgow Warriors at 3 p.m. ET at CorpAcq Stadium.

The Investec Champions Cup will determine the best team in Europe (and South Africa), as every contender aims to take the title from defending champion Union Bordeaux-Bègles of the Top 14.

But like in the film "The Highlander," there can only be one winner. 

Every club will enter the competition believing it can lift the trophy on May 23, 2026, at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.

And that includes Harlequins of Gallagher PREM Rugby. 

Here are three reasons why Harlequins can win the 2025-2026 Investec Champions Cup:

That Marcus Smith Is So Hot Right Now

Yes, we're fans of Marcus Smith at FloRugby. He's one of England's best players and is electric.

Smith came in at No. 87 on our annual rankings this summer, and the 26-year-old fly-half probably can climb even higher. He's had a strong PREM Rugby season so far for Harlequins.

Last year, Smith signed an extension with the club until 2028. If he hits the open market again before 30,  he could become the biggest free agent in rugby for the marketing side alone. 

England Rugby coach Steve Borthwick may not know where to play him, but Harlequins sure does.

The Power Of Twickenham Stoop

Harlequins plays at Twickenham Stoop, just across the road from the national stadium at Twickenham in London. 

The Quins have been playing there since 1963 and have yet to win a Champions Cup. 

They'll need that home crowd's help. 

They play Bayonne at the Stoop in Round 2 and the DHL Stormers in Round 3. Those are two of the best teams in the competition. 

With tough road matches in Dublin against Leinster and La Rochelle in France, having the London crowd will help them get into the Round of 16. 

Say It Louder: Harlequins Has Never Won An Investec Champions Cup. The Quins Are Due

Shoot, Harlequins has never even made it to the Final. 

That's crazy, because this club was formed the same year the American Civil War officially ended in 1866.

But there's a first time for everything, and it's not like the team has been bad. Harlequins won the Gallagher PREM title in 2021. 

Bonus Reason: Look At These Delightfully Chaotic Jerseys Quins Wear

And

Harlequins by a 1,000 in every match.

Harlequins Rugby Investec Champions Cup Pool Play Fixtures

Here's the Harlequin FC Champions Cup schedule:

Investec Champions Cup Round 1 – Saturday, Dec. 6

  • 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD

Investec Champions Cup Round 2 – Sunday, Dec. 14

  • 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop

Investec Champions Cup Round 3 – Sunday, Jan. 11

  • 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop

Investec Champions Cup Round 4 – Sunday, Jan. 18

  • 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre

How To Watch Harlequins In The Investec Champions Cup 2025–2026

Every Harlequins match in the Investec Champions Cup streams live in the United States and its territories on FloRugby and the FloSports app.

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

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FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

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