The 30th Investec Champions Cup competition is considered by many to be the best professional rugby tournament in the world and just a level below international test rugby. 

The competition features 24 clubs divided into four pools of six clubs. There are four rounds of pool play, and the top 16 clubs advance to the knockout stage with the goal of making it to Cardiff, Wales – which hosted the first Champions Cup Final– and Principality Stadium on May 24. 

• Subscribe to Watch Every Minute Of The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup
• Who's The Best Rugby Team In The World? Here Are The Top 50 Rugby Clubs
• 100 Best Rugby Players In The World: Here's The Full List

One of those teams looking to advance to the EPCR Final is Exeter Chiefs, who are in Pool 1. 

Here are a few things to know about Exeter Chiefs:

Exeter Chiefs Results In Gallagher Premiership In 2024-2025 Season

It has been a rough year for the Chiefs through six rounds. They were 0-0-5 entering their match against against Harlequins on Oct. 27 and fell to 0-0-6. 

Close losses to the Leicester Tigers and the Northampton Saints put the club in dangerous position to not even qualify for the Champions Cup next season. 

That said, the Chiefs have lost four of the five matches by six of less points. 

What Did Exeter Chiefs Do In The Champions Cup In 2023-2024?

The Chiefs beat Premiership rival Bath Rugby in the Round of 16, 21-15, but then were flogged by Toulouse, 64-26, in the quarterfinals. 

Have The Exeter Chiefs Ever Won The Champions Cup?

Exeter won the Champions Cup in 2020, the last Gallagher Premiership club to do so. They reached the semifinals in 2023.   

Who Is The Exeter Chiefs Rugby Coach?

Ali Hepher is the head coach in Exeter. He works closely with director or rugby Rob Baxter. Hepher played for the Northampton Saints but has been with the Chiefs since 2009 and became the head coach in 2017. 

Where Do The Exeter Chiefs Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?

The Exeter Chiefs were the No. 20-ranked team in the FloRugby rankings. 

Who Are The Highest Ranked FloRugby Players On The Exeter Chiefs Roster?

• Henry Slade – Exeter Chiefs & England (No. 59)
• Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – Exeter Chiefs & England (No. 63)

Where Do The Exeter Chiefs Play?

Sandy Park in Exeter is one of the more famous English rugby stadiums and even hosted 2015 Rugby World Cup matches.

When Does Exeter Chiefs Play In The Investec Championship Cup?

Here is the Exeter Chiefs Champions Cup schedule:

Exeter Chiefs Vs. Sharks Kickoff In Round 1

• Round 1: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Exeter Chiefs, 8 a.m. ET, Dec 7, 2024, Hollywoodbets Kings Park

Exeter Chiefs Vs. Toulouse Kickoff In Round 2

• Round 2: Exeter Chiefs vs. Stade Toulousain, 12:30 p.m. ET, Dec. 15, 2024, Sandy Park

Exeter Chiefs Vs. UBB Kickoff In Round 3

• Round 3: Exeter Chiefs vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 11, 2025, Sandy Park

Ulster Vs. Exeter Chiefs Kickoff In Round 4

• Round 4: Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, 3 p.m. ET, Jan. 17, 2025, Kingspan Stadium

How To Watch Exeter Chiefs Play In The Investec Champions Cup

Every Exeter Chiefs match in the Investec Champions Cup is streaming live in the United States and Canada on FloRugby and the FloSports app. 

Investec Champions Cup Format 

Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:

• A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
• 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
• Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
• Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
• The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.

Investec Champions Cup Weekends

• Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
• Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
• Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
• Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
• Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
• Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
• Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
• 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Champions Cup Qualifications 

Twenty-four clubs have qualified for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup as follows:

• United Rugby Championship (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
• TOP 14 (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
• Gallagher Premiership Rugby (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
• If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 Investec Champions Cup will take the place of the eighth-ranked club in its league.

Investec Champions Cup Qualifiers 

• TOP 14 – Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Français Paris, RC Toulon, Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont Auvergne
• GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Bristol Bears, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers
• UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Glasgow Warriors, Vodacom Bulls, Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, DHL Stormers, Ulster Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Hollywoodbets Sharks

EPCR Challenge Cup Format 

Key points for the 2024-2025 EPCR Challenge Cup:

• A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
• 18 clubs in three pools of six
• Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
• Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the knockout stage
• Eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday, May 23

EPCR Challenge Cup Weekends

• Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
• Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
• Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
• Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
• Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
• Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
• Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
• 2025 EPCR Challenge Cup final – Principality Stadium, Cardiff; Friday, May 23

EPCR Challenge Cup Qualifiers 

Clubs from the United Rugby Championship, the TOP 14 and the Gallagher Premiership that have not qualified for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup will compete in the 2024-2025 EPCR Challenge Cup.

If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup will secure a place in the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup, replacing the eighth-ranked club in its league.

EPCR Challenge Cup Qualifiers 

• UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Ospreys, Emirates Lions, Edinburgh Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Cardiff Rugby, Scarlets, Dragons RFC, Zebre Parma
• TOP 14 – Section Paloise, USAP, Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Aviron Bayonnais, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, RC Vannes
• GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Gloucester Rugby, Newcastle Falcons
• INVITED – Black Lion, Toyota Cheetahs

When Does The 2024-2025  Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?

The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends on Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4. 

The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup). 

What Are The Investec Champions Cup And EPCR Challenge Cup Pools?

Here are the pools:

Investec Champions Cup: 

• Toulouse (Stade Toulousain)
• Bordeaux-Bègles (Union Bordeaux-Bègles)
• Hollywoodbets Sharks
• Exeter Chiefs
• Leicester Tigers
• Ulster Rugby

Pool 2:

• Leinster Rugby
• Clermont Auvergne (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
• La Rochelle (Stade Rochelais)
• Bristol Bears
• Benetton Rugby
• Bath Rugby

Pool 3:

• Northampton Saints
• Munster Rugby
• Vodacom Bulls
• Stade Français Paris
• Saracens
• Castres Olympique

Pool 4:

• Glasgow Warriors
• Racing 92
• Sale Sharks
• DHL Stormers
• Toulon (RC Toulon)
• Harlequins

EPCR Challenge Cup

Pool 1:

• Cardiff Rugby
• Connacht Rugby
• Toyota Cheetahs
• Perpignan (USAP)
• Lyon Olympique Universitaire (Lyon O.U.)
• Zebre Parma

Pool 2:

• Montpellier Hérault Rugby
• Pau (Section Paloise)
• Newcastle Falcons
• Dragons RFC
• Emirates Lions
• Ospreys

Pool 3:

• RC Vannes
• Black Lion
• Bayonne (Aviron Bayonnais)
• Scarlets
• Edinburgh Rugby
• Gloucester Rugby

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

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