Premiership Rugby

Leicester Tigers In The Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know

Leicester Tigers In The Investec Champions Cup: Everything To Know

Leicester Tigers kickoff times, pool placement and how to watch them in the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup.

Nov 11, 2024 by Joe Harrington
Investec Champions Cup Pool 1 Preview

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. 

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

Here are a few things to know about the Leicester Tigers:

Leicester Tigers Results In Top 14 In 2024-2025 Season

The Tigers are second on the Gallagher Premiership table after six rounds with a 5-0-1 record. 

The Tigers scored a giant 17-14 win at Sandy Park against Exeter and squeaked by Gloucester in Round 6. 

The lone loss is a 20-15 mishap at home against Bath Rugby. 

What Did The Leicester Tigers Do In The Champions Cup In 2023-2024?

Leicester lost in Dublin at Aviva Stadium to Leinster 36-22 in the Round of 16. It was the second year in a row the Tigers lost to Leinster, but in 2023, the loss came in the quarterfinals.  

Have The Leicester Tigers Ever Won The Champions Cup?

Leicester won back-to-back Champions Cups in 2001 and 2002 behind star Geordan Murphy. They were the first team to successfully defend their Champions Cup title. They have never returned to the Champions Cup Final and last reached the semifinals in 2016. 

Who Is The Leicester Tigers Rugby Coach?

Veteran coach Michael Cheika, who coached Leinster from 2005-2010, is the head coach. He led Leinster to the 2009 Champions Cup title and took them to another final the next year. 

The Australian native then coached for Stade Francais and the Waratahs in Super Rugby, before becoming the coach of the Australian national team from 2014-2019. 

Cheika was the Argentina national team coach from 2022-2023, guiding the group to the semifinals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He became the Leicester coach in June 2024.  


Where Do The Leicester Tigers Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?

Leicester is ranked No. 29 in the FloRugby team rankings. 

Who Are The Highest Ranked FloRugby Players On The Leicester Tigers Roster?

  • Handre Pollard – Leicester Tigers & South Africa (No. 19)
  • Julian Montoya – Leicester Tigers & Argentina (No. 43)
  • George Martin – Leicester Tigers & England (No. 73)

Where Do The Leicester Tigers Play?

The Tigers play in Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, or known as Welford Road. The stadium is among the oldest in the competition, opening in 1892 in Leicester.

When Do The Leicester Tigers Play In The Investec Championship Cup?

Here is the Leicester Tigers Champions Cup schedule:

UBB Vs. Leicester Kickoff In Round 1

Leicester Vs. Sharks Kickoff In Round 2

Leicester Vs. Ulster Kickoff In Round 3

Toulouse Vs. Leicester Kickoff In Round 4

How To Watch The Leicester Tigers Play In The Investec Champions Cup

Every Leicester Tigers 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: 

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

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