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. 

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One of the teams looking to advance to the EPCR Final is Benetton Rugby, which is in Pool 2. 

Here are a few things to know about Benetton Rugby:

Benetton Rugby Results In The United Rugby Championship 2024-2025 Season

Benetton Rugby has had a frustrating first six weeks of URC play. 

The team sits at 2-1-3 after starting the season with the highest expectations in club history following a breakthrough 2023-2024 season. 

The club from Treviso played in the league's only draw against the Scarlets and has been bashed by the top two clubs, Leinster and Glasgow. 

But the big win over the Sharks will look impressive by Week 18, and the club nearly beat the Vodacom Bulls, losing 17-15, to end October. 

What Did Benetton Rugby Do In The EPCR Challenge Cup In 2023-2024?

Benetton didn't qualify for the Champions Cup last season and instead played in the EPCR Challenge Cup, winning its pool with a 3-0-1 record, then reaching the semifinals, where it fell to Gloucester, 40-23. 

Has Benetton Rugby Ever Won The Champions Cup?

Benetton Rugby has never won the Champions Cup or the Challenge Cup and has not played in the Champions Cup since the 2019-2020 season. 

The team has not finished higher than fourth in its pool since 2005, the last time Benetton won more than one match. 

Who Is The Benetton Rugby Coach?

Marco Bortolami is the head coach of Benetton Rugby, a job he has had since 2021. He played for Gloucester from 2006-2010 and with Zebre Parma from 2012-2016, but he has been with Benetton in some capacity since 2016. 

A lock, he played in 111 matches for the Italian National team from 2001-2015. 

Where Does Benetton Rugby Rank In The FloRugby Team Rankings?

Benetton is the highest-ranked Italian club, and only ranked Italian club, in the FloRugby Top 50, coming in at No. 22. 

Who Are The Highest-Ranked FloRugby Players On The Benetton Rugby Roster?

• Tommaso Menencello – Benetton Rugby & Italy (No. 54)
• Michele Lamaro – Benetton & Italy (No. 74)
• Ignacio Brex – Benetton Rugby & Italy (No. 97)

Where Does Benetton Rugby Play?

Benetton plays at the Stadio Monigo in Treviso. 

When Does Benetton Rugby Play In The Investec Championship Cup?

Here is the Benetton Rugby Champions Cup schedule.

Clermont Vs. Benetton Kickoff In Round 1 

• Round 1: ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Benetton Rugby, 8 a.m. ET, Dec. 7, 2024, Stade Marcel-Michelin

Benetton Vs. Bath Kickoff In Round 2

• Round 2: Benetton Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, 8 a.m. ET, Dec. 15, 2024, Stadio Monigo

Bristol Vs. Benetton Kickoff In Round 3

• Round 3: Bristol Bears vs. Benetton Rugby, 10:15 a.m. ET, Jan. 12, 2025, Ashton Gate

Benetton Vs. La Rochelle Kickoff In Round 4 

• Round 4: Benetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, 12:30 p.m. ET, Jan. 18, 2025, Stadio Monigo

How To Watch Benetton Rugby Play In The Investec Champions Cup?

Every Benetton Rugby 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. 

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