The 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage will be the first stage of the 30th season of the pan-European professional club rugby union competition, and the eleventh under the European Rugby Champions Cup format. Twenty-four clubs from three major domestic and regional leagues competed over four rounds of pool fixtures, with 16 teams progressing to the knockout stages.
Structure
editThe pool stage draw took place on 2 July 2024.[1] The complete fixture list was then announced on 12 July 2024.[2] The fixtures will be played out across four weekends between 6 December 2024 and 19 January 2025.[3]
Teams play other teams in the same pool, except the other team from their own league, with two games at home and two away. The top four teams in each pool progress to the round of 16, whilst the teams ranked 5th progress to the knockout stages of the 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup.
Teams are awarded points based on match performances; four points for a win, two points for a draw, one attacking bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one defensive bonus point for losing a match by seven points or fewer.[4]
If two or more clubs in the same pool are equal on match points, their ranking will be determined as follows:
- the best aggregate points difference from the pool stage; or
- if equal, the number of tries scored in the pool stage; or
- if equal, the club with the fewest number of players suspended for disciplinary incidents in the pool stage; or
- if still equal, by drawing lots.
Pools
editPool 1
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bordeaux
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Home Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 2 |  Exeter Chiefs
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Leicester Tigers
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Away Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 4 |  Sharks
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Toulouse
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Away Challenge Cup round of 16. |
| 6 |  Ulster
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: EPCR[5]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Round 1
editRound 2
editRound 3
editRound 4
editPool 2
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bath
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Home Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 2 |  Benetton
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Bristol Bears
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Away Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 4 | Clermont
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | La Rochelle
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Away Challenge Cup round of 16. |
| 6 | Leinster
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: EPCR[5]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Round 1
editRound 2
editRound 3
editRound 4
editPool 3
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bulls
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Home Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 2 | Castres
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Munster
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Away Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 4 | Northampton Saints
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Saracens
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Away Challenge Cup round of 16. |
| 6 | Stade Français
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: EPCR[5]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Round 1
editRound 2
editRound 3
editRound 4
editPool 4
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Glasgow Warriors
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Home Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 2 | Harlequins
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Racing 92
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Away Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 4 | Sale Sharks
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Stormers
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Away Challenge Cup round of 16. |
| 6 | Toulon
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: EPCR[5]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Round 1
editRound 2
editRound 3
editRound 4
editNotes
edit- ^ The kick-off between Stade Français and Saracens was rescheduled from its original time of 15:15 to a new time of 13:00, to avoid logistical clashes with another live sporting event – a football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon – also taking place in Paris at the same time.[7]
- ^ The kick-off between Toulon and Glasgow was rescheduled from its original time of 13:00 to a new time of 15:15, to avoid a television broadcasting overlap caused by the rescheduling of the fixture between Stade Français and Saracens.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Investec Champions Cup pools 2024/25: All you need to know". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Investec Champions Cup fixtures 2024/25: Huge clashes set in pool stages". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Investec Champions Cup – Fixtures & Results". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "European Professional Club Rugby – Investec Champions Cup – Rules". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Leinster Rugby: Irish province to use Aviva Stadium for Champions Cup pool games". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Updated Kick-off Times for two Round 2 matches". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ "Le Racing 92 délocalise ses matchs au stade Dominique Duvauchelle de Créteil" [Racing 92 relocates its matches to the Dominique Duvauchelle stadium in Créteil]. www.parisladefense-arena.com (in French). Paris La Défense Arena. Retrieved 4 September 2024.