Imagine that the day before Super Bowl Sunday, there was a whole other game played that had real stakes and a big trophy handed to the winner.
It wouldn’t be the same as the Super Bowl, but it would be enough to draw a big crowd, big excitement and a viewing audience watching from home.
Rugby fans don’t have to imagine it, because it actually happens with the EPCR Challenge Cup Final, which is played the day before the Investec Champions Cup.
The Challenge Cup doesn’t include the best clubs in Europe from the previous season — but oh, it sometimes does, right Gallagher PREM Rugby champ Bath? — and it does provide fans a chance to watch more matches involving their favorite clubs playing matches they don’t often see.
The winner gets the Challenge Cup, but it also gets an automatic bid into the next season’s Investec Champions Cup field.
This is the beauty of the Challenge Cup.
It’s a tournament filled with groups that had bad seasons the year before but can get a few wins in a row and qualify for a chance to win Europe’s biggest professional prize.
And fans watch (and fans in the United States will watch on FloRugby and the FloSports app).
But the field doesn’t exactly match that of the Champions Cup, math-wise. Instead of four pools of six and 24 clubs, there are three pools of six and 18 clubs.
URC clubs have to play fellow domestic league clubs in pool play, and then the Round of 16 is made up of the 12 teams that qualified for the knockout round, and four Champions Cup clubs who just missed the ICC playoffs.
That’s how Bath Rugby and Finn Russell got into the Challenge Cup and won it last season.
It does add a fun dynamic to the tournament, but imagine if the Challenge Cup didn’t have to do that. What if the EPCR just invited more clubs from other leagues to play in pool play?
They already invite two clubs.
Technically, the Toyota Cheetahs and the Black Lion of Georgia would qualify for the Champions Cup if they won the Challenge Cup, despite not being in the United Rugby Championship, Top 14 or Gallagher PREM Rugby competitions.
The Black Lion compete in the Rugby Europe Super Cup and get invited to the Challenge Cup. The Cheetahs are in the Currie Cup, which plays in the summer in South Africa (and streams on FloRugby).
So, which teams would join the Challenge Cup? First, let’s lay out this fantasy-land scenario:
- Eight clubs from the URC
- Six clubs from the Top 14
- Two clubs from Gallagher PREM
- The Toyota Cheetahs
- The Black Lion
And then add six more clubs.
How This Version Of The EPCR Challenge Cup Would Work
Instead of pools, let’s divide these teams into eight divisions of three teams — it’s already getting weird and Americanized, and I love it.
Since we’re playing four rounds of pool play, we need to have two conferences of four divisions.
So, in this hypothetical, let’s say the field would be:
Conference 1
Division I
- Ospreys (United Rugby Championship)
- Montpellier (Top 14)
- Black Lion (Invitee)
Division II
- Zebre Parma (URC)
- Exeter Chiefs (PREM Rugby)
- Toyota Cheetahs (Invitee)
Division III
- Connacht (URC)
- Lyon OU (Top 14)
- Invitee Club
Division IV
- Lions (URC)
- Newcastle Red Bulls (PREM Rugby)
- US Montauban (Top 14)
Conference 2
Division V
- Dragons RFC (URC)
- USAP (Top 14)
- Invitee Club
Division VI
- Benetton Rugby (URC)
- Racing 92 (Top 14)
- Invitee Club
Division VII
- Cardiff Rugby (URC)
- Stade Français (Top 14)
- Invitee Club
Division VIII
- Ulster Rugby (URC)
- Invitee Club
- Invitee Club
Each division winner advances to the playoffs (eight clubs). The two best non-division winners in the conference (four clubs) also advance to the knockout stage, along with the four fifth-place clubs from the Champions Cup.
OK, so who are the six clubs the EPCR should invite?
And, yes, the news out of Wales would impact this fantasy land scenario, but just.. OK?
Vannes of Rugby PRO D2 – Or the Demoted Top 14 Club
The Top 14 has a promotion and relegation system.
US Montauban made the Challenge Cup because it won promotion.
Vannes, which had just been promoted, was relegated back to PRO D2.
If you’re wondering, Vannes was 5-1-1 as of Oct. 23 this season. Vannes was in the Top 14 and would have qualified for the Challenge Cup, if it was one of the 16 URC clubs or one of the 10 PREM Rugby clubs, regardless of record.
Vannes went 7-1-18 in the Top 14. The Dragons went 1-0-17 in URC play and are in the Challenge Cup. Vannes won two more matches than Zebre.
When Vannes was promoted to the Top 14, it was a great story. Vannes got whacked 18 times and was demoted. It seems like the team that gets promoted should at least get invited to the Challenge Cup for two seasons in a row instead of one, even if it gets demoted.
FC Grenoble Rugby – Or the Team That Loses the PRO D2 Promotion Match
And now we’re at eight French clubs in the Challenge Cup.
Grenoble was the top seed in the promotion playoff last season before losing 24-19 to Montauban. Grenoble went 21-0-9 that season. Montauban went 17-0-13 and barely made the promotion playoffs.
Making the PRO D2 promotion playoff final an automatic qualifier for the Challenge Cup makes the PRO D2 semifinals more exciting.
Ealing Trailfinders – Or the CHAMP Rugby Winner
There are 14 CHAMP Rugby teams in England’s second tier.
The RFU isn’t consistent with promotion to PREM Rugby, but in May 2025, the RFU Championship was rebranded to CHAMP Rugby and announced a return of relegation and potential promotion. What does that mean?
Well, they’re working on it.
Conditions have to be met, and the RFU’s language spelling it out reads: “Prem and Champ Rugby: promotion and relegation as between the Prem and the Champ Rugby shall be as more specifically set out in the Prem Regulations and Champ Rugby Regulations.”
But forget about promotion. Ealing Trailfinders have won three of the last four CHAMP Rugby titles, including last year. Invite ’em.
Griquas – Or the Currie Cup Champions
OK, so technically, a team that already is in the Champions or Challenge Cup can win this because the Sharks, Blue Bulls, Western Province and Golden Lions are offshoots of the Hollywoodbets Sharks, Vodacom Bulls, DHL Stormers and Emirates Lions.
And the pool draws for the Challenge Cup already will have happened before the Currie Cup is even played. But, hey, all that seems like little semantics, to be honest.
Just invite the Currie Cup champion — or the team that had the best record of the eight teams not already invited.
The Cheetahs already have been invited. And, yes, we’re aware that money and sponsorship go a long way toward the Cheetahs being invited, but we’re pretty sure a club wouldn’t have much trouble getting a sponsor if it’s playing in this tournament.
(Looks right, looks left, whispers)
New England Free Jacks – Major League Rugby Winner
Major League Rugby hasn’t had a great summer, and there now are just seven clubs in the league.
EPCR inviting the MLR champ to play in the Challenge Cup would be a shot in the arm for the MLR. Because, let’s not forget the main point of the Challenge Cup to begin with: if you win it all, you qualify for the Champions Cup.
The Free Jacks won the MLR last season. They beat the now-gone Houston SaberCats in the final. The Free Jacks have won the last three MLR championships. They should get the invite every year, just like the Cheetahs and Black Lion.
Yes, the MLR season starts in February and the knockout rounds for the Champions Cup are in April. If the MLR knows this is happening, the schedule makers could make it work for a few weeks like the URC, Top 14 and PREM Rugby do.
A Second Major League Rugby Club
Ideally, you have the winners of the Eastern Division and the Western Division of the table both qualify, or the two teams that reached the MLR Final both qualify. Or, you make the Free Jacks the automatic invite whether they win or lose.
The team the Free Jacks beat in the final no longer exists. The team that won the Western Division, Utah Warriors, is finding its footing.
But again, invite two clubs from the United States to grow the sport in the USA, which hosts the 2031 Rugby World Cup and the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
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
The URC will stream all its matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.
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