The excitement of the European Rugby Champions Cup 2025/26 is back, and we’re showing you exactly where to catch every unmissable live moment!
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Are you ready for the most electrifying season in European rugby? That moment when the continent’s best clubs clash in pursuit of ultimate glory?
That’s precisely what the European Rugby Champions Cup offers!
But, between us, what good is all that emotion if you don’t know where to watch every try and every drop goal? Finding the right broadcast can be a real challenge.
With that in mind, we prepared this article so you know where to watch the tournament in 2025/26 and secure your front-row seat.
👉 Informational content only, no live match viewing.
Where to Watch Every Play Live
Watching the games globally requires a broadcast map, as rights are segmented.
beIN SPORTS (France)
If you are in France, beIN SPORTS is the benchmark for following all the Champions Cup action with reliable broadcasting, in-depth analysis, and coverage focused on European rugby.
Key features:
- News, highlights, videos, and analysis about rugby.
- Push notifications for live game alerts.
- Personalized content: choose favorite sports, leagues, and teams.
- On-demand videos and replays.
- Widget with results and news for a quick overview.
Usage tip: Use the alerts function for your favorite teams or matches so you don’t miss a game.
ESPN (Latin America)
For viewers in Latin American countries, ESPN is the official channel to follow the tournament, featuring live broadcasts and special coverage.
Key features:
- Live streaming of Champions Cup matches.
- Full competition calendar in the app.
- Replays and summaries: review matches and important plays.
- Commentary and analysis (pre- and post-match) by Latin American ESPN experts.
- Access via ESPN+ or packages that include ESPN, depending on the region.
Usage tip: Subscribe through a package that includes ESPN+ or Disney+ to access replays and analysis without relying solely on the live broadcast.
SuperSport (South Africa / Sub-Saharan Africa)
In Sub-Saharan Africa, especially South Africa, SuperSport is the go-to for watching everything up close, with specialized coverage and quality local content.
Key features:
- Videos with highlights, news, results, and tables.
- Personalization: follow teams, tournaments, and players for tailored content.
- Real-time notifications for your favorite games.
- Live streaming via DStv Connect.
- Rich visual interface and fast score and table updates.
Usage tip: Activate alerts in the app to receive notifications as soon as the match starts.
Remember: checking regional availability with your TV provider or streaming service is always the first step to avoid missing the European Rugby Champions Cup.
FloSports (USA / Canada)
For the North American audience, FloRugby (part of FloSports) is the digital home of the Champions Cup: broadcasting over 110 games per season, both live streaming and on-demand.
Key features:
- Exclusive coverage of the Champions Cup + Challenge Cup in the USA/Canada.
- Live and on-demand streaming (replays, highlights).
- Support for connected TV (Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV).
- Additional content from other rugby leagues (Top 14, URC, etc.).
- Match history in the app, with archives of old games.
Usage Tip: Subscribe to the annual plan and use the Connected TV version to watch comfortably on the big screen.
Schedule and Knockout Stages
The European Rugby Champions Cup season is a marathon, not a sprint. It begins with the group stage on December 5, 2025 and runs until the final scheduled for May 23, 2026.
| Stage | Start Date / Period |
|---|---|
| Group Stage | December 5, 2025 – January 18, 2026 |
| Round of 16 | April 3, 4 & 5, 2026 |
| Quarterfinals | April 10, 11 & 12, 2026 |
| Semifinals | May 1, 2 & 3, 2026 |
| Grand Final | May 23, 2026 |
The season-ending event, the European Rugby Champions Cup Grand Final, is a spectacle that deserves a reminder on your calendar!
Classification and Points System
Understanding how teams score points is essential to following the European Rugby Champions Cup like a true insider.
It’s not just about winning or losing; the way points are earned can make all the difference in the standings and the chances of advancing in the tournament.
It works like this:
- Win: 4 points — securing a victory is crucial for advancing in the Champions Cup standings.
- Draw: 2 points — each team receives 2 points, maintaining their qualification chances.
- Offensive bonus point (4 or more tries): 1 point — scoring 4 or more tries grants an offensive bonus point, encouraging attack.
- Defensive bonus point (loss by 7 points or less): 1 point — losing by 7 points or less gives a defensive bonus point, rewarding a close effort.
This means that even a tight defeat can be worth a point, which is essential for the overall classification.
Champions Cup Giants
The Champions Cup brings together the most traditional clubs in European rugby.
Let’s get to know the giants of the competition, teams with history, titles, and players who make a difference on the field.
- Bath (England)
- Bristol Bears (England)
- Gloucester (England)
- Harlequins (England)
- Leicester Tigers (England)
- Northampton Saints (England)
- Sale Sharks (England)
- Saracens (England)
- Bayonne (France)
- Bordeaux Bègles (France)
- Castres Olympique (France)
- Clermont Auvergne (France)
- La Rochelle (France)
- Pau – Section Paloise (France)
- Toulouse (France)
- Toulon (France)
- Leinster (Ireland)
- Munster (Ireland)
- Edinburgh (Scotland)
- Glasgow Warriors (Scotland)
- Vodacom Bulls (South Africa)
- Hollywoodbets Sharks (South Africa)
- DHL Stormers (South Africa)
- Scarlets (Wales)
Behind the Scenes and Lesser-Known Facts
The European Rugby Champions Cup is much more than the games on the field, as the behind-the-scenes reveal stories, old rivalries, and details that make each match unique.
For example, Toulouse, the most successful club in the competition with 6 titles, imposes a historical pressure that challenges any opponent.
Furthermore, the 2025 final marked the historic first victory for Bordeaux Bègles, proving that memorable surprises can happen even in the most competitive scenarios.
This dynamic reinforces how the Champions Cup blends tradition and emotion.
Another highlight is the 2025/26 season’s Grand Final, which will be held at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao.
Alongside this, the passion of the fans, especially from clubs like Munster and Toulouse, transforms any stadium into a true cauldron.
Finally, symbolic gestures, like the presence of Conor Murray handing the trophy to champion Damian Penaud in 2025, show that the European Rugby Champions Cup also values the history and ties of European rugby, making each edition unforgettable.
Tips to Avoid Missing Any Game
Don’t let the complexity of broadcasts ruin your experience with the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Here are some golden tips for staying up-to-date:
- Set up app alerts for your favorite clubs to receive notifications before each game.
- Use official streams (beIN SPORTS, ESPN, FloSports, SuperSport) to ensure quality and complete coverage.
- Consult the European Rugby Champions Cup calendar regularly so you don’t miss important group stage and knockout dates.
- Use replays and highlights to catch up on plays you missed live.
- Always check the time zone and broadcast region to plan your game marathon without missing anything.
The passion is in the air, the jerseys are ready, and the scrums await. Now that you know where and how to watch, dive headfirst into this universe!
