Champions Cup Round 1 - Antoine Dupont returns as Toulouse kick off new season as favourites
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Pool 1 labelled ‘Group of Death’ for 2025-26 Champions Cup season
While on paper, any of the 24 teams featuring in this year’s Champions Cup have the ability to go on to win the title, the popular consensus is that this year’s winner will come from Pool 1, which has been labelled the ‘Group of Death.’
Headlining Pool 1 is Toulouse, who set off as this season’s favourites according to the best online betting sites. They are joined by Clermont, Glasgow Warriors, Sale Sharks, Saracens, and a Hollywoodbets Sharks team featuring a wealth of Springbok talent.
Toulouse are bolstered this year by the dynamo and best scrumhalf to play the game, Antoine Dupont, and they have been in tremendous shape this season, currently perched at the summit of the Top 14 ladder with eight wins in their 11 games.
Outside of the French giants, the 2023-24 United Rugby Championship winners, Glasgow Warriors, are also one to keep an eye on this year, as they’ve won four of their six URC matches this season and will be eyeing a winning start when they face Sale, which has only won two of their six Premiership games to date.
South African teams face French tests in opening round
While the Springboks, under the guidance of Rassie Erasmus, are widely considered the best national team ever put together, the South African franchises have yet to make their mark on the Champions Cup. Get all the first-round insights via our European Champions Cup predictions.
After the Bulls, Stormers and Hollywoodbets Sharks all failed to qualify for the knockout round last season, pressure is firmly on them to change that this year, having now had enough time to integrate and settle into the demands of the Champions Cup.
All three Southern Hemisphere outfits face French opposition this weekend, with the Stormers off to Bayonne, the Bulls entertaining reigning champions Union Bordeaux Begeles at Loftus Versfeld, and the Sharks travelling to the fortress that is Stade Ernest Wallon.
This year, the Stormers are being talked up as the team to watch from South Africa, as they are top of the URC with a perfect record of six wins from six and will also be looking forward to the return of their Boks contingent, Damian Willemse, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
2025-26 Champions Cup Round 1 fixtures
Friday, December 5
Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors – 20:00 GMT/21:00 CET/22:00 SAST
Bayonne vs. Stormers – 20:00 GMT/21:00CET/22:00SAST
Saturday, December 6
Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne – 13:00 GMT/14:00 CET/15:00 SAST
Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Begles – 17:15 GMT/18:15 CET/19:15 SAST
Leinster vs. Harlequins – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:30 SAST
La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:30 SAST
Bath vs. Munster – 20:00 GMT/ 21:00 CET/ 22:00 SAST
Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears – 20:00 GMT/ 21:00 CET/ 22:00 SAST
Sunday, December 7
Pau vs. Northampton Saints – 13:00 GMT/ 14:00 CET/ 15:00
Gloucester vs. Castres – 15:15 GMT/16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST
Toulouse vs. Sharks – 15:15 GMT/ 16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST
Edinburgh vs. Toulon – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:15 SAST
