Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to: The second half began with a penalty goal by Fernandez to extend Castres’ lead to 13-7. Penalty Goals: Fernandez (31’, 45’, 57’)Baget’s standout performance included a hat trick, with his final try in the 78th minute securing Castres’ triumph. Castres Takes […]
Castres Takes Command In Second Half
Despite a brief Bulls comeback via a Jaco van der Walt penalty in the 53rd minute, Castres dominated the remaining play. Conversions: Chamberlain (7’)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). The Vodacom Bulls struggled to regain momentum as Castres relentlessly pressured their defense.
Bulls Struggle Against Castres’ Offensive Onslaught
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. Vodacom BullsA penalty goal by Fernandez in the 31st minute gave Castres a narrow 10-7 lead going into halftime.
Castres Olympique Vs. Vodacom Bulls Scoring Summary
The match saw Castres take control in the second half, scoring six tries to seal a decisive win.Castres OlympiquePenalty Goals: Van der Walt (53’)The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4. Castres quickly responded, with Geoffrey Palis crossing for a try in the 17th minute. Jeremy Fernandez added the conversion, leveling the score at 7-7. Castres Olympique will hit the road in Round 4 to face Saracens in a key clash that will decide playoff seedings. The Vodacom Bulls are eliminated but will face Stade Francais at Loftus Versfeld in Round 4.With this impressive performance, Castres sets a strong tone for its Champions Cup campaign. The Bulls, meanwhile, will look to regroup before their next match.Tries: Wessels (6’)
What’s Next For Castres Olympique And The Vodacom Bulls?
A series of tries by Julien Dumora, Rémy Baget (three tries in total) and Jack Goodhue, accompanied by successful conversions from Pierre Popelin and Fernandez, widened the gap.
Investec Champions Cup 2025 Round 3 Schedule
In a high-scoring Investec Champions Cup clash, Castres Olympique defeated the Vodacom Bulls with a commanding 49-10 victory at home.
- Glasgow Warriors 29, Racing 92 19
- DHL Stormers 40 vs. Sale Sharks 0, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 a.m., DHL Stadium
- Exeter Chiefs 17 vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles 69, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy Park
- Hollywoodbets Sharks 8 vs. Stade Toulousain 20, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 a.m., Hollywoodbets Kings Park
- Munster Rugby 17 vs. Saracens 12, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 p.m., Thomond Park
- Stade Francais Paris 45 vs. Northampton Saints 35, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 p.m., Stade Jean Bouin
- Leicester Tigers 38 vs. Ulster Rugby 10, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 p.m., Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Castres Olympique 49 vs. Vodacom Bulls 10, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 p.m., Stade Pierre-Fabre
- RC Toulon vs. Harlequins, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 a.m., Stade Felix Mayol
- Stade Rochelais vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 a.m., Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Bristol Bears vs. Benetton Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 a.m., Ashton Gate
- Bath Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 p.m., The Rec
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 4
- Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3 PM, Kingspan Stadium
- Vodacom Bulls vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
- Northampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
- ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel-Michelin
- Benetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stadio Monigo
- Leinster Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
- Harlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
- Racing 92 vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Paris La Defense Arena
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Saracens vs. Castres Olympique, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, StoneX Stadium
- Stade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
- Sale Sharks vs. RC Toulon, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 12:30 PM, Salford Community Stadium
Investec Champions Cup Format
By the final whistle, Castres had outscored the Bulls seven tries to one, leaving no doubt about their dominance.
- 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
Watch Harlequins Vs. Stormers For Free On FloRugby’s YouTube
Tries: Palis (17’), Dumora (70’), Baget (63’, 73’, 78’), Goodhue (75’)
When Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?
Conversions: Fernandez (18’, 64’, 71’), Popelin (76’, 79’)
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
All Times EasternThe Vodacom Bulls struck first with a try by Jan-Hendrik Wessels in the sixth minute, converted by Boeta Chamberlain, giving them an early 7-0 lead.
