Munster versus SFP

Following Stade Francais player Baptiste Pesenti’s use of what appeared to be a professional wrestling technique to tackle Craig Casey of Munster, seasoned rugby player Peter O’Mahony was not pleased. This veteran, who is likely in his final season with Munster Rugby, retaliated with several strikes against STF players as tensions flared following Pesenti’s red […]

Following Stade Francais player Baptiste Pesenti’s use of what appeared to be a professional wrestling technique to tackle Craig Casey of Munster, seasoned rugby player Peter O’Mahony was not pleased.

This veteran, who is likely in his final season with Munster Rugby, retaliated with several strikes against STF players as tensions flared following Pesenti’s red card.

However, Munster was already dominating in the Round 1 Investec Champions Cup match, defeating the Top 14 club from Paris with a score of 33-7 in Pool 3 action at Thomond Park in Limerick, Ireland on Dec. 7.

This marked Munster’s second match after they dismissed coach Graham Rowntree in late October, and they now hold a record of 2-0-0 after winning in URC action the prior weekend.

Munster’s precise finishing and strong defensive play left a Stade Français team gasping for breath following multiple red card incidents.

Munster Rugby Takes Control Early

Munster struck first in the 15th minute with Thaakir Abrahams scoring the initial try, which Jack Crowley converted. A yellow card awarded to Alex Nankivell in the 24th minute seemed to hinder Munster’s momentum, yet Shane Daly’s try just five minutes later, accompanied by another conversion from Crowley, boosted the lead to 14-0 by halftime.

Discipline Takes Its Toll on Stade Français

The hopes of Stade Français for a comeback were crushed early in the second half when Pierre-Henri Azagoh was sent off with a red card in the 48th minute. Munster seized the opportunity instantly, as Alex Kendellen added a try, converted by Crowley, putting the score at 21-0.

Stade Français received another red card—this one for Baptiste Pesenti in the 52nd minute—compounding their difficulties. Munster’s Tom Farrell further extended the lead with a try in the 54th minute, once again converted by Crowley, bringing the score to 28-0.

Stade Français finally registered on the scoreboard in the 58th minute, courtesy of a try by Clement Castets, converted by Zack Henry, but it was a case of too little, too late.

Munster capped off their performance with one final try in the last two minutes.

Upcoming Matches for Munster Rugby, SFP Rugby

Munster is set to head to France to face Castres in Round 2, while SFP will return home to compete against Saracens.

Scoring Summary: Munster Rugby vs. SFP

Munster Rugby: Tries: Abrahams (15’), Daly (29’), Kendellen (49’), Farrell (54’), Gavin Coombes (78′); Conversions: Crowley (16’, 30’, 50’, 55’, 78′)

Stade Français Paris: Try: Castets (58’); Conversion: Henry (59’)

Highlights from Munster vs. SFP, Round 1 of the Investec Champions Cup[embedded content]

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 1

La Rochelle 24, Bath Rugby 20
ASM Clermont Auvergne 28, Benetton Rugby 0
Hollywoodbets Sharks 39 Exeter Chiefs 21
Northampton Saints 38, Castres Olympique 8
RC Toulon 24, DHL Stormers 14
Munster Rugby 33, Stade Francais Paris 7
Saracens 27, Vodacom Bulls 5
Glasgow Warriors vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 3 PM, Scotstoun Stadium
Racing 92 vs. Harlequins, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Dominique Duvauchelle
Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
Stade Toulousain vs. Ulster Rugby, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
Bristol Bears vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 12:30 PM, Ashton Gate

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 2

Sale Sharks vs. Racing 92, Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3 PM, Salford Community Stadium
Castres Olympique vs. Munster Rugby, Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-Fabre
Vodacom Bulls vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
Ulster Rugby vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 10:15 AM, Kingspan Stadium
Leinster Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
Leicester Tigers vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Stade Rochelais vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
RC Toulon vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
Benetton Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stadio Monigo
Stade Francais Paris vs. Saracens, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Jean Bouin
Exeter Chiefs vs. Stade Toulousain, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 12:30 PM, Sandy Park

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 3

Glasgow Warriors vs. Racing 92, Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3 PM, Scotstoun Stadium
DHL Stormers vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 AM, DHL Stadium
Exeter Chiefs vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy Park
Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Stade Toulousain, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Munster Rugby vs. Saracens, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Thomond Park
Stade Francais Paris vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stade Jean Bouin
Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Castres Olympique vs. Vodacom Bulls, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-Fabre
RC Toulon vs. Harlequins, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
Stade Rochelais vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
Bristol Bears vs. Benetton Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Ashton Gate
Bath Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 PM, The Rec

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 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

Format of the Investec Champions Cup

Highlights of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:

A multi-pool format comparable to that launched during the 2023-2024 season
24 top clubs – eight representatives from Gallagher Premiership, URC, and TOP 14 – arranged into four pools of six
Each club faces different opponents, either home or away, in the pool stage, introducing competitive jeopardy
The four highest-ranked teams from each pool advance to the Round of 16
The Investec Champions Cup will unfold over eight weekends, featuring four rounds of pools and four knockout stages culminating in the final set for May 24, 2025, at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

Investec Champions Cup Weekend Schedule

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
Final of the 2025 Investec Champions Cup – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Champions Cup Qualification Criteria

A total of 24 clubs have secured their place in the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup as follows:

United Rugby Championship (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their overall standings.
TOP 14 (8): The top eight clubs ranked by their final results.
Gallagher Premiership Rugby (8): The eight top-ranked clubs according to their finishing positions.
If not already qualified, the champion of the 2024 Investec Champions Cup will fill the eighth spot from its league.

Qualifiers for the Investec Champions Cup

TOP 14 – Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Français Paris, RC Toulon, Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont Auvergne
GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Bristol Bears, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers
UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Glasgow Warriors, Vodacom Bulls, Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, DHL Stormers, Ulster Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Hollywoodbets Sharks

Kickoff for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup and Final Details

The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup commence on Dec. 6, with the four rounds of pool-play concluding on Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 takes off on April 4, followed by the quarterfinals on April 11-13, and the semifinals on May 2-4.

The EPCR finals weekend will occur in Cardiff, Wales, at Principality Stadium, featuring championship matches on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup).