The 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup gets underway from Friday 16 October, with 24 of the leading club teams from England, France and the United Rugby Championship competing for European rugby’s biggest prize.
Money for the Stormers
Posted 15 Oct 19h28
The Stormers are one of the money teams with the handicap out to -20.5 from -14.5 - latest handicaps below
Gloucester +8.5 v Bordeaux — moved four points from +12.5
Bulls -24.5 v Stade Français
Sale Sharks +3.5 v Glasgow Warriors — moved three points from +6.5
Stormers -20.5 v Bristol Bears — moved six points from -14.5
Clermont +11.5 v Leinster
La Rochelle -15.5 v Lions
Connacht +3.5 v Saracens
Bath -9.5 v Montpellier
Munster -9.5 v Racing 92
Pau -8.5 v Leicester Tigers
Toulouse -32.5 v Exeter Chiefs
Northampton Saints -23.5 v Cardiff
Handicaps are out
Posted 13 Oct 06h27
Gloucester +12.5 v Bordeaux
Bulls -24.5 v Stade Français
Sale Sharks +6.5 v Glasgow
Clermont +10.5 v Leinster
Stormers -14.5 v Bristol Bears
La Rochelle -15.5 v Lions
Connacht +3.5 v Saracens
Bath -8.5 v Montpellier
Munster -10.5 v Racing 92
Pau -8.5 v Leicester Tigers
Toulouse -32.5 v Exeter Chiefs
Northampton Saints -22.5 v Cardiff
Investec Cup Week 1
Posted 11 October
Defending champions Bordeaux Bègles begin their title defence away to Gloucester on Friday night, while the three South African representatives are the Bulls, Stormers and Lions.
The final will take place at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon on 22 May 2027.
Format changes for the 2026/27 season
The 24 teams have once again been divided into four pools of six, with each pool containing two teams from the PREM, Top 14 and United Rugby Championship.
Each team will play four pool matches against the teams from the other two leagues, meaning clubs do not face teams from their own domestic competition during the pool stage.
There are, however, some significant changes to qualification for the knockout rounds.
Previously, the top four teams in each pool progressed automatically to the Round of 16. This season, only the top three in each pool qualify automatically, with the leading two teams earning home advantage in the Round of 16.
The four remaining places will go to the four best-performing teams from outside the top three across all four pools. The next four sides in that combined ranking will drop into the Challenge Cup, while the bottom four will be eliminated from European competition.
There has also been a change to the bonus-point system. A team will now earn a try-scoring bonus point only if it scores at least three tries more than its opponent, replacing the previous system where a bonus point was awarded for scoring four tries.
Where teams finish level on log points, the number of matches won will now be the first tiebreaker rather than points difference.
Outright betting
French giants Toulouse and defending champions Bordeaux Bègles share favouritism at 21/10.
Leinster, who were beaten by Bordeaux in last season’s final, are next in the betting at 11/2. Bath are the shortest-priced English team at 10/1, followed by defending PREM champions Northampton Saints at 12/1.
Glasgow Warriors, Montpellier and La Rochelle are all available at 16/1.
South African teams
The Bulls are the shortest-priced South African representatives at 22/1. They have been drawn in Pool 4 alongside Northampton Saints, Bath, Cardiff, Montpellier and Stade Français.
The Stormers are available at 33/1 and compete in Pool 3 with Bordeaux Bègles, Racing 92, Munster, Bristol Bears and Gloucester.
The Lions are the outsiders of the three South African teams at 124/1. They find themselves in a difficult Pool 2 containing Toulouse, Saracens, La Rochelle, Exeter Chiefs and Connacht.
Outright prices were available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
ROUND 1 FIXTURES
Friday 16 October
Gloucester v Bordeaux Bègles – 21:00 SAST, Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
Saturday 17 October
Sale Sharks v Glasgow Warriors – 14:00 SAST, CorpAcq Stadium, Manchester
Bulls v Stade Français – 14:00 SAST, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Clermont Auvergne v Leinster – 16:15 SAST, Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand
Stormers v Bristol Bears – 16:15 SAST, DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Connacht v Saracens – 18:30 SAST, Dexcom Stadium, Galway
La Rochelle v Lions – 18:30 SAST, Stade Marcel-Deflandre, La Rochelle
Bath v Montpellier – 21:00 SAST, The Recreation Ground, Bath
Munster v Racing 92 – 21:00 SAST, Thomond Park, Limerick
Sunday 18 October
Pau v Leicester Tigers – 14:00 SAST, Stade du Hameau, Pau
Toulouse v Exeter Chiefs – 16:15 SAST, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Northampton Saints v Cardiff – 18:30 SAST, Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
This blog will keep an eye on all the latest betting ahead of Round 1, including handicap movements, points lines and any bets that catch my attention.
Every match involving a South African team will also receive its own individual betting preview.
Disclaimer
Odds are subject to change. Please gamble responsibly. No bet is guaranteed to win. Please only bet what you can afford to lose.