Investec Champions Cup Update
The year has hardly started and 2026 has already produced some wonderful rugby. The URC has taken a break while the Investec Champions Cup goes into the last two weeks of play. The investec champions cup is the biggest club rugby tournament in the world with clubs from seven countries participating in the tournament. These countries include Italy, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, France, Wales and England.
The tournament features 24 teams that are put into four pools of 6 teams each. Group Stage matches consist of two home and two away matches. The three teams competing from South Africa are the Stormers, Bulls and Sharks. These SA teams are spread out across different pools with Sharks in Pool 1, Stormers in Pool 3 and Bulls in Pool 4. It is important to note these teams are all aiming for glory in the Investec Champions Cup 2026.
Group Stage Week 3 of 4 Match Results
This past weekend of investec champions cup rugby saw Week 3 matches taking place with some interesting results. Here is a look at how South African teams fared as well as an investec champions cup update. In fact, many fans are already looking ahead to see who will qualify for the Investec Champions Cup 2026 knockout rounds.
Edinburgh took on Gloucester on in the first of Friday night’s two matches. The final score of 26 to 24 for Edinburgh shows just how close the match was. The win for Edinburgh puts them on the second position in Pool 2.
Bath versus Castres was the second match on Friday. Bath who are currently on the top of Pool 2 was too strong for the French team Castres winning the match 43-20 after the final whistle.
The Bulls put up a valiant effort in their home match against Bristol on Saturday. The Bulls who are at the bottom of Group 4 could however not enough points on the scoreboard and lost the match with 12 point. The score at the end of the match was 61-49 for Bristol.
Clermont Auvergne and Glasgow Warriors played in a pool 1 match on Saturday. Glasgow Warriors won the match sending them to the top of Pool 1 and Clermont to the bottom of the group.
Leinster and La Rochelle played nail biting match in a Pool 3 on Saturday. Leinster won the match with one point with the final score 25-24. The win places Leinster at the top of the Pool.
Sale Sharks took on the Sharks from Natal in a Pool 1 match on Saturday. Sale Sharks won the match convincingly with 16 points and places them on the second position of Pool 1. The match finished with a score of 26-10.
The Stormers faced the Harlequins on Sunday. The Stormers came into the match at the top of Pool 3 but it was a dismal performance by the South African team losing the match with 51 points. The results put the Stormers on number 3 on the log behind the Harlequins.
Week 4 of 4 Matches for Champions Cup
The top four teams of every pool will make it through to the challenge cup rugby Round of 16 matches which takes place in April. The Stormers are the only team that will go through at the moment with the Sharks needing a win and Toulouse to lose their match to make it through. Here are the champions cup rugby matches of Week 4 taking place over the weekend. Also, many matches this weekend will be key in determining the final line-up for the Investec Champions Cup 2026.
- Pau takes on the Bulls on Friday night at 22:00.
- Bath versus Edinburgh on Friday, kickoff at 22:00.
- Sharks is in a must win match against Clermont Auvergne on Saturday at 15:00.
- Bayonne is up against Leinster at 17:15 on Saturday.
- Stormers versus Leicester on Saturday at 17:15.
- Munster takes on Castres at 19:30 on Saturday evening.
- Toulouse is up against Sale on Saturday at 19:30 in the Champions Cup.
- Gloucester versus Toulon late on Saturday night at 22:00.
- Bristol is playing a match on Sunday against Bordeaux Begles at 15:00.
- Sunday also features Harlequins versus La Rochelle at 17:15.
- Northampton takes on Scarlets on the second last match on Sunday at 17:15.
- The last match of the weekend sees Glasgow Warriors take on Saracens at 19:30
This weekend’s challenge cup rugby union matches promises to be just as exciting as last weekend’s. Hopefully the Sharks make it through to the Round of 16. Betting on this week’s matches might be tricky with so many teams shooting for a spot in the Round of 16. A solid bet might be Leinster beating Bayonne and Pau proving to strong for the Bulls.
Top Rugby Betting Sites
When the Investec Champions Cup kicks off, South African rugby fans want fast markets, competitive odds, and smooth payouts. Thankfully, several top betting sites in SA deliver exactly that. Below are some of the leading bookmakers to consider if you’re planning to bet on Europe’s biggest club rugby tournament this season, from Mzansibet to Patherbet – you have options:
- Diverse Sports Betting Markets
- Excellent casino offering
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- Optimised for mobile + data free offer
- Generous bonuses and promotions
- Jika Sports, BetGames, Lucky Numbers
- Choice of welcome bonus
- Great promotional line-up
- Seamless gameplay
- Wide sports coverage
- High-quality casino providers
- Good Choice of Promotions
- Highly competitive odds
- Quick withdrawals
- Excellent Welcome Offer
Be sure to explore welcome offers and promotions, this may help you decide who you want to give a try during this season.
Champions Cup Final Thoughts
The Investec Champions Cup promises elite rugby, intense rivalries, and massive betting interest from South African fans. Fortunately, local players are spoilt for choice when it comes to quality betting sites. Without a doubt, the Investec Champions Cup 2026 looks set to deliver even more action and excitement than previous years.
Whether you prefer Betway’s global polish, MzansiBet’s local energy, SuperSportBET’s rugby-first approach, PantherBet’s simplicity, or TopBet’s proven track record. There’s a platform to suit every betting style. Ultimately, the best strategy is to compare odds, promotions, and features across these bookmakers so you can get maximum value from every Champions Cup bet.
As the tournament heats up and heads into the final stages, one thing is certain: with the right betting site, following Europe’s biggest club rugby competition becomes even more exciting for South African fans. If you like exploring other sports have a look at our monthly sport previews to see what is coming up.
