Focus On Munster’s Champions Cup Opposition Season 24/25

5th July 2024 By The Editor

Diarmuid Barron during the Investec Champions Cup Round 2 vs Exeter Chiefs ©INPHO

Take a closer look at Munster’s Champions Cup Pool opponents for the 2024/25 season following this week’s draw.

Munster will play two home games and two away games in Pool 3 with Stade Français, Castres Olympique, Saracens and Northampton Saints providing the opposition.

Vodacom Bulls, the second URC club in Pool 3, will play against the same opponents as Munster.

The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends with four pool stage rounds in December and January and four knockout stage rounds culminating in the 2025 final which will be staged at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Saturday, 24th May.

Fixture details will be confirmed at a later date.

Stade Français

Stade Français, based in Paris, is one of the oldest and most storied clubs in French rugby history, playing their home matches at the 20,000 capacity Stade Jean-Bouin. This season, they came in second place in the Top 14, losing out to Bordeaux-Bègles in the semi-final.

In the Champions Cup, Stade Français has experienced mixed success. While they have been a dominant force in the Top 14, their performance in Europe has been more variable.

They reached the European final in the 2004/05 season but were narrowly defeated by Toulouse. The last time Stade Français played Munster in the Champions Cup was in 2016 at Thomond Park, and ended with Munster defeating the French side 26-13.

The Club has been home to several notable players over the years contributing significantly to its success, such as Italian number 8 Sergio Parisse. The club recruited 27-cap England international centre Joe Marchant last year.

French internationals Louis Carbonel and Yoan Tanga are among their new additions this year along with Italy’s Giacomo Nicotera.

They have five players in the French Squad for the summer tour against Los Pumas: Léo Barré, Lester Etien, Pierre-Henri Azagoh, Romain Briatte and Baptiste Pesenti.

Despite not having won the prestigious European title, Stade Français remains a competitive side, consistently qualifying for the tournament and challenging some of the best teams across Europe. Their resilience and flair make them a formidable opponent in any European competition.

Northampton Saints

Based in the English midlands, the current Premiership Champions, Northampton Saints, play their home games at the 15,200 capacity Franklin’s Gardens.

Munster have faced the Saints a number of times in recent years, winning home and away pool fixtures in 2022/23, but losing out to the Englishmen in both Champions Cup matches last season.

The first of the two fixtures was played in January at Thomond Park, where despite leading 20-10 at one stage, and with the Saints down to 14 men after a red card, the Munster men lost out narrowly 26-23.

Graham Rowntree’s side headed to Northampton in the first match of the knock-out stages, but the Saints pulled ahead after the halfway mark, to secure their place in the quarter-final. With the score level at half-time, and after tries from Mike Haley and Sean O’Brien, it was all to play for, but the Saints came back with two spectacular tries from young full-back George Hendy securing the win for the hosts.

The Saints have a strong squad featuring current England players such as Alex Mitchell, George Furbank, Tommy Freeman and Fin Smith, with Ollie Sleightholme in line to make his international debut against the All Blacks this summer. They will, however, feel the loss of the imperious Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam and Alex Waller as they move overseas next season to French clubs or into retirement.

Saracens

Saracens Rugby Club, based in northwest London, are among the leading forces in both English and European rugby.

Playing their home matches at the StoneX, the Club has boasted a number of players who have made significant contributions to their success. Captain Owen Farrell, plays alongside England internationals Maro Itoje, Theo Dan, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Earl, Elliot Daly and England captain, Jamie George.

Saracens also reached the last 16 in last year’s European competition, suffering defeat at the hands of French Top 14 outfit Bordeaux-Bègles. The experienced side have won the Champions Cup title three times, with victories in 2016, 2017, and 2019. Munster last played Saracens in the 2019 semi-final, but lost 32-16 to the eventual champions in Coventry.

One of their notable encounters occurred during the 2007/08 Heineken Cup, where Munster secured a semi-final victory over Saracens, winning 18-16. This match was a tight affair, with Munster demonstrating their resilience and advanced to the final. They eventually triumphed over Toulouse to claim the title.

Saracens have been actively bolstering their squad following the announcement Owen Farrell and the Vunipola brothers’ departure this summer, with the additions of Fergus Burke from the Crusaders and Welsh international Rhys Carre.

Their achievements in Europe, coupled with their multiple Premiership titles, most recently winning in the 2022/23 season, underscore Saracens’ status as one of the premier rugby clubs in the world.

Castres Olympique

The most-played fixture in EPCR history, Munster and Castres will face off for the 19th time in the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup.

Castres are known for their tenacity and ability to challenge some of the strongest teams in Europe, with the 12,500 capacity Stade Pierre-Fabre a venue that is famed for giving the team their strong home advantage.

Castres have a varied record in the competition, and while they have not consistently been among the top contenders, they have had several notable seasons. The club’s best performance in the competition came in the 2001-2002 season when they reached the semi-finals.

Last time Munster played the Frenchmen was in January 2022 away, for the 18^th clash between the two sides. Jack Crowley made his first Champions Cup start and Gavin Coombes scored a late match winner, securing the win at 13-16.

Castres have beefed up their pack ahead of next season with Paul Jedrasiak joining from Clermont and Guillaume Ducat signing from Pau. Remy Baget, a try-scorer for Bayonne at Thomond Park in December, also joins and will challenge for a place on the wing.