The 2023-24 European Champions Cup (also known as the Investec Champions Cup) is officially underway.
This is seen by many rugby fans as the golden period of the rugby season, as you get to watch all the top rugby clubs come together and compete for the coveted trophy.
Last year’s final saw La Rochelle become back-to-back champions. Experts predicted them to do it again in 2024, but La Rochelle have underperformed in the Group Stage so far and aren’t as strong as they were before.
With such high levels of competition, it’s not surprising that the Champions Cup is experiencing increased viewership levels. Not only are thousands of fans watching from home, but in-person attendances are up, too.
Every English rugby club taking part in the Champions Cup has experienced an attendance increase year-by-year (City A.M.). Now, the average attendance for a pool game has increased from 13,200 last season to an even bigger 14,565 this year, which highlights that the demand for rugby in the UK is increasing.
Where to Watch European Champions Cup Rugby
If you aren’t able to attend any of the games at the stadiums, you can watch European Champions Cup rugby on Sky Sports, TNT Sports, ITV 1, ITV X, and RTÉ Player. Most fans usually check fixtures ahead of time so that they know which platform to tune into.
How to Bet on European Champions Cup Rugby
Rugby viewership is up — and so is rugby betting. With the 2023-24 Champions Cup, there’s been a noticeable increase in people placing bets, from match outcomes to who the tournament winner will be. Most fans are placing bets on rugby using UK minimum deposit bookies, as you don’t have to deposit as much money and the available odds are usually good.
Which Team is Favourite to Win the European Champions Cup?
It’s no secret that the European Champions Cup is highly competitive, so fans are often left wondering which team is the favourite to win the trophy. Right now, the four favourites in January 2024 are:
🏆 Leinster (2/1)
🏆 Toulouse (3/1)
🏆 Bordeaux (6/1)
🏆 La Rochelle (8/1)
With high-performance players like Josh van der Flier and Garry Ringrose, along with an excellent win record over the past couple of years, it’s not surprising that Ireland’s Leinster remain the red-hot favourites. Due to their below-average group stage performances, La Rochelle, despite being back-to-back champions, are further down the odds.
Summary The 2023-24 Champions Cup is bringing more attention to rugby and rugby betting. The matches are high-quality, it’s easy to watch games on TV, and there are plenty of sportsbooks to choose from, so it’s a great time to be a rugby fan. The 2024 Champions Cup final will take place on the 25th May 2024 at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
