With nine combined titles between them, Leinster Rugby and Stade Toulousain are considered the favourites to lift the Investec Champions Cup crown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 25.
Four-time victors Leinster of Ireland topped the ultra-competitive Pool 4 which included two-time defending champions Stade Rochelais – the team who have beaten the Irish province in consecutive finals in 2022 and 2023.
United Rugby Championship side Leinster dominated the European competition between 2008 and 2012, winning their first three titles, before earning their fourth in the 2017-18 season. However, over the last five years they have been beaten finalists three times.
They are 2/1 to equal Stade Toulousain's record of five titles and start their knockout phase quest with a Round of 16 tie against Leicester Tigers, a side they defeated 27-10 away from home in Round 4 of the Pool campaign.
Their most likely contenders, according to the bookies, are Pool 2 toppers Toulouse who last won the title in 2020-21. The TOP 14 club were the only team to secure four bonus point victories, boasting a points differential of +109.
The 9/4 contenders host Racing 92 in the Round of 16, a tough domestic opponent who they defeated 27-20 in a TOP 14 meeting in January.
Stade Rochelais must also be considered; they have reached three successive finals, winning the last two. The Pool stage didn't go to plan for them as they lost 16-9 to Leinster and 21-20 to DHL Stormers of South Africa, before demolitions of Leicester and Sale Sharks earned them a knockout berth.
They, however, face a re-match against DHL Stormers away from home in the last 16, no easy feat for the 6/1 shots.
The other Pool winners Union Bordeaux-Begles (6/1) and Northampton Saints (18/1) will also earn some backers. Northampton are a particularly enticing proposition – they topped Pool 3 with wins over Glasgow Warriors, Munster Rugby, Aviron Bayonnais and RC Toulon.
The Gallagher Premiership side are also top of their domestic standings ahead of former EPCR title winners Saracens and Exeter Chiefs. The Saints face a Pool 3 re-match with Irish outfit Munster Rugby in the Round of 16 – the initial match falling in favour of the English side 26-23.
The remaining teams are priced as follows: Vodacom Bulls (12/1), Saracens (18/1), Racing 92 (25/1), Harlequins (25/1), DHL Stormer (25/1), Bath Rugby (25/1), Exeter Chiefs (28/1), Munster Rugby (28/1), Leicester Tigers (80/1), Glasgow Warriors (125/1) and Lyon (150/1).
