Gloucester Rugby host Bordeaux-Begles at Kingsholm in Round One of the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup

Champions Cup rugby is back at Kingsholm as Gloucester Rugby host back-to-back winners Bordeaux-Begles at Kingsholm in Round One of the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup.

The build-up has not been without drama, The French Embassy had to step in to help resolve visa issues that left four Bordeaux-Bègles players, including France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, stranded at Bristol Airport on Thursday night.

Star winger Bielle-Biarrey, along with Romain Gardrat, Matis Perchaud and Toma Taufa, were held at the airport after failing to have valid electronic travel authorisation (ETA) after recently changing their passports, but they are understood to have been cleared to play this weekend.

Here are all the ways you can follow all the action this weekend...

When is the game?

Gloucester Rugby v Union Bordeaux-Begles is being played on Friday, October 16 at Kingsholm Stadium.

What time is kick-off?

The kick-off time is at 8pm.

Is the game on TV or being streamed?

Yes. But a different competition means a different streaming service, with the match being shown on Premier Sports in the UK.

Today's game is being shown on Premier Sports 1, with coverage starting at 7pm.

A subscription starts at £13.99 a month, you can sign up here.

In other territories, the game is being shown on beIN Sports, France.TV, SuperSport, FLO Rugby, EPCR.TV

How else can I follow the game?

If you are not going to be inside the stadium, and even if you are GloucestershireLive will be live blogging the match bringing you all the build-up, team news, live play-by-play match updates, reaction, stats, analysis, interviews and highlights from inside the ground.

Will there be live radio commentary of the match?

BBC Radio Gloucestershire will also be providing live commentary of the game.

What's the team news?

Gloucester Rugby: 15. George Barton, 14. Will Joseph, 13. Max Llewellyn, 12. Seb Atkinson, 11. Ben Loader, 10. Charlie Atkinson, 9. Dan Robson, 1. Dian Bleuler, 2. Dewi Lake (c), 3. Ciaran Knight, 4. Jean Kleyn, 5. Arthur Clark, 6. Deian Gwynne, 7. Jac Morgan, 8. Jack Clement

Replacements: 16. Seb Blake, 17. Val Rapava Ruskin, 18. Eliot Salt, 19. Freddie Thomas, 20. Will Trenholm, 21. Lewis Ludlow, 22. Caolan Englefield, 23. Will Knight

Union Bordeaux Bègles: 15. Salesi Rayasi, 14. Pablo Uberti, 13. Nicolas Depoortere, 12. Yoram Moefana, 11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10. Maxime Lucu (c), 9. Martin Page-Relo, 1. Jefferson Poirot, 2. Maxime Lamothe, 3. Sipili Falatea, 4. Cameron Woki, 5. Ben Tameifuna, 6. Marko Gazzotti, 7. Temo Matiu, 8. Tom Willis

Replacements : 16. Connor Sa, 17. Matis Perchaud, 18. Lasha Pkhakadze, 19. Adam Zapedowski, 20. Pierre Bochaton, 21. Elyjah Ibsaiene, 22. Xan Mousques, 23. Romain Buros

Who are the officials?

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)

Assistant referees: Franco Rosella (Ita), Dario Merli (Ita)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)