The 2021–22 European Rugby Champions Cup is already underway but the real opener is today's Cardiff vs Toulouse clash. Channel 4 will be showing the game free in the UK but make sure you know how to watch a Cardiff vs Toulouse free live stream from anywhere with a VPN.
Date: 11th Dec 2021
Free stream: Channel 4
US stream: Peacock (7-day free trial)
Watch anywhere: Try ExpressVPN risk-free today
AUS stream: Kayo Sports (14-day free trial)
This is going to be a tough one for the home side who have an eye-watering 42 players out of action through covid. There are no fewer than 11 debutants in the matchday squad with lists of semi-pros, academy youngsters and veterans pulled out of retirement required to fulfil the fixture.
Reigning champions Toulouse, on the other hand, are at virtually full strength with Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack the standout names in teamsheet studded with internationals.
The Welsh rugby faithful will be out in full force, though, with the game looking like a sold out affair. Those that can't make it to the ground can watch a Cardiff vs Toulouse free live stream from anywhere on Channel 4.
The odds may be stacked but this is just the kind of underdog story that sport is all about.
Cardiff vs Toulouse free live stream
There are plenty of ways to watch Cardiff vs Toulouse free online.
US fans can stream every game on Peacock Premium for $4.99 a month, but new users get a 7-day free trial.
UK fans can watch selected games – including Cardiff Blues vs Toulouse at 1pm GMT on 11th December – free on Channel 4.
France TV will also be showing selected games free-to-air on FR2.
Aussie fans can watch the Champions Cup on Kayo Sports. The streaming service offers new users a 14-day free trial.
Remember: If you're away from home, you'll need to use a VPN to watch your local stream from anywhere. We recommend ExpressVPN as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Watch Cardiff vs Toulouse from abroad using a VPN
Even if you have subscribed to the relevant Cardiff vs Toulouse rights holders, you won't be able to access them when outside your own country. The service will know your location based on your IP address, and will automatically block your access.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) helps you get around this obstacle. VPNs are a doddle to use and create a private connection between your device and the internet. All the information passing back and forth is entirely encrypted.
There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. As a rule, we’d suggest a paid-for service such as ExpressVPN which offers a 100 per cent risk-free money back guarantee. If you're not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.
Using a VPN is incredibly simple:
1. Install the VPN of your choice. ExpressVPN is the one we recommend.
2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access. For the Champions Cup rugby, you may wish to choose 'USA' for Peacock, or 'UK' for Channel 4.
3. Then head over to Peacock or Channel 4 on your browser or device and enjoy the Cardiff vs Toulouse free live stream.
UK: Cardiff vs Toulouse live stream
Channel 4 will show a handful of games for free, including Cardiff Blues vs Toulouse at 1pm GMT on 11th December. Remember to use a VPN when travelling away from the UK.
USA: Cardiff vs Toulouse live stream
NBC Sports has the exclusive rights to air European Rugby Champions Cup games in the USA. The network will stream all the action live on Peacock TV and subscription costs just $4.99 a month (with commercials) or $9.99 a month (commercial-free). New users get a 7-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Outside the US this week? Simply use a use a VPN to access all your favourite local streaming services from anywhere in the world.
Peacock TV gets you full coverage of the European Rugby Champions Cup, plus selected Premier League soccer games, Champions League games, Premiership Rugby, blockbuster movies and TV boxsets such as The Office. It's one heck of a deal.
Australia: Cardiff vs Toulouse live stream
Foxtel's streaming-only platform, Kayo Sports, is the best way to get a Cardiff vs Toulouse live stream in Oz. The respected streaming service offers over 50 sports live and on-demand, including Heineken Cup and Six Nations rugby.
The Basic package costs $25 a month while Premium, which works across multiple screens, costs $35 a month. Both come with a a free 14-day trial. There's no lock-in contract, so you can cancel at any time.
European Rugby Champions Cup 2021/22 fixtures
All times GMT
ROUND 1:
Friday 10th December 2021
Northampton Saints vs Racing - 8pm
Saturday 11th December 2021
Cardiff vs Toulouse - 1pm
Leinster vs Bath - 3.15pm
Bordeaux-Begles vs Leicester Tigers - 4.15pm
Bristol Bears vs Scarlets - 5.30pm
Clermont vs Ulster - 6.30pm
Exeter Chiefs vs Montpellier - 8pm
Sunday 12th December 2021
Ospreys vs Sale Sharks - 1pm
Connacht vs Stade Francais - 1pm
Wasps vs Munster - 3.15pm
La Rochelle vs Glasgow Warriors - 4.15pm
Castres vs Harlequins - 6.30pm
ROUND 2:
Friday 17th December 2021
Ulster vs Northampton Saints - 8pm
Montpellier vs Leinster - 9pm
Saturday 18th December 2021
Harlequins vs Cardiff - 1pm
Bath vs La Rochelle - 1pm
Sale Sharks vs Clermont - 3.15pm
Racing vs Ospreys - 6.30pm
Glasgow vs Exeter Chiefs - 5.30pm
Munster vs Castres - 8pm
Sunday 19th December 2021
Scarlets vs Bordeaux - 1pm
Leicester Tigers vs Connacht - 1pm
Toulouse vs Wasps - 4.15pm
Stade Francais vs Bristol Bears - 6.30pm
ROUND 3:
Friday 14th January 2022
Cardiff vs Harlequins - 8pm
Castres vs Munster - 9pm
Saturday 15th January 2022
Wasps vs Toulouse - 1pm
Ospreys vs Racing 92 - 3.15pm
Connacht vs Leicester Tigers - 3.15pm
Exeter vs Glasgow - 5.30pm
La Rochelle vs Bath - 6.30pm
Bristol Bears vs Stade Francais - 8pm
Sunday 16th January 2022
Leinster vs Montpellier - 1pm
Northampton Saints vs Ulster - 3.15pm
Bordeaux-Begles vs Scarlets - 4.15pm
Clermont vs Sale Sharks - 6.30pm
ROUND 4:
Friday 21st January 2022
Harlequins vs Castres - 8pm
Saturday 22nd January 2022
Bath vs Leinster - 1pm
Toulouse vs Cardiff - 2pm
Leicester Tigers vs Bordeaux-Begles - 3.15pm
Ulster vs Clermont - 5.30pm
Scarlets vs Bristol Bears - 5.30pm
Glasgow vs La Rochelle - 8pm
Sunday 23rd January 2022
Sale Sharks vs Ospreys - 1pm
Stade Francais vs Connacht - 2pm
Munster vs Wasps - 3.15pm
Racing 92 vs Northampton - 4.15pm
Montpellier vs Exeter - 6.30pm
European Rugby Champions Cup match facts
Qualification for the pool stage of the 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup depends on a club's final position in their respective national/regional league. The only other way to qualify is by winning the second-tier Challenge Cup, as Montpellier did when they beat Leicester Tigers in May of this 2021.
The first ever Champions Cup winners were French side Toulouse, who defeated Cardiff 21-18 in a tightly contested final at Arms Park, Wales, in front of 21,800 spectators.
Toulouse have won the Champions Cup a record five times and reached the final a record seven times. Leinster have won four, while Saracens and Toulon have won three each.
The tournament was called the Heineken Cup between 1995 and 2014, before its name was changed to the European Rugby Champions Cup. Dutch beer giant Heineken returned as the main sponsor for 2018/19, signing a four year deal to rename the event the Heineken Champions Cup.
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