The Investec Champions Cup 2025/ 2026 fixtures

Investec Champions Cup title-holders Union Bordeaux Bègles to reignite rivalry with Northampton Saints in Pool 4
URC winners Leinster Rugby to face Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, Stade Rochelais, Aviron Bayonnais and DHL Stormers in Pool 3
Top 14 champions Stade Toulousain head up Pool 1 alongside ASM Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors and Sale Sharks
Bath Rugby kick-off Investec Champions Cup campaign in Pool 2, alongside RC Toulon, Munster Rugby, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby and Gloucester Rugby
US Montauban return to EPCR Challenge Cup for first time in 15 years alongside Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Black Lion, and Connacht Rugby in Pool 1
2025/26 season fixtures set to be announced later this month
The EPCR Finals Weekend will take place at the stunning San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao, 22 and 23 May 2026 – the perfect destination for a weekend of world-class rugby
The countdown to the start of the 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup officially began today as the Pool Draws for the competitions took place at the Premier Sports studios in Dublin.
Hosted by presenters Elma Smit and Vincent Pochulu (beIN SPORTS), the event featured Premier Sports pundit and former Ireland international Ian Madigan as the official ball drawer, with Barrister Dorothy Collins serving as independent scrutineer.
Fans around the globe tuned in via a live stream on EPCRugby.com, with additional broadcasts on the Premier Sports Rugby Channel (UK and Ireland), beIN SPORTS (France), SuperSport (South Africa), FloRugby (USA), OnRugby.it (Italy) and Rugbyrama (France).
The 2025/26 season will once again adopt the popular pool format, setting the stage for a series of thrilling showdowns between some of the world’s top-tier clubs. With the competitions kicking off on Friday 5 December, excitement is already building among rugby supporters worldwide.
Investec Champions Cup Pool Draw
In the Investec Champions Cup draw, Tier 1 clubs – including defending champions Union Bordeaux Bègles, TOP 14 title-winners Stade Toulousain, Gallagher Premiership champions Bath Rugby, and United Rugby Championship winners Leinster Rugby – were each drawn first into separate pools, ensuring high-stakes matchups from the outset.
Six-time Investec Champions Cup winners Stade Toulousain were first out of the drum and will be joined in Pool 1 by ASM Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors and Sale Sharks.
Bath Rugby kicked off Pool 2, and were joined by RC Toulon, Munster Rugby, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby and Gloucester Rugby.
Four-times Champions Cup winners Leinster Rugby head Pool 3 alongside two-times winners Leicester Tigers and Stade Rochelais. Harlequins, Aviron Bayonnais and DHL Stormers conclude Pool 3.
Pool 4 is led by reigning Investec Champions Cup titleholders Union Bordeaux Bègles, who will face a rematch of last season’s final against Northampton Saints, also drawn in the same pool. Joining them in Pool 4 are Scarlets, Bristol Bears, Section Paloise – who return to the Investec Champions Cup for the first time in 25 years – and the Vodacom Bulls.
The Investec Champions Cup has two clubs from each of three leagues – TOP 14, Gallagher Premiership and United Rugby Championship (URC) – in each pool, and clubs from the URC’s Irish, Scottish and South African shields were kept apart during the draw.
Following the draw of the Tier 1 clubs, the remaining 20 clubs were either drawn or allocated into the four pools in keeping with the draw’s key principles. During the pool stage, each club will play four matches against four different clubs which are not from the same league either home or away.

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