What you want to know for the week-end’s Investec
- Updated: 06/01/2026
THE Investec Champions Cup returns this weekend with two pool stage matches remaining and every point crucial to qualify for the knockout stage and secure home advantage in the Round of 16. With a rematch of last year’s Final, rivalries and statement fixtures across the pools, Round 3 promises a standout weekend of rugby.
EPCR provides preview information including fixtures, pools, match officials and selected club and player performance data
Round 3 begins on Friday night with two pivotal Pool 2 fixtures. With five clubs level on five points and Bath Rugby narrowly leading on six, clashes between Castres Olympique and Bath Rugby and between Edinburgh Rugby and Gloucester Rugby could prove crucial.
Unbeaten Bristol Bears travel to Vodacom Bulls, who will be seeking their first win of the campaign to keep qualification hopes alive, while Bristol will be spurred on by their Gallagher PREM form having won their last four matches.
Glasgow Warriors are flying in Pool 1, four points clear at the top after their incredible victory over Stade Toulousain in Round 2, and now face ASM Clermont Auvergne, who are still searching for their opening points. Both will be full of confidence following their recent domestic form, with the Scots second in the URC, and ASM buoyed by their December trashing of reigning Investec Champions Cup champions Union Bordeaux Bègles.
The Aviva Stadium in Dublin will be buzzing on Saturday evening as unbeaten Leinster Rugby host old foes Stade Rochelais in their Pool 3 showdown. This marks the seventh clash between two of Europe’s heavyweights, who last faced off in Round 4 of last season, when Leinster edged a dramatic two-point victory.
Kicking off at the same time, it’s a clash of the Sharks in Pool 1 as the Hollywoodbets head to Sale, with the hosts currently just one point ahead in the pool tables.
Two must-win encounters follow on Saturday night as Scarlets face Section Paloise and Leicester Tigers host Aviron Bayonnais, with all four sides still chasing their first victory.
Four huge matches will take place on Sunday kicking off in London with Harlequins v DHL Stormers. The Stormers – who are also unbeaten domestically this season and top the URC table – present a formidable challenge as they look to maintain their position at the top of Pool 3.
RC Toulon and Munster Rugby are both on 5 points in Pool 2 with a win apiece. Toulon will be feeling confident heading into another home match where they are unbeaten since last season’s quarter-final, while Munster’s travelling fans will no doubt bring their voices to light up Stade Felix Mayol.
One of the standout fixtures of the round sees 2025 finalists Union Bordeaux-Bègles and Northampton Saints meet for the first time since the Cardiff Finals. Both teams remain perfect in Pool 4 on 10 points with Bordeaux fly-half Matthieu Jalibert leading the competition in points while Northampton’s George Hendy tops the try-scoring charts.
The weekend concludes at StoneX Stadium as Saracens host Stade Toulousain. Level on points in Pool 1, the six-time champions will arrive looking to make a statement, with Thomas Ramos and Ange Capuozzo both in prolific form. Although the French top the TOP14 standings, Saracens will take confidence from Stade Toulousain’s potential to tumble, following their surprise TOP14 defeat to EPCR Challenge Cup contenders USAP over the weekend and their Round 2 lose to Glasgow Warriors.
Round of 16 qualifying rules
The top four clubs in each pool will qualify for the Round of 16. Clubs will then be ranked overall from 1 to 16, based first on their pool position and then on total match points earned.
Pool winners will be ranked 1-4, second-placed clubs 5-8, third-placed clubs 9-12, and fourth-placed clubs 13-16.
Clubs ranked 1-8 will have home advantage in the Round of 16.
The fifth-placed club in each pool will qualify for the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16. See the full rules here.
Investec Champions Cup Tournament Guide
Investec Champions Cup fixtures
Investec Champions Cup pool tables
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