Fixtures announced for 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup

Defending Champions Union Bordeaux Bègles will host last season’s runners up Northampton Saints in Round 3.

EPCR confirmed the full pool stage fixture list for the 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, club rugby’s premier international competitions on Tuesday.

The 2025/26 campaign begins on the weekend of 5/6/7 December, culminating in the EPCR Finals Weekend at Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium on 22 and 23 May 2026.

Investec Champions Cup Highlights

The Investec Champions Cup campaign begins on Friday night for the 24 clubs — which includes 10 former champions who share a total of 25 Champions Cup titles. Two exciting matchups will launch the season: Sale Sharks will face Glasgow Warriors at Salford Community Stadium at 8pm (local time), while Aviron Bayonnais will take on the DHL Stormers at Stade Jean-Dauger, kicking off at 9pm (local time).

The following day, reigning Investec Champions Cup holders Union Bordeaux Bègles will begin their title defence with a tough away fixture in South Africa against the Vodacom Bulls, kicking off at Loftus Versfeld at 5.15pm (local time). Their campaign continues with home games against Scarlets and a hotly anticipated rematch of last season’s Final against Northampton Saints in Round 3 at Stade Chaban-Delmas. Their last match in the pool stage will be against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate.

Also on 6 December, Bath Rugby, fresh from a historic treble, begin their Investec Champions Cup campaign by hosting Munster Rugby at The Rec (8pm local time kick off). A major test awaits in Round 2 as they travel to face three-time champions RC Toulon at Stade Félix Mayol. Toulon’s Round 3 clash will be another classic as they then take on Munster at home.

Six-time champions Stade Toulousain, winners of the TOP 14, will host South Africa’s Hollywoodbets Sharks at Stade Ernest Wallon on Sunday 7 December, kicking off at 4.15pm (local time), in a blockbuster Round 1 clash likely to feature a host of international stars. Toulouse’s pool stage campaign also includes fixtures against Glasgow Warriors, Saracens, and Sale Sharks.

Leinster Rugby, three-time runners-up and in pursuit of a fifth title, kick off their campaign at home against Harlequins on 6 December, 5.30pm (local time). The English side will be eager for redemption after last season’s Round of 16 defeat, where they failed to register a single point against the Irish giants. Leinster will then travel to Leicester Tigers, before reigniting their rivalry with Stade Rochelais back in Dublin. Their final pool stage match will see them face Aviron Bayonnais at Stade Jean-Dauger in a competitive pool stage.

Section Paloise mark their return to the top-tier competition for the first time in 25 years with a home fixture against last season’s runners-up Northampton Saints on 7 December, 2pm kick-off (local time).

EPCR Challenge Cup Highlights

The 2025/26 EPCR Challenge Cup also begins on Friday 5 December, with Ulster Rugby hosting Racing 92 in the tournament’s opening fixture, kicking off at 8pm (local time) at Affidea Stadium.

Newly-promoted PRO D2 winners US Montauban make a long-awaited return to European competition after a 15-year absence. They open their campaign away to Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday 6 December, kicking off at 9pm (local time).

2022 champions and last season’s runners-up Lyon Olympique Universitaire will host Newcastle Falcons at Matmut Stadium de Gerland in Round 1 on the 6 December (6.30pm local time kick off). Lyon Olympique Universitaire’s pool schedule also includes ties against Dragons RFC, Lions and Benetton Rugby.

Two-time winners Montpellier Hérault Rugby kick off their campaign with an away trip to Tbilisi, where they face invitee Georgian club Black Lion at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium on the 6 December (7.15pm local time kick-off).

On the same day, Cardiff Rugby, another two-time winner, begin their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign with a heavyweight tie against the 2017 winners Stade Français Paris at Stade Jean Bouin (2pm local time kick-off).

Dominic McKay, EPCR Chairman, said: “We’re thrilled to unveil the full fixture list for the 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup. I’d like to thank our clubs, leagues and broadcast partners for their continued support and collaboration.

“After a standout season marked by record-breaking growth across TV, digital and live attendance, we’re eager to build on that momentum with another thrilling set of pool stage fixtures.

“With the Road to Bilbao now officially underway, we’re looking forward to a season packed with unforgettable moments as we build toward the 2026 Finals Weekend at San Mamés Stadium.”

Jacques Raynaud, EPCR CEO, added: “Following the recent Pool Draws and with valuable input from our clubs, leagues and broadcast partners, we’ve once again been able to finalise the schedule in a short timeframe.

“Fans can now start planning their EPCR weekends, whether cheering at home or travelling across Europe and South Africa for unforgettable away days.

“With 42 of the best clubs in the world set to compete, we’re counting down the days until the action kicks off on Friday 5 December.”

The fixture schedules were determined by using an algorithm which took into consideration the tournament format, the outcome of the pool draws, league calendar restrictions, individual club calendar restrictions and broadcast requirements.

2025/26 INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP

Pool 1: Stade Toulousain, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Sale Sharks

Pool 2: Bath Rugby, RC Toulon, Munster Rugby, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby

Pool 3: Leinster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, Stade Rochelais, Aviron Bayonnais, DHL Stormers

Pool 4: Union Bordeaux Bègles, Scarlets, Bristol Bears, Section Paloise, Northampton Saints, Vodacom Bulls

2025/26 EPCR CHALLENGE CUP

Pool 1: Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, US Montauban, Black Lion, Connacht Rugby

Pool 2: Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Newcastle Falcons, Dragons RFC, Benetton Rugby, Lions, USAP

Pool 3: Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Stade Français Paris, Ulster Rugby

2025/26 weekends

Round 1 – 5/6/7 December 2025

Round 2 – 12/13/14 December 2025

Round 3 – 9/10/11 January 2026

Round 4 – 16/17/18 January 2026

Round of 16 – 3/4/5 April 2026

Quarter-finals – 10/11/12 April 2026

Semi-finals – 1/2/3 May 2026

EPCR Challenge Cup Final – San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Friday 22 May

Investec Champions Cup Final – San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Saturday 23 May

Cheetahs Fixtures

Stormers Fixtures