Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup pools confirmed
The countdown to the start of the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup officially began on Wednesday as the Pool Draws for the competitions took place at the Premier Sports studios in Dublin.
Hosted by presenters Elma Smit and Benjamin Boyet (beIN SPORTS), the event featured Premier Sports pundit and former Ireland international Stephen Ferris as the official ball drawer, with Legal Consultant David Hurley serving as independent scrutineer.
Fans around the globe tuned in via a live stream on EPCRugby.com and EPCR TV, with additional broadcasts on Premier Sports (UK and Ireland), beIN SPORTS (France), SuperSport (South Africa), FloRugby (USA), OnRugby.it (Italy) Georgia Rugby (Georgia) and Rugbyrama (France).
The 2026/27 season will once again adopt the pool format, setting the stage for a series of thrilling showdowns between Europe and South Africa’s top-tier clubs, kicking off on Friday 16 October.
Earlier this week, EPCR confirmed the introduction of two sporting rule changes this season as part of their regular review of the tournaments. The first rule change is related to the Round of 16 qualification and is intended to increase the jeopardy and competitiveness of the Pool stages. The second applies to the Try Bonus Point system.
Investec Champions Cup Pool Draw
The stage is set for another blockbuster Investec Champions Cup campaign, with the draw producing four mouth-watering pools packed with champions, historic rivals and European heavyweights.
Tier 1 clubs – defending champions Union Bordeaux Bègles, TOP 14 winners Stade Toulousain, Gallagher PREM champions Northampton Saints and United Rugby Championship winners Leinster Rugby – were each drawn into separate pools, laying the foundations for a thrilling race to the knockout stages.
Four-time champions and last season's runners-up Leinster Rugby were the first club out of the drum and headline a fiercely competitive Pool 1. They will renew their rivalries against Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers, alongside Section Paloise and ASM Clermont Auvergne. Fellow URC powerhouse Glasgow Warriors completes the Pool.
Record six-time champions Stade Toulousain lead the way in Pool 2, where they'll be joined by competition newcomers Lions, three-time champions Saracens, two-time winners Stade Rochelais, 2020 champions Exeter Chiefs and Connacht Rugby, who return to the premier club competition for the first time since the 2023/24 season.
Fresh from lifting their second Investec Champions Cup title, defending champions Union Bordeaux Bègles top Pool 3. They are joined by DHL Stormers, Racing 92, Munster Rugby, Bristol Bears and Gloucester Rugby in another stacked group.
Pool 4 promises no shortage of drama, with Northampton Saints leading the way alongside last season’s semi-finalists, fellow Gallagher PREM club Bath Rugby. Cardiff Rugby, reigning EPCR Challenge Cup champions Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Stade Français Paris and the Vodacom Bulls complete a pool loaded with quality and knockout-stage ambitions.
2026/27 INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP
Pool 1: Leinster Rugby Glasgow Warriors, Section Paloise, Sale Sharks, Leicester Tigers, ASM Clermont Auvergne
Pool 2: Stade Toulousain, Lions, Saracens, Stade Rochelais, Exeter Chiefs, Connacht Rugby
Pool 3: Union Bordeaux Begles, DHL Stormers, Racing 92, Munster Rugby, Bristol Bears, Gloucester Rugby
Pool 4: Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Cardiff Rugby, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Stade Français Paris, Vodacom Bulls
EPCR Challenge Cup Pool Draw
The draw served up three fascinating EPCR Challenge Cup pools, with plenty of heavyweight clashes and intriguing storylines to look forward to.
Invited South African side Toyota Cheetahs were the first club out of the drum, going in Pool 1 alongside 2026 runners-up Ulster Rugby, USAP, last season's semi-finalists Dragons RFC, Aviron Bayonnais and Zebre Parma.
Pool 2 is equally as stacked, with Benetton Rugby set to renew their rivalry with 2022 champions LOU Rugby after the sides also met in last season's pool stages. They are joined by Newcastle Red Bulls, 2024 winners Hollywoodbets Sharks, Castres Olympique and Scarlets, creating another fiercely competitive group.
Ospreys head up Pool 3 after being the first team drawn, alongside Edinburgh Rugby, Black Lion, three-time Challenge Cup winners Harlequins – the competition's joint most successful club – 2023 champions RC Toulon and RC Vannes, who return to the tournament again after debuting in the 2024/25 season. With European pedigree, returning contenders and emerging challengers all in the mix, Pool 3 looks set to deliver some of the competition's standout encounters.
2026/27 EPCR CHALLENGE CUP
Pool 1: Toyota Cheetahs, Ulster Rugby, USAP, Dragons RFC, Aviron Bayonnais, Zebre Parma
Pool 2: Benetton Rugby, LOU Rugby, Newcastle Red Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Castres Olympique, Scarlets
Pool 3: Ospreys, Edinburgh Rugby, Black Lion, Harlequins, RC Toulon, RC Vannes
With the pools now set, fixture schedules for both tournaments including dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage will be announced later this month. Fixtures are determined following the input of individual club calendar and venue considerations, broadcast requirements and league calendar restrictions into an algorithm with the outcomes of today’s Pool Draws, all of which are considered to deliver the optimum fixture schedules.
The 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup seasons will again be played over eight weekends with four rounds of matches in the pool stage starting in October, followed by a knockout stage consisting of a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, culminating in the EPCR Finals Weekend in French city of Lyon on 21 and 22 May.
2026/27 Match Weekends
Round 1 - 16/17/18 October 2026
Round 2 - 11/12/13 December 2026
Round 3 - 8/9/10 January 2027
Round 4 - 15/16/17 January 2027
Round of 16 - 2/3/4 April 2027
Quarter-Finals - 9/10/11 April 2027
Semi-Finals - 30 April / 1/2 May 2027
Lyon 2027 Finals Weekend, OL Stadium
EPCR Challenge Cup Final: Friday 21 May 2027
Investec Champions Cup Final: Saturday 22 May 2027
Comments