Champions Cup & Challenge Cup 25/26 Draw

[BRSTLDRGN]

How the draw works


NB Clubs will be drawn or allocated into pools in ascending numerical order, Pool 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on. If a club cannot be drawn into a pool in accordance with the key principles, then the club will be allocated to the next available pool. The process will then re-start at the pool into which the initial club could not be drawn.


STEP 1


The four Tier 1 clubs are the first to be drawn as follows:


The Union Bordeaux Bègles, Stade Toulousain, Bath Rugby and Leinster Rugby balls are placed in the drum.


The balls are then drawn with the first club out of the drum going into Pool 1, the second club out of the drum going into Pool 2, the third club out of the drum going into Pool 3 and the fourth club out of the drum going into Pool 4.


STEP 2


The remaining 20 club balls in Tier 2 are placed in the drum and the clubs are then drawn or allocated into pools as referenced above.


Provided that the key principles are adhered to, the first club out of the drum goes into Pool 1, the second club out of the drum goes into Pool 2, and so on following the numerical order until all 20 club balls are drawn or allocated. If a club cannot be drawn into a pool in accordance with the key principles, then the club will be allocated to the next available pool. The process will then re-start at the pool into which the initial club could not be drawn.

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

The 2025/26 EPCR Challenge Cup will once again have 18 clubs – eight from the URC, six from the TOP 14, two from the Gallagher Premiership and two invited clubs, Black Lion from Georgia and the Toyota Cheetahs from South Africa – competing in three pools of six, Pool 1, Pool 2 and Pool 3.

The following are the key principles integral to the EPCR Challenge Cup draw:

• Each pool of six will contain two TOP 14 clubs.
• As the draw will include three Welsh clubs – Cardiff Rugby, Ospreys and Dragons RFC – each pool will have one Welsh representative.
• The Italian clubs Benetton Rugby and Zebre Parma, who are from the same URC Shield, cannot be in the same pool.
• Connacht Rugby and Ulster Rugby, who are from the same URC Shield, cannot be in the same pool.
• Exeter Chiefs and the Newcastle Falcons, the two Gallagher Premiership qualifiers, cannot be in the same pool.
• The Lions from South Africa, as well as the two invited clubs, Black Lion and the Toyota Cheetahs, cannot be in the same pool.
• A maximum of three URC clubs can be included in the same pool.
• Clubs will play four different opponents home or away during the pool stage and a limited number of same-league fixtures will be unavoidable.

To start the process, all 18 club balls will be placed in the drum, and any three balls will be drawn separately with the first club out of the drum going into Pool 1, the second club out of the drum going into Pool 2 and the third club out of the drum going into Pool 3.


The draw will then continue on an 'open' basis with the next club out of the drum going into Pool 1, the following club out of the drum going into Pool 2, and so on in ascending numerical order until all club balls are drawn or allocated provided that the key principles are adhered to.


If a club cannot be drawn into a pool in accordance with the key principles, then the club will be allocated to the next available pool. The process will then re-start at the pool into which the initial club could not be drawn.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Absolute joke that Cheetahs are still in this

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

If we get La Rochelle again I'm going to find their nearest supporter and headbut him. And I really don't want to go to Limerick

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

If we get La Rochelle again I'm going to find their nearest supporter and headbut him. And I really don't want to go to Limerick

Lmaooooo

Also can you **** off pls I swear we have seen Leinster more than any other club

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If we get La Rochelle again I'm going to find their nearest supporter and headbut him. And I really don't want to go to Limerick

Best get a train ticket



Feels pretty stale tbh, feel like we've had all these sides in the last couple of seasons, but i suppose that's always gonna happen when they have tiers and you pick from each one
Really hope we're not away in South Africa again

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

I'm happy with that draw, Bordeaux, Scarlets, Pau and Bulls, definitely better than last years slaughterhouse we got

 

[Which Tyler]

Absolute joke that any South African teams, or any teams in the bottom half of their respective leagues are in this

FTFY

Thanks gods my team have (again) avoided any South Africans in the pool stages - I don't have to boycot the lot

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I'm happy with that draw, Bordeaux, Scarlets, Pau and Bulls, definitely better than last years slaughterhouse we got

Clermont and Treviso are hardly slaughter houses

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Champions Cup draw:
Pool 1: Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne, Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Sale

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

Pool 3: Leinster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, La Rochelle, Aviron Bayonnais, DHL Stormers

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


Bayonne will be cool I suppose. Hope we get them or Tigers away, would like to make those trips.

Would go to the Stoop also, very convenient.

Lmaooooo

Also can you **** off pls I swear we have seen Leinster more than any other club

Yeah, not happy to see you either, stale match up! But I'll be at Welford Road if we go there.

Also, playing 5 teams in a pool is brain dead, so repetitive.

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

Clermont and Treviso are hardly slaughter houses

They aren't the force they were, but Clermont away will always be hard going.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Yeah I would like to go to Dublin tbh, although the time of year would be important I guess.
Dublin before Christmas would be fun.

JOC to lead the charge against Prendergast

 

[saulan]

Personally I'm just excited we are finally getting the battle of the Sharks.

 

[Groundhog]

Fixtures confirmed. As ridiculous as it is, getting Castres at home when they'll probably have already given up the ghost is probably a gimme 5 pointer. Should beat Gloucester at home and have a decent crack at the away games. I will try go to that Bath game I think.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

We don't have to go to South Africa this year!

 

[Groundhog]

We don't have to go to South Africa this year!

That's a shame, I hear the town of Hollywoodbets is lovely in January

 

[Which Tyler]

We don't have to go to South Africa this year!

Yep, I get at least one more year of actually watching the Champ Cup

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yep, I get at least one more year of actually watching the Champ Cup

I understand not liking this but find it such a strange hill to die on to not watch this comp.

There's loads more valid reasons not to tune in until the semi finals.

 

[Which Tyler]

My interest has seriously waned - that is just the potential final straw

 

[Groundhog]

Do Bath fans know when their European tickets usually go on general sale?