Champions Cup fixtures confirmed as BLOCKBUSTER opening round kicks off race to Bilbao
Bordeaux-Begles lifting the Champions Cup trophy
The 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup pool fixtures have now been confirmed, as the race to reach Bilbao in May officially begins.
The premier European domestic competition gets underway with a blockbuster opening round in early December, with the Bulls taking on defending champions Bordeaux, 2024 champions Toulouse facing the Sharks and La Rochelle squaring off against Leicester Tigers.
Bordeaux lifted the title last year following a 28-20 win over Northampton Saints at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, and the sides will meet again in round three.
Investec Champions Cup fixtures confirmed
The Champions Cup gets underway on Friday, December 5 as Sale Sharks face Glasgow Warriors and Bayonne take on the Stormers, before a mega opening Saturday including La Rochelle v Leicester, Saracens v Clermont Auvergne and the Johann van Graan derby of Bath v Munster. Toulouse v Sharks is the pick of the bunch on the opening Sunday.
Round two kicks off at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, as familiar foes Leicester Tigers and Leinster renew their rivalry. Elsewhere that weekend, Northampton Saints take on emerging rivals the Bulls once more, Stormers face La Rochelle and Munster take on Gloucester.
The long-awaited rematch between Bordeaux-Begles and Northampton Saints is the highlight of round three, after their dramatic final last season, but it also forms a solid round alongside mouthwatering clashes like Sale Sharks v Sharks, Leinster v La Rochelle and Saracens v Toulouse.
Ending the pool stage, Munster face Castres and Pau take on the Bulls.
Commenting on the fixtures, 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.”
2025 Investec Champions Cup pool fixtures in full
Round 1
Friday, December 5
Sale Sharks v Glasgow Warriors – 20:00 GMT/21:00 CET/22:00 SAST kick-off
Bayonne v Stormers – 20:00 GMT/21:00CET/22:00SAST kick-off
Saturday, December 6
Saracens v Clermont Auvergne – 13:00 GMT/14:00 CET/15:00 SAST kick-off
Bulls v Bordeaux-Begles – 17:15 GMT/18:15 CET/19:15 SAST kick-off
Leinster v Harlequins – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:30 SAST kick-off
La Rochelle v Leicester Tigers – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:30 SAST kick-off
Bath v Munster – 20:00 GMT/ 21:00 CET/ 22:00 SAST kick-off
Scarlets v Bristol Bears – 20:00 GMT/ 21:00 CET/ 22:00 SAST kick-off
Sunday, December 7
Pau v Northampton Saints – 13:00 GMT/ 14:00 CET/ 15:00 SAST kick-off
Gloucester v Castres – 15:15 GMT/16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST kick-off
Toulouse v Sharks – 15:15 GMT/ 16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST kick-off
Edinburgh v Toulon – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:15 SAST kick-off
Round 2
Friday, December 12
Leicester Tigers v Leinster – 20:00 GMT/21:00 CET/22:00 SAST kick-off
Saturday, December 13
Stormers v La Rochelle – 13:00 GMT/14:00 CET/15:00 SAST kick-off
Sharks v Saracens – 15:15 GMT/ 16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST kick-off
Clermont Auvergne v Sale Sharks – 15:15 GMT/ 16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST kick-off
Bordeaux-Begles v Scarlets – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:15 SAST kick-off
Munster v Gloucester – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:15 SAST kick-off
Glasgow Warriors v Toulouse – 20:00 GMT/ 21:00 CET/ 22:00 SAST kick-off
Sunday, December 14
Harlequins v Bayonne – 13:00 GMT/14:00 CET/15:00 SAST kick-off
Castres v Edinburgh – 13:00 GMT/14:00 CET/15:00 SAST kick-off
Toulon v Bath – 15:15 GMT/ 16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST kick-off
Northampton Saints v Bulls – 15:15 GMT/ 16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST kick-off
Bristol Bears v Pau – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:15 SAST kick-off
Round 3
Friday, January 9
Castres v Bath – 20:00 GMT/21:00 CET/22:00 SAST kick-off
Edinburgh v Gloucester – 20:00 GMT/21:00 CET/22:00 SAST kick-off
Saturday, January 10
Bulls v Bristol Bears – 13:00 GMT/14:00 CET/15:00 SAST kick-off
Clermont Auvergne v Glasgow Warriors – 15:15 GMT/ 16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST kick-off
Leinster v La Rochelle – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:15 SAST kick-off
Sale Sharks v Sharks – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:15 SAST kick-off
Scarlets v Pau – 20:00 GMT/ 21:00 CET/ 22:00 SAST kick-off
Leicester Tigers v Bayonne – 20:00 GMT/ 21:00 CET/ 22:00 SAST kick-off
Sunday, January 11
Harlequins v Stormers – 13:00 GMT/14:00 CET/15:00 SAST kick-off
Toulon v Munster – 13:00 GMT/14:00 CET/15:00 SAST kick-off
Bordeaux-Begles v Northampton Saints – 15:15 GMT/ 16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST kick-off
Saracens v Toulouse – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:15 SAST kick-off
Round 4
Friday, January 16
Pau v Bulls – 20:00 GMT/21:00 CET/22:00 SAST kick-off
Bath v Edinburgh – 20:00 GMT/21:00 CET/22:00 SAST kick-off
Saturday, January 17
Sharks v Clermont Auvergne – 13:00 GMT/14:00 CET/15:00 SAST kick-off
Bayonne v Leinster – 15:15 GMT/ 16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST kick-off
Stormers v Leicester Tigers – 15:15 GMT/ 16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST kick-off
Toulouse v Sale Sharks – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:15 SAST kick-off
Munster v Castres – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:15 SAST kick-off
Gloucester v Toulon – 20:00 GMT/21:00 CET/22:00 SAST kick-off
Sunday, January 18
Bristol Bears v Bordeaux-Begles – 13:00 GMT/14:00 CET/15:00 SAST kick-off
Northampton Saints v Scarlets – 15:15 GMT/ 16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST kick-off
La Rochelle v Harlequins – 15:15 GMT/ 16:15 CET/ 17:15 SAST kick-off
Glasgow Warriors v Saracens – 17:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET/ 19:15 SAST kick-off
2025/26 EPCR 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, May 22
Investec Champions Cup Final – San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Saturday, May 23