Investec Champions Cup: Pool fixtures for 2026/27 season announced as holders Bordeaux-Begles begin three-peat charge
Bordeaux-Begles begin their Investec Champions Cup title defence at Gloucester.
The Road to Lyon officially begins as EPCR has announced the full pool stage fixture schedule for the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup as a blockbuster campaign awaits.
The season kicks off across the weekend of October 16/17/18 with 24 clubs embarking on the journey towards the EPCR Finals Weekend, taking place at Lyon’s OL Stadium.
Featuring European heavyweights, returning contenders and ambitious challengers, the pool stage promises a host of tasty match-ups and compelling rivalries as rugby’s premier club competition again brings together the very best teams from across Europe and South Africa with the ultimate goal of reaching the Saturday, May 22 final.
The Investec Champions Cup will begin on Friday night for the 24 clubs – which includes 10 former champions who share a total of 24 Champions Cup titles between them.
Defending back-to-back champions Bordeaux-Bègles kick off the new season by launching their title defence against Gloucester at Kingsholm on Friday, October 16.
A blockbuster Round Two home tie follows for Bordeaux-Begles against the Stormers, whose squad is expected to feature new star signings Cheslin Kolbe and Siya Kolisi.
In the same Pool, Racing 92’s Round Two encounter against Gloucester will be the French club’s final EPCR match at their Paris La Défense Arena ground on December 13.
Top 14 champions and six-time Champions Cup winners Toulouse launch their campaign at the iconic Stadium de Toulouse against another former champion Exeter Chiefs on October 18, before a first-ever trip to the Lions in Johannesburg. Their push continues with an away challenge against Connacht before hosting Saracens in Round Four.
Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup pools confirmed ahead of 2026/27 season
URC champions and last season’s runners up Leinster begin their search for a fifth title at Clermont on October 17, who they last met in 2024/25’s season pool stages, before hosting Sale Sharks in a quarter-final rematch. Next, Leinster’s first meeting with Pau since 1996 follows, before an away challenge against Leicester Tigers.
Pool Four may prove to be the most unforgiving with a huge opening weekend. PREM champions Northampton Saints open at home to Cardiff on October 18, while on October 17 Bath face EPCR Challenge Cup title holder and Top 14 finalist Montpellier at the Rec and URC finalists the Bulls kick off against Stade Français at Loftus Versfeld.
Investec Champions Cup Pool Fixtures
Round One
Friday, October 16, 2026
Gloucester Rugby v Bordeaux-Bègles
Venue: Kingsholm
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Sale Sharks v Glasgow Warriors
Venue: CorpAcq Stadium
Kick-off: 13:00 BST
Bulls v Stade Français
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Kick-off: 14:00 local (13:00 BST)
Clermont v Leinster
Venue: Stade Marcel-Michelin
Kick-off: 16:15 local (15:15 BST)
Stormers v Bristol Bears
Venue: DHL Stadium
Kick-off: 16:15 local (15:15 BST)
Connacht v Saracens
Venue: Dexcom Stadium
Kick-off: 17:30 BST
La Rochelle v Lions
Venue: Stade Marcel Deflandre
Kick-off: 18:30 local (17:30 BST)
Munster v Racing 92
Venue: TBD
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Bath v Montpellier
Venue: The Rec
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Pau v Leicester Tigers
Venue: Stade du Hameau
Kick-off: 14:00 local (13:00 BST)
Toulouse v Exeter Chiefs
Venue: Stadium de Toulouse
Kick-off: 16:15 local (15:15 BST)
Northampton Saints v Cardiff Rugby
Venue: Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 17:30 BST
Round Two
Friday, December 11, 2026
Stade Français v Northampton Saints
Venue: Stade Jean Bouin
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 GMT
Glasgow Warriors v Pau
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Saturday, December 12, 2026
Lions v Toulouse
Venue: Ellis Park
Kick-off: 15:00 local (13:00 GMT)
Leicester Tigers v Clermont
Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Kick-off: 15:15 GMT
Montpellier v Bulls
Venue: Septeo Stadium
Kick-off: 16:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Leinster v Sale Sharks
Venue: TBD
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Saracens v La Rochelle
Venue: StoneX Stadium
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Bristol Bears v Munster
Venue: Ashton Gate
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Cardiff v Bath
Venue: Cardiff Arms Park
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Sunday, December 13, 2026
Exeter Chiefs v Connacht
Venue: Sandy Park
Kick-off: 13:00 GMT
Bordeaux-Bègles v Stormers
Venue: Stade Chaban-Delmas
Kick-off: 16:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Sunday, December 13, 2026
Racing 92 v Gloucester
Venue: Paris La Defense Arena
Kick-off 18:30 local (17:30 GMT)
Round Three
Friday, January 8, 2027
Glasgow Warriors v Leicester Tigers
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Saturday, January 9, 2027
Gloucester v Stormers
Venue: Kingsholm Stadium
Kick-off: 13:00 GMT
Exeter Chiefs v La Rochelle
Venue: Sandy Park
Kick-off: 15:15 GMT
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Bulls v Bath
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Kick-off: 17:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Leinster v Pau
Venue: TBD
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Montpellier v Northampton Saints
Venue: Septeo Stadium
Kick-off: 18:30 local (17:30 GMT)
Connacht v Toulouse
Venue: Dexcom Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Stade Français v Cardiff
Venue: Stade Jean Bouin
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 GMT)
Sunday, January 10, 2027
Racing 92 v Bristol Bears
Venue: TBD
Kick-off: 14:00 local (13:00 GMT)
Saracens v Lions
Venue: StoneX Stadium
Kick-off: 15:15 GMT
Bordeaux-Bègles v Munster
Venue: Stade Chaban-Delmas
Kick-off: 16:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Sale Sharks v Clermont
Venue: CorpAcq Stadium
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Round Four
Friday, January 15, 2027
Northampton Saints v Bulls
Venue: Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Cardiff v Montpellier
Venue: Cardiff Arms Park
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Saturday, January 16, 2027
Pau v Sale Sharks
Venue: Stade du Hameau
Kick-off: 14:00 local (13:00 GMT)
Lions v Exeter Chiefs
Venue: Ellis Park
Kick-off: 15:00 local (13:00 GMT)
Stormers v Racing 92
Venue: DHL Stadium
Kick-off: 17:15 local (15:15)
Bristol Bears v Bordeaux-Bègles
Venue: Ashton Gate
Kick-off: 15:15 GMT
La Rochelle v Connacht
Venue: Stade Marcel Deflandre
Kick-off: 18:30 local (17:30 GMT)
Munster v Gloucester
Venue: Thomond Park
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Clermont Auvergne v Glasgow Warriors
Venue: Stade Marcel-Michelin
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 GMT)
Leicester Tigers v Leinster
Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Sunday, January 17, 2027
Toulouse v Saracens
Venue: Stade Ernest Wallon
Kick-off: 16:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Bath v Stade Français
Venue: The Rec
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
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