Gloucester Rugby has learned their opponents for the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup pool stages, setting the stage for another challenging European campaign.
The competition will again feature 24 top clubs from the Gallagher Premiership, French Top 14, and United Rugby Championship (URC), divided into four pools of six teams each—Pool 1 through Pool 4. Each team will play four matches during the pool phase: two at home and two away. This season’s tournament kicks off earlier, starting in October ahead of the November internationals.
A significant change in qualification rules means only the top three teams from each pool automatically progress to the knockout rounds. Additionally, the four highest-scoring teams across all pools—not already qualified—will advance, increasing competitiveness and rewarding consistent performance.
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The attacking bonus point system has also been updated. Now, only the winning team can secure a bonus point, and they must outscore their opponents by three or more tries. This change aligns with the format used in the French Top 14.
Qualifying from the Gallagher Premiership are champions Northampton Saints, runners-up Exeter Chiefs, semi-finalists Bath Rugby and Leicester Tigers, followed by Saracens, Bristol Bears, Sale Sharks, and Gloucester Rugby.
French Top 14 representatives include league winners Stade Toulousain, finalists Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Stade Français Paris, Racing 92, Section Paloise, Stade Rochelais, ASM Clermont Auvergne, and reigning Champions Cup holders Union Bordeaux Bègles, who earned their spot by winning last season’s tournament despite finishing outside the top eight domestically.
The United Rugby Championship sends Leinster Rugby, Vodacom Bulls, Glasgow Warriors, DHL Stormers, Munster Rugby, Cardiff Rugby, Lions, and Connacht Rugby.
The full fixture schedule, containing dates, venues, kick-off times, and TV coverage, will be announced later this month. Premier Sports will return as the primary UK broadcaster.
Maintaining recent traditions, teams from the same domestic league will not meet during the pool stages, adding to the diversity of the match-ups.
The pools, drawn in Dublin, are as follows:
Pool 1
- Leinster
- Glasgow Warriors
- Pau
- Sale Sharks
- Leicester Tigers
- ASM Clermont Auvergne
Pool 2
- Stade Toulousain (Toulouse)
- Toyota Lions
- Saracens
- La Rochelle
- Exeter Chiefs
- Connacht Rugby
Pool 3
- Union Bordeaux Bègles (Bordeaux-Begles)
- DHL Stormers
- Racing 92
- Munster Rugby
- Bristol Bears
- Gloucester Rugby
Pool 4
- Northampton Saints
- Bath Rugby
- Cardiff Rugby
- Montpellier
- Stade Français
- Vodacom Bulls
Key dates for the tournament are:
- Round 1: 16-18 October 2026
- Round 2: 11-13 December 2026
- Round 3: 8-10 January 2027
- Round 4: 15-17 January 2027
- Round of 16: 2-4 April 2027
- Quarter-Finals: 9-11 April 2027
- Semi-Finals: 30 April – 2 May 2027
The Finals Weekend will be held at OL Stadium in Lyon, with the EPCR Challenge Cup Final on Friday, 21 May 2027, and the Investec Champions Cup Final on Saturday, 22 May 2027.