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\t\tThe best thing about the Investec Champions Cup final is its location: Bilbao\t<\/p>\n\t\t\tFriday 22 May 2026 6:00 am
\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Updated:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\t\t\tWednesday 20 May 2026 5:02 pm\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\tThe best thing about the Investec Champions Cup final is its location: Bilbao\t<\/p>\n
The best thing about the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals weekend is its location: Bilbao.<\/p>\n
It is not the first time the two premier continental fixtures have ventured to El Botxo \u2013 the San Mames Stadium hosted Leinster\u2019s victory over Racing 92 in 2018 and Cardiff\u2019s Challenge Cup win over Gloucester a day prior.<\/p>\n
But amid myriad stadiums across the British Isles and France, it is great to see the organisers, European Professional Club Rugby, venture to pastures new.<\/p>\n
The sevens game in Spain is thriving, Barcelona\u2019s Camp Nou has hosted Top 14 matches and the Iberian peninsula has been flirting with a Rugby World Cup bid.<\/p>\n
It got me thinking: where else should the Champions Cup final be headed?<\/p>\n
\t\tItaly<\/p>\n
Next year the pair of trophies are off to Lyon but beyond that I think we should finally get European finals in Italy.<\/p>\n
Whether it be at the Stadio Olimpico, another Serie A arena or a mixture of the two to support the vastly different attendance figures the two finals could draw, it feels right that Italy gets the premier final at some point.<\/p>\n
Milan would be epic, too. Imagine getting the San Siro filled with rugby nuts ahead of its decommissioning. It would go a long way to support a potential Italian Rugby World Cup bid too.<\/p>\n
Italy\u2019s three Nations Championship fixtures this autumn are in Turin (South Africa), Genoa (Argentina), and Udine (Fiji) so EPCR will get a good look at those. Naples should be in the mix too.<\/p>\n
Amsterdam<\/p>\n
There were murmurs a couple of years ago that the Dutch city could play host to the Champions Cup final but that never materialised.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n
\t\t\tPrem Rugby chiefs admit its \u2018challenging\u2019 to compete with Top 14<\/a><\/p>\n The second tier South African Cheetahs actually host their home matches in the Netherlands, so it is not entirely out of the question.<\/p>\n But this would be rugby really trying to break new ground. Major positives include the airport being a huge European hub and the city being reachable by train for much of mainland Europe and the UK.<\/p>\n But it would heavily rely on tourist fans \u2013 which could cut into EPCR\u2019s marketing budget.<\/p>\n Champions Cup final in Germany?<\/p>\n I do think EPCR could get pretty radical and try to go somewhere completely beyond the usual scope of ideas, and one of Munich, Lisbon or Prague would meet that criteria.<\/p>\n With Munich, which has recently ventured into hosting NFL matches, there is a casual fanbase there that will want to watch any live sport \u2013 as we saw with recent athletics championships hosted in the city.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also famed for its beer halls and ability to generate an atmosphere \u2013 perfect for ovalball.<\/p>\n As for Prague, it has hosted major football finals and it is a destination city that rugby could head into. Czechia is versatile, and this year has been, or will be, host of skiing world cups, biathlons, athletics, biking and canoeing. Rugby must get on its calendar.<\/p>\n The use of a stadium in Lisbon would have a similar influence on rugby as Bilbao. The Iberian peninsula is ripe for the taking when it comes to rugby, with the sport increasingly heading south.<\/p>\n I love that rugby is back in Spain this weekend. But I cannot wait for EPCR to take a risk and head somewhere new. It would be a great experience for fans and a vote of confidence in the growth of the game \u2013 as long as they don\u2019t host one in South Africa.<\/p>\n Former England Sevens<\/a> captain Ollie Phillips<\/a> is the founder of Optimist Performance<\/a>. Follow Ollie @OlliePhillips11<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n