Get the full draw for the 2025/26 Investec Champions CupCARDIFF, WALES – JANUARY 31: A general view of the Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup trophies on the inside of the stadium as Cardiff and Bilbao are announced as host cities for the 2025 and 2026 European Rugby Finals respectively, at Principality Stadium on January 31, 2024 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)

Bristol Bears will face opposition from France, Wales and South Africa in the 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup.

This season, 24 clubs have qualified for the Investec Champions Cup the TOP 14, Gallagher Prem and United Rugby Championship (URC) and will once again compete in four pools of six teams, two from each of the leagues.

The Bears, who failed to win a Champions Cup game last season after being drawn in a tough group, which saw them exit the competition before the knockout rounds, will face current trophy holders Bordeaux Bègles, Scarlets, Pau and the Vodacom Bulls in 2025/26.

Northampton Saints have also been drawn in Pool 4, but once again there will be no matches between clubs from the same league in the pool stages, so in order to create the group stage fixtures, each club will play four matches against four different clubs who are not from the same league, either home or away.

The date of the first rounds of European fixtures which kick off in December will be announced in due course.

Once again Premier Sports will be the lead broadcasters of the competition.

Full 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup draw

Pool 1

  • Stade Toulousain
  • ASM Clermont Auvergne
  • Hollywoodbets Sharks
  • Saracens
  • Glasgow Warriors
  • Sale Sharks

Pool 2

  • Bath Rugby
  • RC Toulon
  • Munster Rugby
  • Castres Olympique
  • Edinburgh Rugby
  • Gloucester Rugby

Pool 3

  • Leinster Rugby
  • Leicester Tigers
  • Harlequins
  • Stade Rochelais
  • Aviron Bayonnais
  • DHL Stormers

Pool 4

  • Union Bordeaux Bègles
  • Scarlets
  • Bristol Bears
  • Section Paloise
  • Northampton Saints
  • Vodacom Bulls

Fixtures

2025/26 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