The 2025-26 Investec Champions Cup draw has placed defending champions Bordeaux-Begles and last season's finalists Northampton Saints in Pool 4, promising thrilling encounters. Bordeaux, who clinched their first Champions Cup title in May by defeating Saints 28-20 in Cardiff, will face stiff competition from Premiership semi-finalists Bristol Bears, Scarlets, Top 14 side Pau, and United Rugby Championship (URC) runners-up Bulls.

Key Matchups in Pool 4

• Bordeaux-Begles vs Northampton Saints: A rematch of the 2025 final, where Bordeaux emerged victorious. Both teams will be eager to assert dominance early in the tournament.
• Bristol Bears vs Pau: A clash between English Premiership and French Top 14 contenders, highlighting the cross-league rivalry.

Other Notable Pools

• Pool 1: Features three-time winners Saracens and record six-time champions Toulouse, alongside Glasgow Warriors, Sale Sharks, Clermont Auvergne, and South African side Sharks.
• Pool 2: Includes Premiership champions Bath, Munster, Gloucester, Edinburgh, Castres, and three-time winners Toulon.
• Pool 3: Leinster, who lost to Northampton in last year's semi-final, are drawn with La Rochelle, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, Bayonne, and the Stormers.

Tournament Structure

Each team will play four different opponents in the pool stage, avoiding teams from their own league. The fixtures are yet to be announced, but the tournament promises high-stakes rugby action.

Challenge Cup Highlights

In the Challenge Cup, Ulster has been drawn in Pool 3 with Parisian rivals Racing 92 and Stade Francais. Ospreys and Connacht have a favorable draw in Pool 1, facing Georgian side Black Lion.

Key Dates

• Round One: 5-7 December
• Round Two: 12-14 December
• Round Three: 9-11 January
• Round Four: 16-18 January
• Knockout Stages: Last 16 (3-5 April), Quarter-finals (10-12 April 2026), Semi-finals (1-3 May)
• Finals: Challenge Cup (22 May), Champions Cup (23 May) at San Mames Stadium, Bilbao.

This season's Champions Cup is set to deliver unforgettable moments, with top-tier teams battling for supremacy in one of rugby's most prestigious tournaments.