Both draws will be streamed live on epcrugby.com and the event, which will be co-presented by Elma Smit and Benjamin Boyet (beIN Sports), will start at 12.30pm Irish time.
INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP POOL DRAW
The 24 Investec Champions Cup teams that have qualified on merit from the Top 14, the Gallagher Premiership, and the BKT United Rugby Championship will once again compete in four pools of six.
The key principles of the Champions Cup draw are as follows:
• Each pool of six will contain two teams from each of the leagues.
• Teams from the same URC Shield cannot be in the same pool. Therefore, the Irish qualifiers – Leinster, Munster, and Connacht – will each be drawn or allocated into separate pools
• There will be no matches between teams from the same league, so in order to create the pool fixtures, each side will play four matches against four different teams that are not from the same league, either home or away
For the purposes of the draw, the teams will be divided into two tiers - tier 1 and tier 2. The four sides in tier 1 will be 2026 Champions Cup winners Bordeaux-Bègles, and this season's champions in the Gallagher Premiership, the URC, and the Top 14.
To start the process, the four tier 1 teams will be drawn, with the first side out of the drum going into Pool 1, the second out of the drum going into Pool 2, the third out of the drum going into Pool 3, and the fourth out of the drum going into Pool 4.
Adhering to the key principles, the remaining 20 teams in tier 2 will then be drawn or allocated into the pools.
If a team cannot be drawn into a pool in accordance with the key principles, then they will be allocated to the next available pool. The process will then restart at the pool into which the initial side could not be drawn.
EPCR CHALLENGE CUP POOL DRAW
The 2026/27 EPCR Challenge Cup will once again have 18 teams – eight from the URC (including Ulster), six from the Top 14, two from the Gallagher Premiership, and two invited clubs (to be announced before the pool draw) – competing in three pools of six.
The following are the key principles integral to the Challenge Cup draw:
• Each pool of six will contain two Top 14 clubs
• As the draw will include three Welsh teams – the Ospreys, the Scarlets, and the Dragons – each pool will have one Welsh representative
• The Italian clubs, Benetton Rugby and Zebre Parma, and Scottish club Edinburghy, who are from the same URC Shield, cannot be in the same pool
• Harlequins and Newcastle Red Bulls, the two Gallagher Premiership qualifiers, cannot be in the same pool
• The Hollywoodbets Sharks from South Africa, as well as the two invited clubs, cannot be in the same pool
• A maximum of three URC sides can be included in the same pool
• Teams will play four different opponents home or away during the pool phase, and a limited number of same-league fixtures will be unavoidable
To start the process, all 18 team balls will be placed in the drum, and any three balls will be drawn separately with the first side out of the drum going into Pool 1, the second going into Pool 2, and the third going into Pool 3.
The draw will then continue on an 'open' basis with the next team out of the drum going into Pool 1, the following side going into Pool 2, and so on in ascending numerical order until all balls are drawn or allocated provided that the key principles are adhered to.
If a team cannot be drawn into a pool in accordance with the key principles, then they will be allocated to the next available pool. The process will then restart at the pool into which the initial side could not be drawn.
The 2026/27 fixture schedules for both competitions with dates, venues, kick-off times, and TV coverage will be announced as soon as possible after the pool draws.
Fixtures will be determined using an algorithm which will take into consideration league calendar restrictions, individual club calendar restrictions, broadcast requirements, and the pool draws.
2026/27 INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP QUALIFIERS:
Top 14 - Stade Toulousain, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Stade Français Paris, Racing 92, Section Paloise, Stade Rochelais, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Gallagher Premiership - Northampton Saints, Exeter Chiefs, Bath Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Saracens, Bristol Bears, Sale Sharks, Gloucester Rugby
BKT United Rugby Championship - Leinster Rugby, Vodacom Bulls, Glasgow Warriors, DHL Stormers, Munster Rugby, Cardiff Rugby, Lions, Connacht Rugby
* The four tier 1 teams will be confirmed in advance of the pool draw
2026/27 EPCR CHALLENGE CUP QUALIFIERS:
Top 14 - RC Toulon, Castres Olympique, Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Aviron Bayonnais, USAP, RC Vannes
BKT United Rugby Championship - Ulster Rugby, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Ospreys, Edinburgh Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Scarlets, Dragons RFC, Zebre Parma
Gallagher Premiership - Harlequins, Newcastle Red Bulls
Invited Clubs - To be announced before the pool draw
2026/27 EPCR MATCH WEEKENDS:
Round 1 - October 16/17/18, 2026
Round 2 - December 11/12/13
Round 3 - January 8/9/10, 2027
Round 4 - January 15/16/17
Round of 16 - April 2/3/4
Quarter-Finals - April 9/10/11
Semi-Finals - April 30/May 1/2
EPCR Challenge Cup Final - OL Stadium, Lyon, Friday, May 21
Investec Champions Cup Final - OL Stadium, Lyon, Saturday, May 22