The draws for the EPCR Challenge Cup and Investec Champions Cup pools took place at the Premier Sports studios in Dublin, and were hosted by Elma Smit and Benjamin Boyet.
Former Ulster and Ireland back rower Stephen Ferris drew out the balls, with the tournaments both kicking off in mid-October and culminating in next May's finals weekend at Lyon's OL Stadium.
One of Champions Cup's four tier 1 teams following their BKT United Rugby Championship title win, Leinster head up Pool 1, alongside Glasgow Warriors, French clubs Section Paloise and ASM Clermont Auvergne, and England's Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers.
Leo Cullen's men defeated both Leicester and Sale during this past season's competition, as part of a seven-match winning run, before losing to Union Bordeaux-Bègles in May's decider in Bilbao.
Leinster's most recent encounter with Clermont Auvergne saw them win a tight pool game, 15-7, at the Aviva Stadium in December 2024.
In what will be Cullen's final season in charge, the province will meet Section Paloise - the fourth place finishers in the Top 14 - for the first time since a narrow victory in Donnybrook back in November 1996.
Meanwhile, for Clayton McMillan's second year at the helm, Munster will have a tough Pool 3 path to negotiate, with back-to-back champions Bordeaux in their way.
A heavyweight pool line-up is completed by one of Munster's URC rivals, the DHL Stormers, Racing 92, and Gallagher Premiership duo Bristol Bears and Gloucester.
The pool fixtures for the 2026/27 campaign, with dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage, will be announced as soon as possible.
2026/27 INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP POOLS:
POOL 1 - LEINSTER RUGBY, Glasgow Warriors, Section Paloise, Sale Sharks, Leicester Tigers, ASM Clermont Auvergne
POOL 2 - Stade Toulousain, Lions, Saracens, Stade Rochelais, Exeter Chiefs, CONNACHT RUGBY
POOL 3 - Union Bordeaux-Bègles, DHL Stormers, Racing 92, MUNSTER RUGBY, Bristol Bears, Gloucester Rugby
POOL 4 - Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Cardiff Rugby, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Stade Français Paris, Vodacom Bulls
2026/27 MATCH WEEKENDS:
Round 1 - October 16/17/18
Round 2 - December 11/12/13
Round 3 - January 8/9/10
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
Weekend package tickets for the finals are on sale here. To access ticketing information before anyone else, sign up to My Gainline here and opt in to receive the newsletter.
