Overview

• The pool-stage draw split 24 clubs into four pools of six, with each side to play four matches—two at home and two away—excluding domestic-league opponents.
• Pool 4 pairs reigning champions Union Bordeaux-Bègles with Northampton, Scarlets, Bristol, Pau and the Bulls, setting up a repeat of last season’s final.
• Pool 3 reignites the Leinster–La Rochelle rivalry and also features Leicester, Harlequins, Bayonne and the Stormers.
• Pool-stage matches run from December 5, 2025 to January 18, 2026, and the knockout rounds will culminate in the May 23, 2026 final at Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium.
• Teams face demanding travel and climate challenges, including potential trips to South Africa, as they await the full fixture calendar.