Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026 Fixtures: Here's The Pool Of Death

Is Pool 1 or Pool 4 of the Investec Champions Cup the "pool of death?" Here's a breakdown of the toughest pools.

Oct 27, 2025 by Joe Harrington

Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026 Fixtures: Here's The Pool Of Death

There are 24 teams divided into four pools in the Investec Champions Cup, and every team — yes, even you, Scarlets — should enter the competition believing it can win it all.

These are the 24 best teams in Europe (and Africa).

But the pool-play component certainly makes it more challenging for some teams to win it all, or even make the knockout stage.

Here’s how it works: There are six teams in each pool. Teams that hail from the same domestic league don’t play each other in the four rounds of pool play — not the case in the EPCR Challenge Cup, by the way. The top four teams in each pool advance to the Round of 16, because, you know, math.

So, there probably will be a team that finishes fourth that isn’t as good as a team that finishes fifth in another pool.

But, if a team finishes fifth, its European trophy dreams aren’t completely dashed.

The four teams that just miss the knockout stages of the Champions Cup will head to the Challenge Cup knockout Round of 16.

So, which Champions Cup pool is the toughest to make the knockout stage this year? Well, here’s our take:

The Champions Cup Pool Of Death Is Pool 4

Not Pool 1 you say? Nope.

The 2025 Champions Cup finalists are in this pool, including the defending champion, Union Bordeaux-Bègles.

Northampton, the runner-up, is at the top of the PREM Rugby table.

The Vodacom Bulls were in the URC Grand Final and, as we love to say about the Bulls in the FloSports Slack channels, “are always good.”

But what has put this pool over the top is Pau, or Section Paloise, which is the top team in France and has wins over Bayonne and Toulouse.

Then, Louis Rees-Zammit returned to rugby after trying his hand at being a Kansas City Chief in the NFL and signed with the Bristol Bears, yet another club in this pool.

And, to be frank, the last-but-not-least team in this pool is the Scarlets — the only Welsh team in the competition — which means Bristol and Pau have to come to Wales for those matches.

Pool 4 vs. Pool 1 Of The Investec Champions Cup

Both are incredibly difficult pools.

Pool 1 features the Glasgow Warriors and Hollywoodbets Sharks of the URC; Toulouse and Clermont of the Top 14; and Saracens and Sale Sharks of PREM Rugby.

While a good team is not going to make the playoffs out of this group, Pool 4 has two teams at the top of the table in their pool and have five teams that expect to be in the Final, let a lone the playoffs.

Pool 4, though, features at least five of the six clubs who can get on a run and win it all.

Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026 Fixtures

Here's a look at each round:

Investec Champions Cup Round 1

Friday, Dec. 5

3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community Stadium
3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean Dauger

Saturday, Dec. 6

8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX Stadium
10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus Versfeld
12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre
12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD
3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y Scarlets
3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The Rec

Sunday, Dec. 7

8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau
10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Kingsholm

Dec. 7-9 (TBD)

Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBD

Investec Champions Cup Round 2

Friday, Dec. 12

3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Saturday, Dec. 13

8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-Michelin
12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas
12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun Stadium

Sunday, Dec. 14

8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop
8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton Gate

Investec Champions Cup Round 3

Friday, Jan. 9

3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBD

Saturday, Jan. 10

8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld
10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin
12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD
12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium
3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets
3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Sunday, Jan. 11

8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop
8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas
12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Round 4

Friday, Jan. 16

3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau
3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The Rec

Saturday, Jan. 17

8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger
10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, Kingsholm

Sunday, Jan. 18

8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate
10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre
12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Fixtures By Pool

Here's a breakdown of the schedule by pool:

Investec Champions Cup Pool 1

Round 1

Friday, Dec. 5 – 3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community Stadium
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX Stadium
Sunday, Dec. 7 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon

Round 2

Saturday, Dec. 13 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-Michelin
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun Stadium

Round 3

Saturday, Jan. 10 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin
Saturday, Jan. 10 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium
Sunday, Jan. 11 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX Stadium

Round 4

Saturday, Jan. 17 – 8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Saturday, Jan. 17 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
Sunday, Jan. 18 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Pool 2

Round 1

Saturday, Dec. 6 – 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The Rec
Sunday, Dec. 7 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Kingsholm
Dec. 7–9 (TBD): Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBD

Round 2

Saturday, Dec. 13 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol

Round 3

Friday, Jan. 9 – 3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
Friday, Jan. 9 – 3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBD
Sunday, Jan. 11 – 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol

Round 4

Friday, Jan. 16 – 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The Rec
Saturday, Jan. 17 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
Saturday, Jan. 17 – 3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, Kingsholm

Investec Champions Cup Pool 3

Round 1

Friday, Dec. 5 – 3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean Dauger
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD

Round 2

Friday, Dec. 12 – 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop

Round 3

Saturday, Jan. 10 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD
Saturday, Jan. 10 – 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Sunday, Jan. 11 – 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop

Round 4

Saturday, Jan. 17 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger
Saturday, Jan. 17 – 10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
Sunday, Jan. 18 – 10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre

Investec Champions Cup Pool 4

Round 1

Saturday, Dec. 6 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus Versfeld
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y Scarlets
Sunday, Dec. 7 – 8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau

Round 2

Saturday, Dec. 13 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton Gate

Round 3

Saturday, Jan. 10 – 8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld
Saturday, Jan. 10 – 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets
Sunday, Jan. 11 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas

Round 4

Friday, Jan. 16 – 3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau
Sunday, Jan. 18 – 8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate
Sunday, Jan. 18 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens

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