European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) have today confirmed the fixtures for the opening rounds of this season’s Investec Champions Cup, with Northampton Saints set to take on Section Paloise first up.
Phil Dowson’s side were drawn into Pool 4 earlier this month, with Union Bordeaux Bègles, Scarlets, Vodacom Bulls and Section Paloise confirmed as their opposition for the opening rounds.
Fellow Gallagher Premiership side Bristol Bears were also drawn into Pool 4, but will not face Northampton in the pool stage.
The men in Black, Green and Gold won three of their four pool clashes last term, defeating Castres Olympique (38-8) and Munster Rugby (34-32) at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens while also securing an historic victory in South Africa with a 30-21 win over Vodacom Bulls.
Saints continued their winning home run into the knockout stages as they steamed past ASM Clermont Auvergne (46-24) and then Castres for a second time (51-16), before another historic victory came in form of a win in Dublin – where they claimed a 34-37 victory over Leinster Rugby.
The result sealed Northampton’s first appearance in the Investec Champions Cup Final in over a decade, though Saints eventually lost out to winners Union Bordeaux Bègles (28-20) in the showpiece final in Cardiff.
This term the men in Black, Green and Gold will be aiming to go one better, setting their sights on silverware as they begin this season’s campaign with a trip to Pau to face Section Paloise (Sunday 7 December, kick-off: 2pm*) in the opening round.
Northampton return home in Round 2, welcoming Bulls to cinch Stadium (Sunday 14 December, kick-off: 3pm) for only the second time.
When the competition restarts after the New Year, Saints will head to Bordeaux in a re-match of last season’s final – heading to Stade Chaban-Delmas on Sunday 11 January (kick-off: 4.15pm*) for the first time in the Club’s history.
And the men in Black, Green and Gold round out the pool stages on home soil, with Scarlets (Sunday 18 January, kick-off: 3.15pm*) heading to Northampton for the first time since 2017.
If you have purchased or renewed your Season Ticket for the 2025/26 campaign, all of Saints’ home clashes in the pool stage of the Champions Cup are included in your package.
Match tickets for Northampton’s home matches (against Bulls and Scarlets) will go on sale nearer time of the fixtures – to be the first to hear when tickets become available sign up to Saints’ mailing list HERE.
To enquire about hospitality for Saints’ clashes against Bulls and Scarlets, please email [email protected].
Saints’ 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup fixtures
- Round 1: Section Paloise vs Northampton Saints – Sunday 7 December (kick-off: 2pm*) – Stade du Hameau
- Round 2: Northampton Saints vs Vodacom Bulls – Sunday 14 December (kick-off: 3.15pm) – cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
- Round 3: Union Bordeaux Bègles vs Northampton Saints – Sunday 11 January (kick-off: 4.15pm*) – Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Round 4: Northampton Saints vs Scarlets – Sunday 18 January (kick-off: 3.15pm) – cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
- Round of 16: 3/4/5 April 2026
- Quarter-finals: 10/11/12 April 2026
- Semi-finals: 1/2/3 May 2026
- EPCR Challenge Cup Final: Friday 22 May, San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
- Investec Champions Cup Final: Saturday 23 May, San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
