Northampton Saints have been drawn into Pool 4 of the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup, and will lock horns with Cardiff Rugby, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Stade Français Paris and Vodacom Bulls during the competition’s opening rounds.
The draw – which took place in Dublin earlier today – saw the 24 teams in the Champions Cup drawn into four pools of six teams, with Saints set to head to either France, South Africa or Wales next season. While Bath Rugby have also been drawn into Pool 4, Saints will not face the fellow Gallagher PREM side.
A third pool clash in as many seasons is on the cards for Saints and Bulls, where Saints will be hoping to add a third consecutive victory over their South African opponents after having defeated them 50-5 last season and 21-30 in 2024.
The men in Black, Green and Gold are also set to face another United Rugby Championship side in Cardiff, who will lock horns with Saints for the first time since 2010.
Northampton’s TOP 14 opposition is provided by Montpellier and Stade Français – Saints having not faced Montpellier since 2017 but clashed with the latter more recently in Paris just two seasons ago.
The 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup tournaments will continue with the same pool stage format as last season and will kick off in October with the second round of action scheduled for December, followed by Rounds 3 and 4 on consecutive weekends in January 2027.
EPCR will now begin working on the fixture schedule – exact dates, kick-off times and TV coverage will be announced in the coming weeks.
If you have purchased or renewed your Season Ticket for the 2026/27 campaign, all of Saints’ home clashes in the Pool stage of the Champions Cup are included in your package.
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 Herault Rugby
Stade Français Rugby
Vodacom Bulls
2026/27 EPCR Weekends
- Round 1 - 16/17/18 October 2026
- Round 2 - 11/12/13 December 2026
- Round 3 - 8/9/10 January 2027
- Round 4 - 15/16/17 January 2027
- Round of 16 - 2/3/4 April 2027
- Quarter-Finals - 9/10/11 April 2027
- Semi-Finals - 30 April / 1/2 May 2027
- EPCR Challenge Cup Final: Friday 21 May 2027, OL Stadium, Lyon
- Investec Champions Cup Final: Saturday 22 May 2027, OL Stadium, Lyon