The 2026–27 EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage will be the first of two stages of the 32nd season of the pan-European professional club rugby union competition. It will be the 13th under the EPCR Challenge Cup format. Eighteen clubs from three major domestic and regional leagues will compete over four rounds of pool fixtures. Nine teams will be progressing to the second and final stage, the knockout stage.
Structure The pool stage draw took place on 1 July 2026, with the complete fixture list later announced on 10 July 2026. The fixtures will be played out across four weekends between 16 October 2026 and 17 January 2027.
Teams in the same pool played four of the other five teams in their pool, either at home or away, in the pool stage. The top four teams in each pool progressed to the round of 16 as well as the fifth-ranked team from each Champions Cup pool.
Teams was awarded table points based on match performances; four points for a win, two points for a draw, one bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one bonus point for losing a match by seven points or fewer.
In the event of a tie between two or more teams, the following tie-breakers were used, as directed by European Professional Club Rugby:
Where teams have played each other The club with the greater number of competition points from only matches involving tied teams. If equal, the club with the best aggregate points difference from those matches. If equal, the club that scored the most tries in those matches. Where teams remain tied and/or have not played each other in the competition (i.e. are from different pools) The club with the best aggregate points difference from the pool stage. If equal, the club that scored the most tries in the pool stage. If equal, the club with the fewest players suspended in the pool stage. If equal, the drawing of lots will determine a club's ranking.
Pool 1
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Pool 2
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Pool 3
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Notes
References