European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) has officially unveiled the comprehensive schedule for the eagerly anticipated Champions Cup and Challenge Cup seasons.
The highly anticipated dates for the group stage matches and the subsequent playoff rounds of Europe`s premier club rugby tournaments have now been confirmed. Following the established format, the initial phase of both the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will span across December and January. The knockout stages are set to commence in early April, featuring combined Round of 16 and Quarter-final fixtures. The crucial Semi-finals are scheduled for early May.
The Challenge Cup final is slated for May 22nd, with the Champions Cup final set to follow on May 23rd. Both prestigious decisive matches for the 2025-26 European season will be hosted at the iconic San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.
Key Dates for the 2025-26 European Season
- Round 1 — December 5-7, 2025
- Round 2 — December 12-14, 2025
- Round 3 — January 9-11, 2026
- Round 4 — January 16-18, 2026
Knockout Stage Schedule:
- Round of 16 — April 3-5, 2026
- Quarter-finals — April 10-12, 2026
- Semi-finals — May 1-3, 2026
- Challenge Cup Final — May 22, 2026
- Champions Cup Final — May 23, 2026
Opening Round Fixtures (All times are Moscow Time / UTC+3)
Champions Cup – Round 1
December 5th
- 23:00 Sale Sharks vs Glasgow
- 23:00 Bayonne vs Stormers
December 6th
- 16:00 Saracens vs Clermont Auvergne
- 18:15 Bulls vs Bordeaux Bègles
- 20:30 La Rochelle vs Leicester Tigers
- 20:30 Leinster vs Harlequins
- 23:00 Scarlets vs Bristol Bears
- 23:00 Bath vs Munster
December 7th
- 16:00 Pau vs Northampton Saints
- 18:15 Toulouse vs Sharks
- 18:15 Gloucester vs Castres Olympique
- 20:30 Edinburgh vs Toulon
Challenge Cup – Round 1
December 5th
- 23:00 Ulster vs Racing 92
December 6th
- 16:00 Lions vs Benetton Rugby
- 16:00 Stade Français vs Cardiff Rugby
- 18:15 Black Lion vs Montpellier Hérault Rugby
- 20:30 Lyon vs Newcastle Falcons
- 23:00 Zebre Parma vs Montauban
December 7th
- 16:00 Perpignan vs Dragons RFC
- 18:15 Ospreys vs Connacht Rugby
- 20:30 Exeter Chiefs vs Cheetahs
