SPOTLIGHT: Following the conclusion of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup pool stage, the teams that qualified for the knockout stage of the tournament has been confirmed – including which South African teams finally made the cut.
No South African team will have home ground advantage at any stage of the play-offs in both the top tier and secondary competitions.
Champions Cup
The four highest-ranked teams in each pool have secured their places in the Round of 16 and the two highest-ranked teams in each pool will have home advantage for the matches which will be played on the weekend of April 3/4/5.
In accordance with the tournament rules, the pool winners have been ranked 1 to 4, the second-placed teams have been ranked 5 to 8, the third-placed teams have been ranked 9 to 12, and the fourth-placed teams have been ranked 13 to 16.
The following fifth-placed teams in each pool have qualified for the Round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup:
Pool 1: Sharks
Pool 2: Munster
Pool 3: Stade Rochelais
Pool 4: Section Paloise
The exact dates and kick-off times of the Round of 16 fixtures will be announced as soon as possible.
CHAMPIONS CUP
Round of 16 – April 3/4/5
R16 1: Union Bordeaux Bègles (1) v Leicester Tigers (16)
R16 2: Glasgow Warriors (2) v Bulls (15)
R16 3: Leinster Rugby (3) v Edinburgh (14)
R16 4: Bath (4) v Saracens (13)
R16 5: Northampton Saints (5) v Castres Olympique (12)
R16 6: Harlequins (6) v Sale Sharks (11)
R16 7: RC Toulon (7) v Stormers (10)
R16 8: Stade Toulousain (8) v Bristol Bears (9)
NB The teams ranked numbers 1 to 8 will have home venue advantage
Quarter-finals – 10/11/12 April
QF 1: Winner R16 1 v Winner R16 8
QF 2: Winner R16 2 v Winner R16 7
QF 3: Winner R16 3 v Winner R16 6
QF 4: Winner R16 4 v Winner R16 5
NB The highest-ranked teams from the pool stage will have home venue advantage
Semi-finals – 1/2/3 May
SF 1: Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 4
SF 2: Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 3
NB The matches will be played in Europe and where relevant the highest-ranked teams from the pool stage will have home country advantage
2026 Champions Cup Final – Saturday 23 May; San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
(Continue below …)
Challenge Cup
The four highest-ranked teams in each pool have secured their places in the Round of 16 which will be played on the weekend of April 3/4/5, and the 12 teams are supplemented by Sharks, Munster, Stade Rochelais, and Section Paloise who have qualified from the Champions Cup.
In accordance with the tournament rules, the pool winners have been ranked 1 to 3, the second-placed teams have been ranked 4 to 6, the two highest-ranked third-placed teams have been ranked 7 and 8, the qualifying Champions Cup teams have been ranked 9 to 12, the remaining third-placed club has been ranked 13, and the fourth-placed teams have been ranked 14 to 16.
The exact dates and kick-off times of the Round of 16 fixtures will be announced as soon as possible.
CHALLENGE CUP
Round of 16 – April 3/4/5
R16 1: Montpellier Hérault (1) v USAP (16)
R16 2: Benetton (2) v Cardiff (15)
R16 3: Ulster (3) v Ospreys (14)
R16 4: Stade Français Paris (4) v Dragons (13)
R16 5: Zebre Parma (5) Section Paloise (12)
R16 6: Newcastle Red Bulls (6) v Stade Rochelais (11)
R16 7: Exeter Chiefs (7) v Munster (10)
R16 8: Connacht (8) v Sharks (9)
NB The teams ranked numbers 1 to 8 will have home venue advantage
Quarterfinals – 10/11/12 April
QF 1: Winner R16 1 v Winner R16 8
QF 2: Winner R16 2 v Winner R16 7
QF 3: Winner R16 3 v Winner R16 6
QF 4: Winner R16 4 v Winner R16 5
NB The highest-ranked teams from the pool stage will have home venue advantage
Semifinals – 1/2/3 May
SF 1: Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 4
SF 2: Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 3
NB The highest-ranked teams from the pool stage will have home venue advantage
2026 Challenge Cup Final – Friday 22 May; San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
