In this guide
A six-club pool does not mean five matchesTwelve automatic placesFour additional places across the poolsKnockout labels begin after the pool phaseKeep the Challenge Cup separateThe European Rugby Champions Cup, currently presented as the Investec Champions Cup, is EPCR’s leading club competition. Its 2026/27 field has 24 clubs, eight each from Gallagher PREM, the URC and Top 14.
Four pools of six organise the first phase. Each club plays four different opponents, and the published qualification route is three automatic places per pool plus four further places across the pools.
A six-club pool does not mean five matches
The pool-stage allocation is four matches per club, against four different opponents at home or away. Do not assume a complete single round robin or a ten-game home-and-away programme simply from the pool size.
Twelve automatic places
The highest three in each pool qualify directly for the round of 16. Four pools multiplied by three produce twelve places. A club’s exact pool position therefore matters before the wider comparison is considered.
Four additional places across the pools
The remaining four go to the clubs with the highest match-points totals among those not already automatically qualified, across all pools. The rule is not an automatic fourth-place slot reserved for each pool. Use the edition-specific wording rather than an older shorthand.
Knockout labels begin after the pool phase
The round of 16 is followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. A club’s domestic league table is a different competition context from its Champions Cup pool table.
| 2026/27 route | Places |
|---|---|
| Top three in each of four pools | 12 |
| Further cross-pool qualifiers | 4 |
| Round-of-16 field | 16 |
Keep the Challenge Cup separate
The EPCR Challenge Cup has its own field and format. A shared EPCR event weekend does not merge the two competitions. Preserve Champions Cup, season, pool or knockout stage and clubs when saving a programme, particularly where sponsorship names change.