EPCR Challenge Cup pool draw: Everything you need to know

Both the Challenge Cup and Investec Champions Cup draws will be streamed live on epcrugby.com, with proceedings getting under way at 12.30pm (UK and Irish time).

Edinburgh in the Challenge Cup

Edinburgh Rugby will compete in the EPCR Challenge Cup next season after finishing outside the top eight in the 2025/26 URC standings.

The draw will feature 18 clubs in total – eight from the URC, six from the TOP 14, two from the Gallagher Premiership, and two invited clubs yet to be confirmed.

How the draw works

The 18 clubs will be split into three pools of six, with the following principles in place:

• Each pool will contain two TOP 14 clubs
• The three Welsh clubs in the competition – Ospreys, Scarlets and Dragons RFC –  will each be placed in separate pools
• Edinburgh Rugby, Benetton and Zebre Parma, as clubs from the same URC Shield, cannot be drawn into the same pool
• Harlequins and Newcastle Red Bulls cannot be in the same pool
• The Sharks and the two invited clubs also cannot share a pool
• A maximum of three URC clubs can be included in the same pool

During the pool stage, each club will play four matches against four different opponents — home or away.

The 2026/27 Challenge Cup clubs

TOP 14: RC Toulon, Castres Olympique, Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Aviron Bayonnais, USAP, RC Vannes

URC: Ulster Rugby, Sharks, Ospreys, Edinburgh Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Scarlets, Dragons RFC, Zebre Parma

Gallagher Premiership: Harlequins, Newcastle Red Bulls

Invited: To be confirmed

How to progress

The top three clubs in each pool will advance to the Round of 16 with home ties. The team finishing fourth in each pool will face an away tie in the Round of 16, as will the best-ranked fifth-placed team across the three pools.

Key dates

Watch the draw live

Tune in to epcrugby.com from 12.30pm on Wednesday 1 July to watch the pool draw live. We’ll have full coverage of Edinburgh’s pool on our website and social channels as soon as the draw is made.