Hayden Cottle
The fixtures for the 2026/27 EPCR Challenge Cup have now been confirmed, as Europe's second tier sides gear up for the competition's return.
Teams from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, Georgia and South Africa will all contest rugby's smaller European competition, with prestigious silverware on the line.
Let's take a look at which teams were drawn in which groups ahead of the 2026/27 EPCR Challenge Cup.
Rugby Union
2026/27 EPCR Challenge Cup groups
Pool 1
- Cheetahs
- Ulster Rugby
- USAP
- Dragons RFC
- Aviron Bayonnais
- Zebre Parma
Pool 2
- Benetton Rugby
- Lou Rugby
- Newcastle Red Bulls
- Sharks
- Castres Olympique
- Scarlets
Pool 3
- Ospreys
- Edinburgh Rugby
- Black Lion
- Harlequins
- RC Toulon
- RC Vannes
2026/27 EPCR Challenge Cup fixtures
The following fixtures will take place across the four rounds of group stage action, leading in to knockout matches, which include round of 16 matches, quarter finals, semi finals and finals.
Group Stages
Round 1 - 16/17/18 October 2026
- Dragons RFC v USAP
- Edinburgh Rugby v RC Toulon
- Lou Rugby v Sharks
- Black Lion v Ospreys
- Zebre Parma v Ulster Rugby
- Scarlets v Newcastle Red Bulls
- Aviron Bayonnais v Cheetahs
- Harlequins v RC Vannes
- Castres Olympique v Benetton Rugby
Round 2 - 11/12/13 December 2026
- Ospreys v Harlequins
- Ulster Rugby v Aviron Bayonnais
- Benetton Rugby v Lou Rugby
- Sharks v Scarlets
- RC Toulon v Black Lion
- Newcastle Red Bulls v Castres Olympique
- RC Vannes v Edinburgh Rugby
- Cheetahs v Dragons RFC
- USAP v Zebre Parma
Round 3 - 8/9/10 January 2027
- Dragons RFC v Avrion Bayonnais
- Newcastle Red Bulls v Benetton Rugby
- Sharks v Castres Olympique
- Edinburgh Rugby v Harlequins
- RC Toulon v Ospreys
- Scarlets v Lou Rugby
- USAP v Ulster Rugby
- RC Vannes v Black Lion
- Zebre Parma v Cheetahs
Round 4 - 15/16/17 January 2027
- Harlequins v RC Toulon
- Aviron Bayonnais v Zebre Parma
- Ulster Rugby v Dragons RFC
- Castres Olympique v Scarlets
- Benetton Rugby v Sharks
- Ospreys v RC Vannes
- Lou Rugby v Newcastle Red Bulls
- Black Lion v Edinburgh Rugby
- Cheetahs v USAP
Knockout Rounds
- Round of 16 - 2/3/4 April 2027
- Quarter Finals - 9/10/11 April 2027
- Semi Finals - 30 April / 1/2 May 2027
- Final - Friday 21st May 2027
